Performance and theoretical cycle of a wave oscillating water column converter with differential pressure storage tanks

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe a wave energy converter, of the oscillating water column type, with a novel alternative design to the conventional ones attempting to attain enhanced conversion efficiency. The encountered drawbacks  with regard to the conventional wave energy based power plants are described as well as a discussion concerning the advantages and disadvantages  that supposes the alternative proposed design. To estimate theoretically the power obtainable, we use a performance simulation under ideal conditions, considering:  regular waves, evolution of air as an ideal gas, adiabatic compression and expansion and pressure losses in valves negligible…. The results show that by means of the suitably adjusting of the turbine differential pressure, the obtainable power can be maximized. In this way it is concluded that the proposed innovations points in the direction of achieving a maturing technology applicable to this type of converters.