Impact of wave conditions on L-shaped oscillating water columns under irregular waves: a study considering Sumbawa, Indonesia’s wave energy potential
摘要
Research on oscillating water column (OWC) systems has been extensively advanced in the field of marine energy, given their potential for efficient energy conversion from ocean waves. This study investigates the performance of a short-bottom-column L-shaped OWC wave energy converter through physical experiments conducted in a laboratory wave flume using irregular waves, specifically tailored to reflect conditions in Sumbawa, Indonesia. Various wave heights and periods were applied, with parameters monitored including water surface elevation, air pressure within the chamber, and air velocity in the turbine pipe. In addition, airflow analysis was performed during both compression and decompression processes to understand the resulting flow patterns. The findings reveal that the OWC design exhibits optimal performance at short wave periods, characterized by significantly higher air velocities, making it particularly suitable for deployment in regions with similar wave characteristics. Furthermore, the air velocity during the decompression phase was consistently higher than during the compression phase, providing valuable insights into the efficiency of the energy conversion process.