• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 1996

The theory is based on two thermodynamic equations for the air mass in the air column and bydrodynamic equation for the relation between the response of the air in the water column and the incident wave. The numerical model is experimented in a two dimensional water tank and the caisson model with sloped front wall is tested in the large towing tank.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.225-243
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• 2014

As the economic matters are involved, applying the WEC, which is used for controlling waves as well as utilizing the wave energy on existing breakwater, is preferred rather than installing exclusive WEC. This study examines the OWC mounted on a pressurized air chamber floating breakwater regarding the functionality of both breakwater and wave-power generation. In order to verify the performance as a WEC, the velocity of air flow from pressurized air chamber to WEC has to be evaluated properly. Therefore, numerical simulation was implemented based on BEM from linear velocity potential theory as well as Boyle's law with the state equation to analyze pressurized air flow. The validity of the obtained values can be determined by comparing the previous results from numerical analysis and empirically obtained values of different shapes. In the actual numerical analysis, properties of wave deformation around OWC system mounted on fixed type and floating type breakwaters, motions of the structure with air flow velocities are investigated. Since, the wind power generating system can be hybridized on the structure, it is expected to be applied on complex power generation system which generates both wind and wave power energy.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.20-25
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• 2001

부유식 파랑에너지 변환시스템(Oscillating Water Column)에서 에너지 변환은 입력파와 챔버, 챔버내 공기의 상호작용으로 이루어진다. 이 논문은 파랑에너지를 기계적 운동으로 변환하는 기계적 특성을 해석한다. 단일 진동수 규칙파가 입력되었을 때에 파에 의하여 챔버의 상하운동이 선형적으로 발생하며, 이 상하운동은 챔버내의 압력 변화에 영향을 받는다. 상하운동과 챔버내로 투과한 파, 그리고 챔버내 압력에 의해 발생되는 파에 의해 챔버내의 상대운동을 정하고, 그 상대운동에 의한 공기의 압축 팽창과 온도상승을 근사적 열역학적 방정식으로 해석하여 오리피스를 통한 유량과 압력을 기준으로 에너지 변환요율을 결정하였다. 얻어진 식은 간단하면서도 관련요소의 영향을 전반적으로 표현한다. 개구율 변화에 따른 운동응답을 비교하였다.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.4 s.71
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• pp.64-69
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• 2006

A numerical analysis is made to investigate the wave absorption efficiency of a OWC-type wave power generator. Energy absorption by an OWC(Oscillating Water Column) air-chamber is computed in regular waves, taking account of the oscillating surface-pressure, due to pressure drop, across the duct of the air chamber. The problem is formulated in the scope of potential theory and solved by the Localized Finite Element Method(LFEM), based on the classical variational principle. The efficiency of energy absorption is investigated by. changing wave conditions, sea-bottom slope and pressure drop coefficient.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.242-252
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• 2018

It is well known that an Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter (OWC-WEC) is one of the most efficient wave absorber equipment. This device transforms the vertical motion of water column in the air chamber into the air flow velocity and produces electricity from the driving force of turbine as represented by the Wells turbine. Therefore, in order to obtain high electric energy, it is necessary to amplify the water surface vibration by inducing resonance of the piston mode in the water surface fluctuation in the air chamber. In this study, a new type of OWC-WEC with a seawater channel is used, and the wave deformation by the structure, water surface fluctuation in the air chamber, air outflow velocity from the nozzle and seawater flow velocity in the seawater channel are evaluated by numerical analysis in detail. The numerical analysis model uses open CFD code OLAFLOW model based on multi-phase analysis technique of Navier-Stokes solver. To validate model, numerical results and existing experimental results are compared and discussed. It is revealed within the scope of this study that the air flow velocity at nozzle increases as the Ursell number becomes larger, and the air velocity that flows out from the inside of the air chamber is larger than the velocity of incoming air into the air chamber.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.123-124
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• 2007

파력발전은 파랑에너지를 이용하여 유용한 에너지를 얻어내는 것인데, 본 논문에서는 그 가운데 진동수주 (Oscillating Water Column)형을 연구 대상으로 취하였다. 이는 외해에서의 파랑에너지를 공기실에 유입 집중시켜 공기실 내 수면의 승강운동을 증폭시키고 이로 인해 발생한 공기실 내의 공기 흐름을 터빈의 구동력으로 사용하는 것을 말한다. 적지 선정과정에서 채택된 곳의 설계파고를 바탕으로 원하는 정격출력인 500kW를 얻어낼 수 있도록 유량과 임펄스 터빈의 최적 직경을 산출하고자 하였는데 개념설계된 파력발전장치의 덕트가 쌍동형 형태를 취하고 있으므로 한 터빈당 250kW급을 목표 발전용량으로 하였다. 지난 연구를 통해서 기 작성된 터빈 성능도표를 활용하여, 본 연구에서는 1차적으로 임펄스 터빈의 개략적인 직경 및 유량을 구하고, 터빈의 자기 기동 특성을 고려하여 최종적인 형상을 구체적으로 도출하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2014

In an oscillating water column (OWC)-type wave energy conversion system, the performance of the OWC chamber depends on the chamber shape, as well as the incident wave direction and pressure drop produced by the turbine. Although the previous studies on OWC chambers have focused on wave absorbing performance in ideal operating conditions, incident waves do not always arrive normally to the OWC chamber in real sea conditions, especially in fixed devices. The present study deals with experiments and numerical calculations to investigate the effects of wave direction on the performance of the OWC chamber. The experiments were carried out in a three-dimensional wave basin for five different wave directions, including the effect of turbine using the corresponding orifice. The wave elevation inside the chamber was measured at the center point under various incident wave conditions. The numerical study was conducted by using a numerical wave tank-based volume-of-fluid model to compare the results with experimental data and to reveal the detailed flows around the chamber.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.128-137
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• 2013

Due to the global warming and air pollution, interest in renewable energies has increased in recent years. In particular, the crisis of the depletion of fossil energy resources in the near future has accelerated the renewable energy technologies. Among the renewable energy resources, oceans covering almost three-fourths of earth's surface have an enormous amount of energy. For this reason, various approaches have been made to harness the tremendous energy potential. In order to achieve two purposes: to improve harbor water quality and to use wave energy, this study proposed a sea water exchange structure applying an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave generation system that utilizes the air flow velocity induced by the vertical motion of water column in the air chamber as a driving force of turbine. In particular, the airflow velocity in the air chamber was estimated from the time variations of water surface profile computed by using 3D-NIT model based on the 3-dimensional irregular numerical wave tank. The relationship of the frequency spectrums between the computed airflow velocities and the incident waves was analyzed. This study also discussed the characteristics of frequency spectrums in the air chamber according to the presence of the structure, wave deformations by the structure, and the power of the water and air flows were also investigated. It is found that the phase difference exists in the time series data of water level fluctuations and air flow in the air chamber and the air flow power is superior to the fluid flow power.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.305-314
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• 2017

Ocean wave energy harvesting is still too expensive despite developing a variety of wave energy converter (WEC) devices. For the cost-effective wave energy harvesting, it can be an effective measure to use existing breakwaters or newly installed breakwaters for both wave control and energy harvesting purposes. In this study, we investigated the functionality of both breakwater and wave-power generator for the oscillating water column (OWC)-type wave energy converter (WEC) installed in a pneumatic floating breakwater, which was originally developed as a floating breakwater. In order to verify the performance of the breakwater as a WEC, the air flow velocity from air-chamber to WEC has to be evaluated properly. Therefore, air flow velocity, wave transformation and motion of floating structure was numerically implemented based on BEM from linear velocity potential theory without considering the compressibility of air within the chamber. Air pressure, meanwhile, was assumed to be fluctuated by the motions of structure and the water level change within air-chamber. The validity of the obtained values can be determined by comparing the previous results from the numerical analysis for different shapes. Based on numerical model results, wave transformation characteristics around OWC system mounted on the fixed and floating breakwaters, and motions of the structure with air flow velocities are investigated. In summary, all numerical results are almost identical to the previous research considering air compressibility. Therefore, it can be concluded that this analysis not considering air compressibility in the air chamber is more efficient and practical method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.189-202
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• 2012

An Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave generation system uses the air flow induced by the vertical motion of water column in the air chamber as a driving force of turbine. It is well known that OWC is one of the most efficient devices to harness wave power. This study estimated the air flow velocity from the time variation of the water level fluctuation in the air chamber under regular wave conditions using 3-dimensional numerical irregular wave tank (3D-NIT) model that can simulate the 3-dimensional irregular wave field. The applicability of the 3D-NIT model was validated by comparing numerically predicted air flow velocities with hydraulic experimental results. In addition, the characteristics of air flow frequency spectrum variation due to the incident frequency spectrum change, and the variations of frequency spectrum and wave reflection due to the existence of converter inside the air chamber were discussed. It is found that the phase difference exists in between the air flow velocity and the water level fluctuation inside the air chamber, and the peak frequency of the spectrum in water level fluctuation is amplified by the resonance in the air chamber.