Oscillating water columns (OWCs) are a type of wave energy converter[1] that harness energy from the oscillation of the seawater inside a chamber or hollow caused by the action of waves. OWCs have shown promise as a renewable energy source with low environmental impact. Because of this, multiple companies have been working to design increasingly efficient OWC models.
OWC are devices with a semi-submerged chamber or hollow open to the sea below, keeping a trapped air pocket above a water column. Waves force the column to act like a piston, moving up and down, forcing the air out of the chamber and back into it. This continuous movement forces a bidirectional stream of high-velocity air, which is channeled through a power take-off (PTO). The PTO system converts the airflow into energy. In models that convert airflow to electricity, the PTO system consists of a bidirectional turbine. This means that the turbine always spins the same direction regardless of the direction of airflow, allowing for energy to be continuously generated. Both the collecting chamber and PTO systems will be explained further under "Basic OWC Components."[2][3]
^Falcao, A.F.de O. (2010). "Wave energy utilization: A review of the technologies". Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 14 (3): 899–918. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2009.11.003.
^"Energy and the Environment, A Coastal Perspective".
^Heath, T.V. (2012). "A Review of Oscillating Water Columns" (PDF). Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences. 370 (1959). RSTA: 235–45. doi:10.1098/rsta.2011.0164. PMID 22184660. S2CID 11239707.
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