Hydrodynamic performance of a row of closely-spaced bottom-sitting oscillating water columns

Integrating oscillating water columns (OWCs) into a row of closely-spaced hollow piles can form a wave farm, leading to cost reductions through cost-sharing with other structures and thus making the wave energy conversion more economically viable. It is important to understand the effects of the distance between the OWCs in the row on the performance of the wave farm. Using an air-water two-phase flow model, validated by a set of wave-flume test results, the hydrodynamic performance of the wave farm was investigated, with a focus on effects of the distance between OWCs on capture efficiency as well as wave transmission and reflection. The power takeoff (PTO) was represented by an orifice whose effects were parameterized by a porous media in the simulation. Sidewall effects that may be encountered in wave flume tests were also discussed.