Experimental study on the performance of a slotted wells turbine in an oscillating water column device

Abstract

Ocean wave energy has garnered significant attention as a sustainable power source, with the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device emerging as a highly effective technology for wave-to-electricity conversion. Within this system, the Wells turbine serves as a critical component for energy extraction. While current literature predominantly relies on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze the performance of these turbines, this study employs a rigorous experimental approach to evaluate their dynamics. The experimental results demonstrate high reliability when compared with CFD simulation data. Furthermore, this research evaluates the performance of a slotted Wells turbine design. The comparative analysis reveals that the slotted Wells turbine achieves superior efficiency compared to the conventional Wells turbine design. These findings offer a comprehensive empirical foundation and provide critical insights for the future optimization of wave energy converters. Ultimately, this study serves as an essential precursor to subsequent developments aimed at enhancing the operational viability of OWC systems in practical, real-world applications.