Performance assessment of the Ocean Falls Wave Energy Converter

A solution for electrical power production in the future

Master thesis (2019)

Authors

R. van den Kerkhoff Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Contributors

A.Q.C. van der Horst Integral Design & Management - CEG (mentor)
C.R. Braam Concrete Structures - CEG (graduation committee member)
A. Jarquin Laguna Offshore and Dredging Engineering - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (graduation committee member)
J.D. Bricker Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk - CEG (graduation committee member)
Erik ten Oever BAM Infraconsult (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Civil Engineering & Geosciences
Copyright: © 2019 Roy-Matthieu van den Kerkhoff
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

20-06-2019

Language

English

Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Abstract

There is a growing demand for renewable sources of energy of which wave energy conversion is one. The Ocean Falls is an oscillating water column (OWC) system invented by BAM Infraconsult b.v. This system differs from conventional OWC systems since it includes a connection tube and an adjustable back wall. The OWC system is a resonance system for which maximum efficiency is obtained once the natural frequency matches the incoming wave frequency. This thesis focusses on the modelling of the OWC system with ANSYS AQWA and ANSYS Fluent. A parametric model and a CFD model are developed to assess the performance of the OWC system. An optimum is sought for in terms of system performance, constructability and cost effectiveness. Eventually a conceptual design of the Ocean Falls OWC system is made to assess the technical- and economic feasibility.