Numerical Study of the Hydrodynamic Performance of a Dual-Chamber Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter Device

We investigated the hydrodynamic characteristics of a dual-chamber oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter (WEC) using the OpenFOAM-v1912 open-source platform and waves2Foam solver. The numerical simulations were conducted using incompressible viscous fluid theory, applying the two-dimensional Stokes equation to describe fluid motion. The displacement of the free surface was accurately captured using the volume of fluid (VOF) methodology, and the governing equations were solved using the finite volume method (FVM). The dependability of the computational method was shown by validating the numerical model, which was based on a 2D representation, against experimental data. Within the resonance zone, the energy conversion efficiency of a dual-chamber OWC was approximately 25% greater than that of a single-chamber OWC. Moreover, the dual-chamber design displayed a broader resonance bandwidth, owing to the presence of multiple resonant frequencies, which enhance the stability and energy conversion over a wider range of wave conditions. The dual-chamber OWC generated stronger internal wave dynamics and higher chamber pressures, enabling superior energy capture compared to the single-chamber variant. Additionally, the formation and persistence of vortices within the chamber are key in sustaining efficient energy conversion by promoting continuous airflow. These results offer valuable information for constructing and optimizing dual-chamber OWC systems for more efficient wave energy collecting.