A Dynamic Analysis of Oscillating Water Column Systems: Design of a 16 kW Wells Turbine for Coastal Energy Generation in Ecuador

The work presents the design of an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) system with a nominal capacity of 16 kW, proposed as a contribution to reducing the energy gap in Ecuador, where electricity demand surpasses supply. The province of Santa Elena was selected as a promising site due to its favorable wave conditions and coastal location. The design process involved identifying areas with high wave energy potential, conducting a brief mathematical modeling analysis, and defining the parameters required for the system. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out in two stages: In the first stage, OpenFOAM was used to evaluate wave behavior, specifically flow velocity and pressure, before the water enters the generation chamber. In the second stage, a different CFD tool was used, incorporating the output data from OpenFOAM to simulate the energy conversion process inside the Wells turbine. This analysis focused on how the turbine captures and transforms the wave energy into usable power. The results show that, under ideal conditions, the system achieves an average power output of 11 kW. These findings suggest that implementing this type of system in coastal regions of Ecuador is both viable and beneficial for local energy development.