Experimental study to investigate the effect of using a conical air chamber design in OWC wave energy converter

Wave energy conversion is one of the most active areas of renewable energy development. The Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device is one of the most commonly utilized wave energy conversion technologies. This study investigates the impact of Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter shape and design on airflow responsiveness. Although most research focuses on turbine design to improve the performance of the oscillating water column (OWC), chamber geometry is equally essential. The primary goal of this research is to improve the air velocity entering the turbine, which will increase device efficiency and output power. In the wave tank laboratory, experiments are carried out to investigate the impacts of various air chamber designs, including rectangular and conical air chambers. The results demonstrate a considerable increase in air velocity flow from 3.1 m/s in the rectangular air chamber to 4.5 m/s in the conical air chamber.