Figure 14.4 shows a brief diagram of the oscillating water column wave energy
generating device. It mainly includes the front port, air chamber, turbine, and generator. Under the action of wave incident wave, the water column in the air chamber
is stimulated to oscillate, which drives the air above it to and fro through the turbine,
and converts the energy of the oscillating water column into the mechanical energy
of the turbine, thus driving the generator to generate electricity. The principle of
oscillating water column power generation is to convert wave energy into compressed air energy to drive air turbine generators to generate electricity. When the
wave rises, the air in the air chamber is put on the top. The compressed air passes
through the positive pressure water valve chamber and enters the positive pressure
cylinder. It drives the air turbine on the extension end of the generator shaft to rotate
and drives the generator to generate electricity. When the wave falls, a negative
pressure is formed in the air chamber, which sucks air into the cylinder and drives the
air turbine on the extension end of the other shaft of the generator, so that the
generator generates electricity and its rotation direction remains unchanged. The
exhausted air enters the negative pressure cylinder, then passes through the negative
pressure water valve chamber and reaches the negative pressure air chamber.
Because the positive and negative pressure water valve chamber is equivalent to the
function of the check valve, the positive and negative loops do not interfere with
each other. The principle of using the water valve as the check valve is to use the
pressure difference, and the pressure air can only pass one way.
The biggest difference between the oscillating water column wave energy device
and other wave energy devices is that it has an air chamber. The so-called air
chamber refers to a structure, with an opening at the bottom submerged in the
seawater, so that the seawater can enter the air chamber freely. The unique feature
of this device is that it can rely on resonance to strengthen the motion of water
column. The water column in the air chamber moves up and down due to the action
of waves, and has a certain natural frequency. When the frequency of the incident
Seabed
Wave direction
Front harbor
Air chamber
Turbine
Generator
Back harbor
Fig. 14.4 Oscillating water column wave energy conversion device
354
14 Pneumatic Principle and Device of Oscillating Water …
generating device. It mainly includes the front port, air chamber, turbine, and generator. Under the action of wave incident wave, the water column in the air chamber
is stimulated to oscillate, which drives the air above it to and fro through the turbine,
and converts the energy of the oscillating water column into the mechanical energy
of the turbine, thus driving the generator to generate electricity. The principle of
oscillating water column power generation is to convert wave energy into compressed air energy to drive air turbine generators to generate electricity. When the
wave rises, the air in the air chamber is put on the top. The compressed air passes
through the positive pressure water valve chamber and enters the positive pressure
cylinder. It drives the air turbine on the extension end of the generator shaft to rotate
and drives the generator to generate electricity. When the wave falls, a negative
pressure is formed in the air chamber, which sucks air into the cylinder and drives the
air turbine on the extension end of the other shaft of the generator, so that the
generator generates electricity and its rotation direction remains unchanged. The
exhausted air enters the negative pressure cylinder, then passes through the negative
pressure water valve chamber and reaches the negative pressure air chamber.
Because the positive and negative pressure water valve chamber is equivalent to the
function of the check valve, the positive and negative loops do not interfere with
each other. The principle of using the water valve as the check valve is to use the
pressure difference, and the pressure air can only pass one way.
The biggest difference between the oscillating water column wave energy device
and other wave energy devices is that it has an air chamber. The so-called air
chamber refers to a structure, with an opening at the bottom submerged in the
seawater, so that the seawater can enter the air chamber freely. The unique feature
of this device is that it can rely on resonance to strengthen the motion of water
column. The water column in the air chamber moves up and down due to the action
of waves, and has a certain natural frequency. When the frequency of the incident
Seabed
Wave direction
Front harbor
Air chamber
Turbine
Generator
Back harbor
Fig. 14.4 Oscillating water column wave energy conversion device
354
14 Pneumatic Principle and Device of Oscillating Water …