Performance assessment of the Anaconda WEC in regular waves at 1:50 model scale

Mendes, Antonio, Braga, F.P., Parades, L.M.A. and Chaplin, J.R. (2017) Performance assessment of the Anaconda WEC in regular waves at 1:50 model scale. 36th ASME International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, , Trondheim, Norway. 25 - 30 Jun 2017. 8 pp .

Abstract

The Anaconda is a relatively new wave-energy converter that incorporates a long rubber tube floating head to waves. The tube is filled with water and its tail connected to a power take-off system (PTO). As a result of interaction with ocean waves, the tube conveys internal pressure bulges whose intensity grows towards a pneumatic PTO. The power take-off is actuated by an oscillating water-column in a vertical shaft. The pressure variations in the pneumatic chamber drive air through a turbine that discharges to the atmosphere. This study focuses on the performance assessment of a free-floating Anaconda with a non-linear PTO characteristic. For this purpose a series of 1:50 scale model tests have been conducted in a wave-tank. In the physical model the pneumatic chamber connects to the atmosphere through an orifice plate. Several orifices of different calibrated diameters were utilized to emulate the turbine impedance. The pressure to flow rate characteristic has been estimated for each orifice, for incompressible flow, using measurements of air pressure and water-column displacement in the shaft. These provide mean power output and energy capture efficiency as functions of wave period. The experimental tests enable the prediction of prototype performance for regular waves of finite amplitude.

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Contributors

Author: J.R. Chaplin

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