Performance assessment of the Ocean Falls Wave Energy Converter

Performance assessment of the Ocean Falls Wave Energy Converter: A solution for electrical power production in the future

van den Kerkhoff, Roy-Matthieu (TU Delft Civil Engineering and Geosciences)

van der Horst, Aad (mentor)
Braam, Rene (graduation committee)
Jarquin Laguna, Antonio (graduation committee)
Bricker, Jeremy (graduation committee)
ten Oever, Erik (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Civil Engineering | Structural Engineering

2019-06-20

There is a growing demand for renewable sources of energy of which wave energy conversion is one. The Ocean Falls is an oscillating water column (OWC) system invented by BAM Infraconsult b.v. This system differs from conventional OWC systems since it includes a connection tube and an adjustable back wall. The OWC system is a resonance system for which maximum efficiency is obtained once the natural frequency matches the incoming wave frequency. This thesis focusses on the modelling of the OWC system with ANSYS AQWA and ANSYS Fluent. A parametric model and a CFD model are developed to assess the performance of the OWC system. An optimum is sought for in terms of system performance, constructability and cost effectiveness. Eventually a conceptual design of the Ocean Falls OWC system is made to assess the technical- and economic feasibility.

Wave Energy Converter (WEC)
Wave energy
Oscillating Water Column (OWC)
Renewable Energy
Hydraulic structures
structural engineering
Innovation
Construction
Feasibility assessment
Performance assessment
literature study
conceptual design
Construction costs
cost effectiveness analysis
civil engineering
Hydraulic Engineering
Ocean Energy
innovative
Caisson

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:11f5eb60-5ebc-4a85-bd10-226e3e8de947

Student theses

master thesis

© 2019 Roy-Matthieu van den Kerkhoff