Model Statement

In this section, the interaction of the waves with the OWC chamber structure is
modelled. In order to analyze the airflow dynamic performance in the capture chamber,
it is first necessary to describe the waves propagation behavior. Hence, the task of
modeling the behavior of the capture chamber is divided into three phases. Firstly, a
model describing the wave surface dynamics is provided. Then, this model is related
with the pressure change in the OWC chamber and, in particular, with the pressure drop
in the turbines blades, detailing the relation between the waves and the airflow through
them. Finally, the mechanical characteristics are taken into account to obtain the
resulting rotational speed and torque to be applied to the induction generator.
1. Wave Surface Dynamics
According to Airy Linear Theory

Where c = f, so that

This expression represents the temporal variation for a wind wave of

amplitudea, wavelength, and propagation speedc, as a macroscopic
representationoftheoscillatingbehaviorofwaterparticlesataspecific
point.Itisnownecessarytoconsideranewvariablecorrespondingtothe
spatialdimensioninthewaves frontdirectioninordertotransferthe
oscillationmovementtoanypointofthesurface.

Then,takeintoaccountthatthewavenumber,k,isdefinedas

Sothat(3)maybewrittenas

WhereHdenotesthewaveheight.
Thisexpressionrepresentsthesurfacedynamicsofamonochromaticlinearwave
asafunctionofthewaveparameters.
2. CaptureChamberModel

Thefinalaimistoobtainthetorqueandangularspeedoftheturbinethat
serve as inputs of the turbogenerator. These variables are indirectly
related,asitwillbeshown,totheaxialspeedoftheairflowthroughthe
turbinesblades.
ThewatervolumemaybeusedtocalculatetheairvolumeintheOWC
chamber:

Where Vc and Vw represent the capture chamber and water volumes,

respectively.
Then,byintegratingtheorthogonalvariationofthewatersurfacealong
theareaofthechamber:

DuetothegeometryoftheOWCchamber,

wherewisthewidthofthechamber.
Therefore,onehas

whereldenotesthelengthofthechamber.
Now,itispossibletoobtaintheexpressionoftheinstantaneousairflow:

FromthisexpressionandtakingintoaccountthetopologyoftheOWC
chamber in Mutriku, where the airflow is conductedthrough a second
axisymmetricductwheretheturbogeneratormoduleislocated(seeFigure
2),itispossibletoobtaintheexpressionoftheaxialairflowspeed(v=
Q/A):

WhereDdenotesthediameteroftheduct.
3. TurbineModel
From the previous results and the turbine parameters, it is possible to
obtainthepressuredrop(dp)through[6]

where isairdensity(kg/m3), b isbladesheight(m), l1 islengthof

bladeschords(m),nisnumberofblades,a1isbladessectionarea(m2),
risturbinesmeandiameter(m),andwtisturbinesangularspeed(rad/s).
ThisexpressionisobtainedbyapplyingBernoullisequationacrossthe
disc,takingintoaccountthat,understeadyconditions,thetotalenergyof
theflowremainsconstantprovidednoworkisdoneonthefluid[53].As
itisshown,thepressuredropalsodependsontherotationalspeed,which
isrelatedwitheverytorqueappliedtotheturbine.Thisinteractionmaybe
modeled by means of Newtons Second Law applied to the rotational
motion[5]:

where H isinertiacoefficient, F isfrictioncoefficient, wt isrotational

speed, Tt is turbine torque, and Te is electrical torque (applied by the
inductorgenerator).
Besides,thetorquegeneratedbytheturbinefollowstheexpression[5]:

As may be observed from the previous three equations, there exists a

feedbackbetweenthebehavioroftheturbogeneratorandthepressuredrop
throughtheturbineblades,sincethepressuredropthroughtheturbine
depends on the rotational speed but, also, the generated pressure drop
influencestherotationalspeedbymeansoftheappliedtorque(seeFigure
15).

Also,inordertosolvetheaforementionedexpressions,itisnecessaryto
computethepowercoefficient(Ca)andthetorquecoefficient(Ct),related
totheflowcoefficient()bymeansofthecharacteristiccurvesofthe
turbine(Figures6and7)[6].
Inturn,theflowcoefficientmaybecalculatedasfollows:

Asaresult,andrecalling(12),itispossibletoderiveanexpressionforthe
pressuredropthroughtheturbineintermsofthewavefeatures,theocean
structurescharacteristics,andtheturbogeneratorbehaviorasfollows,f(.)
being a function matching the Ca and values according to the
correspondingturbinecharacteristics:

4. MeanValuesModel
From(16),itiseasytoobtaintheexpressionthatrepresentsthemean
pressuredropproducedinthecapturechamberforcertainwavefeatures,
giventheOWCstructurecharacteristics:

In order to simulate and validate the model, measured wave data for
Mutrikuplantbreakwaterareemployed.Also,accordingtotheAirylinear
theory[52],themeanpropagationspeedcanbecalculatedfromc= gh
,whereisthedistancefromtheseafloortotheSWL.0