Performance analysis of a multi-stage tidal wave energy converter

From the wave characteristics of St. Martin, Sandwip & Maheshkhali it was observed that Wave Energy costs only about 1.4% and 5.86% of solar energy and fossil fuel energy. Two Devices have been found to be most promising for the condition of Bay of Bengal. These are Oscillating Water Column (OWC) & the Overtopping Device (OD). Due to simplicity and of being comparatively efficient device, performances of OD have been experimented with multi-stage condition. This study focuses on water capturing as well as head creating capability of the device. A scaled version of multi-stage overtopping wave energy converter was projected & fabricated accordingly with the significant tidal range and small wave heights in Bangladesh. The dimensions of the overtopping device were varied for the experimental purpose. Two reservoirs have been kept in disparate conditions by varying the slope angle and opening width of lower reservoir in order for the discharges from the wave generator in both reservoirs to be carefully observed. After careful observations, it was found that the values of dimensionless discharge in the upper reservoir for higher angles were more than that of lower angles. The upper sloping angle and the opening width of the lower reservoir both have remarkable effects on the overtopping discharges, which can provide more information to the design and optimization of this type of device.