Research on numerical simulation of running characteristics on wells turbine for wave energy conversion device based on the OWC principle

In order to further study the principle of the wave energy generating set, 3D full channel numerical calculations were carried out of the Wells turbine used for the secondary energy conversion of the wave energy generating unit. The main investigated items included the relations among turbine performance and stagger angles, as well as different blade profiles in forward and reversed flow field respectively. The influences of blade setting angles on power efficiency and power output were studied in a constant flow direction. The optimal parameters of Wells turbine with different setting angles were obtained in bidirectional flow field. When the turbine´s stagger angle was β3 with different airfoils, analysis was performed regarding the fluctuation of power efficiency and power output by the change of the tip speed ratio. It seemed that the turbine with asymmetric profile blades performed better than the turbine with symmetric ones when the tip speed ratio was low. Steady numerical simulations were undertaken about the rotor with the stagger angle β3, by comparing the aerodynamics of a turbine with different blade airfoils in forward and reversed running conditions. The result was that symmetric profile blades suited better for the bidirectional flow condition than symmetric ones and generated a noticeable steady and high efficient working region.