Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras

Semi-circular Breakwater Integrated with Oscillating Water Column

Technology Category/Market

Category – Energy, Energy Storage & Renewable Energy/ Green Energy

Applications –Wave energy converter, Hydrodynamics, Clean energy

Industry – Environmental Engineering, Clean Energy

Market -The wave energy converter market size stood at USD 21.08 million in 2022, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.70% during 2022–2030, to reach USD 30.44 million by 2030.

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Problem Statement

  • The existing breakwater structures are mounted on a rubble mound structures, and stones role down under extreme wave actions and that interferes with an Oscillating Water Column(OWC) device
  • Hence, requires frequent maintenance and not efficiently convert wave energy into the electrical energy, moreover such  breakwater structures are complex and expensive.

Technology

The present invention discloses a breakwater system for power generation, comprising:

  • a plurality of breakwater structures mounted on a seabed
  • an oscillating water column integrally mounted on each breakwater structure
  • Each breakwater structure of the plurality of breakwater structures is defined having a semi-circular profile and breakwater structures are manufactured from a prefabricated reinforced concrete material.

Further, the said oscillating water column comprises:

  • An inlet provided in a direction of flow of water, and configured to the oscillatory column, receives water from the water body
  • An outlet provided for the flow of air above the oscillating water column
  • The inlet is configured to receive water from the water body, for example – ocean, sea and likewise.
  • The outlet is configured to allow flow of pressurized air from an air chamber of the oscillating water column into surrounding
  • The seabed is defined, having a wedge-shaped profile to facilitate uniform flow of waves through the seabed and entering of the waves in the respective oscillating water column of the plurality of breakwater structures
  • The oscillating water column includes a first duct and a second duct coupled to the first duct to form an L-shaped oscillating water column, where the L shaped oscillating water column is defined as Class A type oscillating water column.
  • The Class B type oscillating water column has varied air chamber and front wall of Class B type oscillating water column extends up to an edge of the semi-circular breakwater structure profile.
  • In Class C type an oscillating water column comprising the front wall, such that a portion of the front wall at the first end is a vertical wall.
  • The water enters the device through the opening which creates a air mass oscillating inside the enclosed OWC chamber.
  • The process by which the primary converter converts the absorbed energy into electrical energy is called Power Take-off (PTO).

Key Features/Value Proposition

Technical Perspective:

  • Provides a breakwater system integrated with OWC to protect the shore as well as to extract the wave energy incident on the breakwater and converting to electrical energy at a certain level by having a turbine at the top of the OWC
  • Higher sliding resistance compared to other types of breakwater structures.
  • Soil subgrade reaction is less and it can be suited for poor seabed conditions

User Perspective:

  • The breakwater structures are light in weight, has higher membrane strength, and is easy to handle and place in the required marine environment
  • Higher efficiency in conversion of wave energy to electrical energy with this multipurpose application of OWC
  • A series of semi-circular breakwater structures integrated with OWC may also o serve as coastal protection measure.
Questions about this Technology?

Contact for Licensing

Research Lab

Prof. V. Sundar

Prof. V. Sriram

Department of Ocean Engineering 

Intellectual Property

  • IITM IDF Ref. 2206
  • IN202141046704

Design Patent Ref:

IDF 2226:  357042-001(Granted)

IDF 2311: 357036-001(Granted)

IDF 2312: 357037-001(Granted)

Technology Readiness Level

TRL- 2

Technology Concept Formulated 

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