Effect of Variation of Wave Height and Ocean depth on the Performance of Savonius Rotors Utilizing the Orbital Motion of Ocean Waves in Shallow Waters

Abstract

Ocean wave energy conversion technology is renewable and has distinct advantages over its peers. This paper presents an experimental study on the performance of Savonius rotors for the utilization of orbital motion of the fluid particles in ocean waves in shallow waters. A five vaned rotor is considered in this work and the performance is studied for different wave heights and wave time periods for a constant water depth. These input parameters are further non-dimensionalised as orbit overlap ratio and relative water depth. The output performance parameters selected for the studies were rotor speed and shaft power. These parameters are further non-dimensionalised as frequency ratio and efficiency. From the experimental results it was found that the frequency factor increases with an increase in orbit overlap ratio and an increase in ocean depth. The efficiency was found to decrease with increase in overlap ratio but increases with increase in ocean depth. Finally, from the experimental design and ANOVA using Design Expert 8.1 software, it was found that the load is the major parameter that influences the rotor output performance.