Wells turbine power enhancement by simultaneous and opposite motion of the turbine-chamber system

Abstract

In this note, consideration is given to a possible practical strategy by which the power from a Wells turbine in an oscillating water column could be enhanced. In this strategy and contrariwise traditional approaches in which turbine and chamber are at rest, the motion of the turbine and the chamber are both in motion and driven by a common heaving float. However, while the motion of the turbine is in one direction, the motion of the chamber is reversed owing to a lever or pulley system. In this way, from the point of view of the turbine framework the relative velocity of air passing through the Wells turbine may be, idealized, doubled and thus the extractable power output. The strategy could also be used in linear inductance generators in which case by doubling the relative velocity between coil and magnet which taking into account that the electrical power is related to the square of relative velocity the strategy is worthy to be considered.