Dual orifice outlet configurations in backward bent duct buoy (BBDB) for enhanced hydrodynamic performance

This research explored the Backward Bent Duct Buoy (BBDB), a type of Wave Energy Converter (WEC), to examine the relationship between the location of dual-orifice air column and the primary conversion efficiency. The BBDB type of WEC is promising due to its simple design and relatively strong performance, yet limited studies have investigated it, particularly concerning the orifice design, in comparison to other EC types. The study aimed to investigate the impact of varying the location of the dual orifice air column of the BBDB device on its primary conversion efficiency. This was achieved by designing and fabricating three top panels each for horizontally and vertically aligned dual orifices with varying distance, tested in a 3D wave tank. The results indicated that the top panel with Configuration 2.3 exhibited the highest efficiency at 0.106%, followed by top panels with Configuration 1.3 (0.088%), Configuration 2.1 (0.085%), and Configuration 2.2 (0.082%). The findings suggest that top panels with vertically aligned dual orifices have higher efficiency compared to those with horizontally aligned dual orifices.