Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Assembly and Characterization of an External Driver for the Generation of Sub-Kilohertz Oscillatory Flow in Microchannels
Published on: January 28, 2022
Development of a Predictive Model for Evaluation of the Influence of Various Parameters on the Performance of an
Felice Sfravara1, Emmanuele Barberi1, Giacomo Bongiovanni1
1Department of Engineering, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
Abstract:
Oscillating Water Column (OWC) systems harness wave energy using a partially submerged chamber with an underwater opening. The Savonius turbine, a vertical-axis wind turbine, is well-suited for this purpose due to its efficiency at low speeds and self-starting capability, making it an ideal power take-off (PTO) mechanism in OWC systems. This study tested an OWC device with a Savonius turbine in an air duct to evaluate its performance under varying flow directions and loads. An innovative aspect was assessing the influence of power augmenters (PAs) positioned upstream and downstream of the turbine. The experimental setup included load cells, Pitot tubes, differential pressure sensors and rotational speed sensors. Data obtained were used to calculate pressure differentials across the turbine and torque. The primary goal of using PA is to increase the C curve area without modifying the turbine geometry, potentially enabling interventions on existing turbines without rotor dismantling. Additionally, another novelty is the implementation of a regression Machine-Learning algorithm based on decision trees to analyze the influence of various features on predicting pressure differences, thereby broadening the scope for further testing beyond physical experimentation.
Related Concept Videos
Typical Model Studies
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
Damped Oscillations
Although friction and other non-conservative...
Modeling and Similitude
Wave Parameters
Types of Damping

