Oscillating Water Column

Oscillating Water Columns (OWCs) are devices that generate energy from the rise and fall of water caused by waves and tides in the ocean. OWCs have shown promise as a renewable energy source with low environmental impact. Because of this, multiple companies have been working to design increasingly efficient OWC models. As water rises and falls around and inside an OWC, air is displaced by the water in a collecting chamber and pushed back and forth past a Power-Take-Off (PTO) system. The PTO system converts the airflow into energy. In models that convert airflow to electricity, the PTO system consists of a bidirectional turbine. This means that the turbine always spins the same direction regardless of the direction of airflow, allowing for energy to be continuously generated. Both the collecting chamber and PTO systems will be explained further under "Basic OWC Components."