Model scale testing of the tupperwave device with comparison to a conventional OWC

A model testing campaign of the Tupperwave device was carried out to prove the working principal and validate a numerical modelling that had previously been developed. An appropriate and challenging scaling method was applied to the floating device to correctly model the air compressibility in the Tupperwave PTO. In parallel, a model scale conventional OWC was also built using the same axisymmetric structure geometry and both devices were tested and compared. The testing showed that the Tupperwave device produced less average useful pneumatic power than the conventional OWC. The primary losses were attributed to pneumatic power dissipation through the valves. The pneumatic power delivered by the Tupperwave device was however significantly smoother. The paper describes the experimental set-up and the methods used to assess the devices performance. The results provide a direct comparison between the two physical models pneumatic power performances and an in-depth analysis of the valves behaviour is shown.