Virtual wave flume and Oscillating Water Column modeled by lattice Boltzmann method and comparison with experimental data

In this paper, a novel approach for simulating Oscillating Water Column (OWC) using lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is presented. A direct comparison between a real wave flume and a 3D-Large Eddy Simulation (LES) numerical lattice Boltzmann (LB) wave flume is developed through the analysis of an OWC energy converter in order to validate the LBM approach for simulating OWCs. The numerical model uses a Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) approach and handles the water–air coupling into the OWC air chamber. The experimental and numerical setup are described. Comparisons for water level during free oscillation test, water level and air pressure under regular wave attacks are given and show that the LB model is accurate. We also discuss the efficiency of the simulated OWC. The 3D numerical model offers a powerful tool in order to study the 3D phenomena occurring into OWCs.