| Wave energy converters (WEC) are hydraulic structures that are used to harvest energy from oceans. Different types of WECs technology werereviewed and presented. The weaknessof manyof the technologies includelow efficiency, ocean viewaesthetics, and durabilityin severe weather. This research proposes a new concept of a WEC termed a Submerged Oscillating Water Column (SOWC) that may addressthe last two issues. The SOWC device consists of two submerged chambers that are connected to allow airflow between the chambersas waves pass; ideally spaced at half a wavelength. As waves move over the SOWCs, thepressure fluctuatesand the water level inside the chambers oscillates. By using a power take-off system, motion energy can be transformed into electrical energy. The device maybecapable of connecting and syncing multiple of them together and creating an energy harvesting farm. Numerical simulations using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code Flow-3D and physical model tests were carried out at Idaho State University to assess the validity and conversion rate of the proposed device. Thirty-seven numerical tests and eighty-fourexperimental tests were carried out and compared. The key component of this study is to determine the conversion rate;the ratio of the water fluctuation inside the cylinderrelativeto the wave oscillations. The efficiency of the whole system and the detail of the power take-off system (PTO) is not in the scope of this research. Numerical and experimental tests are compared.The results showedthe conversion rate in the range of 30%-95%. The key factors in conversion rates werethe wave characteristics including height, depth,and period.Other important variables includethe location of the SOWCs’ openings.Keywords: Submerged oscillating water column (SOWC), wave tank, wave energy |