Cascade wind turbines for the oscillating water column wave energy device: Part 1

The Wells wind turbine, which is used in the oscillating water column wave energy device, is simple but has a low efficiency. It stalls in strong winds caused by large waves and has a subsequent slow recovery. Its close relationship with the vertical axis wind turbine is pointed out. A novel cascade wind turbine which is simple and at the same time can accept wind caused by a large wave without stalling is suggested. Such a turbine has also the potential of avoiding compressibility effects which result in loss of power.