Why does wave power scale with the square of wave height?

The formula P = ρg²H²T/32π has H² in it, so doubling wave height quadruples the raw wave power available.

Why does a Wells turbine keep spinning the same direction?

Its blade profile is symmetric, so it produces torque in one rotational sense regardless of whether air is flowing in or out of the chamber — essential since the OWC reverses flow every half-wave-cycle.

Home▸Energy & Thermodynamics▸Wave Energy Converter — 2D Oscillating Water Column (OWC)

Wave Energy Converter — 2D Oscillating Water Column (OWC)

A flat cross-section view of an OWC wave energy converter: incoming waves push a trapped air column through a Wells turbine into a generator, using the same wave-power formula as the 3D version.

Energy & Thermodynamics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion draws the same Oscillating Water Column physics as the 3D version on a flat canvas cross-section: waves lift and drop a trapped air column, a Wells turbine spins one way regardless of flow direction, and the live readout panel tracks wave power, capture efficiency, turbine output, capacity factor and annual energy from the formula P = ρg²H²T/32π.

⚙ Under the hood

Canvas2D OWC cross-section using the same wave-power formula (P = ρg²H²T/32π) as the 3D Three.js version, with a Wells turbine that keeps spinning one direction through the bidirectional air flow.

wave energyoscillating water columnwells turbine

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install