
659Ocean Energy Conversion
© 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
conversion. A successful OWC system, called the Limpet, was constructed in the year 2000
at the Scottish island Islay. A schematic diagram of this onshore wave power system dem-
onstrating its operation is shown in Figure 11.28. Air is compressed and decompressed
by the OWC, and this causes air to be forced through a Wells turbine located above. The
Wells turbine is capable of rotating in the same direction, regardless of the direction of the
airow. Thus, it generates power irrespective of the direction of movement of the water
column. The water column rises with each incoming wav