Abstract
Wave energy conversion is fundamentally constrained by the low energy density of ocean waves, the narrow operating bandwidth of conventional wave energy converters (WECs), and the excessive structural loads induced under extreme sea states. Here, a multi-feature energy-concentrated Oscillating Water Column (OWC) array system is proposed that integrates a parabolic wave energy concentrator, dual-chamber structure, and porous device to achieve both high power conversion efficiency and enhanced structural reliability. The parabolic concentrator amplifies the wave energy density at the focal point through multi-directional wave reflection and constructive wave interference, overcoming the bottleneck of low energy flow density in marine environments. The optimal integration combination of the optimized OWC array, the dual-chamber structure that exhibits a frequency-broadening effect under the tested wave conditions, and the porous device that mitigates wave-induced high-frequency forces without compromising energy capture performance enables the system to achieve an average Wave-to-Wire (WtW) efficiency of 50.0%. Specifically, compared with the baseline five-OWC array, the multi-feature energy-concentrated OWC array system achieves a maximum WtW efficiency improvement of 113.6%, while the porous device reduces the horizontal wave force by up to 24.1%. The proposed system provides a promising engineering pathway for efficient wave energy utilization in low-energy–density coastal regions, and it also provides a general strategy for advancing wave energy technologies beyond conventional geometric and hydrodynamic constraints.