Modular device for converting wave energy

Abstract

A modular wave energy converter comprising a rotating wave-receiving chamber made of several working chambers in the form of toroidal segments open on one side and closed on the other side by a valve, wherein the working chambers on one side and/or on the other side are closed by ventilation grilles.

Claims

1. A modular wave energy converter fixed in an arbitrary manner, rotatable in a semi-submerged position on the water surface, the modular wave energy converter comprising: at least one wave-receiving chambers coaxially fixed on a common shaft or hollow body, each of which is made of several working chambers in the form of toroidal segments, closed on the first sides by the first valves, wherein the first ventilation grilles with moving shutters are used as the first valves, while the working chambers on the second sides are open or closed by the second ventilation grilles.

2. The modular device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first sides of the working chambers are the rear sides in the direction of rotation of the device.

3. The modular device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first valves in the form of the first ventilation grilles are adapted to close their shutters when the pressure inside the working chambers is lower than the external pressure.

4. The modular device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the second ventilation grilles are made similar to the first ventilation grilles in the form of ventilation grilles with movable shutters that are used as the second valves.

5. The modular device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second sides of the working chambers are the front sides in the direction of rotation of the device.

6. The modular device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the second ventilation grilles are adapted to close their shutters when the pressure inside the working chambers exceeds the external pressure.

7. The modular device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the shutters of the first and/or second ventilation grilles are made of a plurality of rigid, flat, narrow, movable (rotary) plates.

Description

[0011] The claimed invention is represented in FIG. 1 by a general view of the module comprising one rotating wave-receiving chamber, which consists of three working chambers, and a fragment of the central body (hereinafter referred to as the module) in configuration with closed ventilation grilles on the rear sides of the working chambers. Ventilation grilles in the drawing version are depicted with rigid, flat moving shutters. To explain the operating principle, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the dynamic schemes. The working chamber 1 depicted in FIG. 1 is fixed to the fragment of the central body 5 and has a front side 2 and a rear side 3 20 relative to the direction of rotation. In the drawing, the rear side 3 of the working chamber 1 is closed by a ventilation grill 4. But in some cases, depending on the conditions of use, the working chamber is closed by ventilation grilles on the front side or on both sides simultaneously. The choice is made individually in each case and is affected primarily by the capacity to prevent clogging and fouling of surfaces by floating algae or molluscs, as well as by the geometric dimensions of the device that depend on the average wave height in the water area of operation. For the convenience of service and transportation in disassembled form, each working chamber can be independently made of two or more parts folding compactly into each other. The modules assembled at the site of operation are attached coaxially to each other or to a shaft, an axle or any supporting structure. To transfer the resulting rotary motion 30 to a generator, pump or other device for performing useful work, a drive shaft of arbitrary design is used, which is not shown in the figures.

[0012] The claimed device operates as follows. The modular wave energy converter is fixed by any known method at the installation site so as to be on the surface of the water in semi-submerged state. If necessary, the use of hollow floats is possible to ensure buoyancy. The incoming waves will arbitrarily temporarily flood and drain individual working chambers, creating at the same time an imbalance of forces that ensures the rotation of the entire device and the transfer of torque to the device to perform useful work, which is not shown in the figure. The circular movement of the working chambers can be conditionally divided into the areas of descent (immersion) and ascent (emersion). The device operation principle is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 on the example of the cross section of one module of three working chambers:

[0013] Phase 1, depicted in FIG. 2: Wave elevation and the relative “immersion” of the module.

[0014] On the working chamber 6, which conditionally “ascents” on the ventilation grille 7, the shutters are closed under the effect of excessive pressure, which prevents the flow of water from outside into the chamber, and the Archimedes' buoyant force FA acts on it, creating a torque. In the working chamber 8, which “descends”, the shutters on the ventilation grille 9 can be freely opened and it is easily filled with water according to the principle of communicating vessels.

[0015] Phase 2, depicted in FIG. 3: Wave lowering and the relative “emersion” of the module. The water that filled the working chamber 8 during the “immersion” of the module tries to leave the chamber and this creates a certain vacuum in it, leading to the closing of the shutters on the ventilation grille 9. As a result, water can no longer leave the chamber and its weight FT creates a torque in the same direction as the Archimedes' buoyant force FA during the “immersion” in the first phase. In the working chamber 6, which “ascents”, if necessary, the shutters are opened on the ventilation grille 7 and it is freely released from the water, not opposing the rotation of the module.

[0016] To confirm the correctness of the assumptions, we built a prototype of one wave energy converter module and conducted the tests first in the laboratory and then in real conditions on the Sea of Azov. The overall diameter of the module was 1200 mm, the cross-section of the working chambers was 300×300 mm. The module consisted of three working chambers, closed from the rear side with respect to the direction of rotation by ventilation grilles with movable shutters. Of course, the shutters did not provide such tightness, as the valves. However, as a result, they had much less hydraulic resistance, while insignificant losses from fluid leakage were more than offset by the positive torque created by the other working chambers.

[0017] In the laboratory, one separate working chamber was gradually lowered and raised in a rectangular container with water with amplitude of 250 mm and a period of 4 seconds. In full-scale tests, the height of a real wave ranged within 300 mm with a period of about 3-4 seconds. The tests were successful and fully confirmed the possibility of stable operation of the device. Both during the ascent and descent of the wave, the prototype of the device received the desired impulse from the action of Archimedes' force or gravity, and it was continuously turned. The main thing is that in the dynamic scheme there were no reversible loads, which, in turn, led to the stable operation of the entire device and a significant increase in its efficiency.

[0018] The carried out tests and preliminary calculations show that the proposed modular wave energy converter can be effectively used as an energy source in coastal and island areas.