WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER AND A METHOD OF GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM WAVE ENERGY

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wave energy converter, comprising: -a float; -an elongate spacer configured to connect the float to an anchoring at, on or to a floor of a water body; -wherein the float is configured to rotate as it moves along the elongate spacer due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body; -wherein said float comprises an air chamber for: -a shaft that is rotatably suspended inside the float and having a holder configured to substantially arrest the shaft against rotation as the float rotates around the shaft; and -a generator that is arranged between the float and the shaft and that is configured to generate electrical power when the float rotates relative to the shaft; and -wherein the shaft is completely arranged inside the float and the air chamber shields the shaft and the generator off from the water body. The invention further relates to a method of generating electrical power from wave energy.

Claims

1. Wave energy converter, comprising: a float that comprises an air chamber that comprises a generator that is arranged between the float and the shaft and that is configured to generate electrical power when the float rotates relative to the shaft; an elongate spacer configured to connect the float to an anchoring at, on or to a floor of a water body; and wherein the float is configured to rotate as it moves along the elongate spacer due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body, characterized in that the air chamber comprises a shaft that is rotatably suspended inside the float and having a holder configured to substantially arrest the shaft against rotation as the float rotates around the shaft; and wherein the shaft is completely arranged inside the float and the air chamber shields the shaft and the generator off from the water body.

2. Wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the holder of the shaft that is rotatably suspended inside the float is defined by a weight arranged on one side of the shaft to thereby cause said side to be substantially oriented downwards due to gravity.

3. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 wherein the elongate spacer comprises at least one anchoring cable that is arranged between the float and the anchoring.

4. Wave energy converter according to claim 3, wherein the float defines or comprises at least one anchoring reel that is configured to receive the at least one anchoring cable.

5. Wave energy converter according to claim 4, configured to: unwind the anchoring cable from the anchoring reel when the float moves upwards in the water body; and wind the anchoring cable onto the anchoring reel when the float moves downwards in the water body.

6. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 further comprising a counterweight that is suspended from the float and configured to move: towards the float when the float moves upwards in the water body; and away from the float when the float moves downwards in the water body, to thereby cause the float to rotate relative to the shaft.

7. Wave energy converter according to claim 6, wherein the float defines or comprises a spool that is configured to receive a flexible suspension that is connected to the counterweight.

8. Wave energy converter according to claim 7 in dependency of at least claim 3, wherein the anchoring cable and the flexible suspension that is connected to the counterweight have opposite winding directions relative to the float.

9. Wave energy converter according to claim 7, wherein the flexible suspension: winds around the spool when the float moves upwards in the water body; and unwinds from the spool when the float moves downwards in the water body.

10. Wave energy converter according to claim 4 wherein a diameter of the spool that is configured to receive the flexible suspension that is connected to the counterweight and a diameter of the anchoring reel that is configured to receive the at least one anchoring cable comprise substantially the same dimension.

11. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 wherein the float and the shaft are elongate members.

12. Wave energy converter according to claim 7, wherein: the float defines or comprises at least two anchoring reels at a longitudinal offset relative to each other; and the spool that is configured to receive the flexible suspension that is connected to the counterweight is arranged between the at least two anchoring reels.

13. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 wherein a rotation axis of the shaft is co-axially aligned with a rotation axis of the float.

14. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 comprising one or more than one further generator that is configured to generate electrical power when the float rotates relative to the shaft.

15. Wave energy converter according to claim 14, wherein the generator and the one or more than one further generator are independently and selectively operable.

16. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 comprising a gear box that is configured to increase a rotational speed of the generator relative to a rotational speed of the float.

17. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 further comprising: one or more than one sensor for monitoring at least one of a rotational speed of the float, a rotational movement of the shaft inside the float and a relative rotational speed of the float relative to the shaft inside the float; and a controller, configured to control the generator in dependency of the data obtained by the one or more than one sensor to thereby adjust a load that the generator causes to the shaft.

18. Wave energy converter according to claim 1 further comprising an energy output comprising a power cable.

19. Method of generating electrical power from wave energy, comprising the steps of: arranging a float in a water body; arranging a shaft completely inside the float and rotatably suspending the shaft inside an air chamber of the float to thereby shield the shaft off from the water body; arranging a generator that is configured to generate electrical power when the float rotates relative to the shaft inside the air chamber of the float to thereby shield the generator off from the water body; connecting the float with an elongate spacer to an anchoring at, on or to a floor of the water body; rotating the float as it moves along the elongate spacer due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body; arresting the shaft that is arranged in the air chamber of said float against rotation as the float rotates around the shaft; and generating electrical power from the relative rotation between the rotating float and the shaft.

20. Method of generating electrical power from wave energy according to claim 19, comprising the step of applying a wave energy converter, the wave energy converter comprising: a float that comprises an air chamber that comprises a generator that is arranged between the float and the shaft and that is configured to generate electrical power when the float rotates relative to the shaft an elongate spacer configured to connect the float to an anchoring at, on or to a floor of a water body; and wherein the float is configured to rotate as it moves along the elongate spacer due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body, characterized in that the air chamber comprises a shaft that is rotatably suspended inside the float and having a holder configured to substantially arrest the shaft against rotation as the float rotates around the shaft and wherein the shaft is completely arranged inside the float and the air chamber shields the shaft and the generator off from the water body.

Description

[0027] In the following description preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wave energy converter according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective detail view of the wave energy converter of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a further cross-sectional perspective detail view of the wave energy converter of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the wave energy converter of FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing successive steps of the wave energy converter in operation;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further operating state of wave energy converters during operation;

[0034] FIGS. 7A and 7B show front and side views of a wave energy converter according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0035] FIGS. 8A and 8B show front and side views of a wave energy converter according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a wave energy converter according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0037] The wave energy converter 1 comprises a float 2 and an elongate spacer 3 configured to connect the float 2 to an anchoring 4 at, on or to a floor 5 of a water body 6 (FIG. 1). Although the anchoring 4 is shown as a body on the floor 5 of the water body 6, it is explicitly mentioned that the anchoring 4 may be defined by an offshore foundation, such as a monopile or a jacket, or an oilrig. The float 2 is configured to rotate as it moves along the elongate spacer 3 due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body 6. Said float 2 comprises an air chamber 7 for housing a shaft 8 having a holder 9 configured to substantially arrest the shaft 8 against rotation as the float 2 rotates around the shaft 8, and a generator 10 that is arranged between the float 2 and the shaft 8 and that is configured to generate electrical power when the float 2 rotates relative to the shaft 8 (FIGS. 2-4). The air chamber 7 shields the shaft 8 and the generator 10 off from the water body 6 in which the float 2 floats. The air chamber 7 may simultaneously also shield other components, such as bearings, off from the water body 6, thereby allowing high quality bearings to be used that further reduce rotational resistance and thus increase efficiency of the wave energy converter 1. By shielding moving components off from the environment, the reliability, durability and efficiency increases. A reduction in rotational resistance is obtained by the moving parts moving in air, rather than in water, which is the case in many conventional prior art designs.

[0038] In the shown embodiment, the holder 9 of the shaft 8 is defined by a weight 11 arranged on one side of the shaft 8 to thereby cause said side to be substantially oriented downwards due to gravity, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. The skilled person will understand that the shaft 8 may rotate back and forth over a limited angular range when the weight 11 slightly swings during normal operation. However, the weight 11 is preferably large enough to substantially arrest the shaft 8. In very harsh conditions with big waves, additional measures, that will be discussed below in more detail, may be taken to prevent the weight to swing too much, for example more than 90 clockwise and counterclockwise relative to its equilibrium state during rest.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the elongate spacer 3 comprises at least one anchoring cable 12 that is arranged between the float 2 and the anchoring 4. The skilled person will understand that a rigid spacer 23, such as a post, may provide an alternative to the elongate spacer 3 being embodied by the anchoring cable 12. Such as rigid spacer 23 may support a rack-and-pinion construction, wherein the float 2 may comprise an external toothing 25 defining the pinion that engages with an external rack 24 arranged on the rigid spacer 23, as shown in the further embodiments of FIGS. 7-9.

[0040] The float 2 defines or comprises at least one anchoring reel 13 that is configured to receive the at least one anchoring cable 12. As can be best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the wave energy converter 1 is configured to unwind the anchoring cable 12 from the anchoring reel 13 when the float 2 moves upwards in the water body 6, and to wind the anchoring cable 12 onto the anchoring reel 13 when the float 2 moves downwards in the water body 6. Consequently, the float 2 will rotate as it moves along the elongate spacer 3, 12 due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body 6.

[0041] In order to stimulate the float 2 to rotate again when the wave or water level drops, the wave energy converter 1 preferably further comprises a counterweight 14 that is suspended from the float 2. This counterweight 14 is configured to move towards the float 2 when the float 2 moves upwards in the water body 6, and to move away from the float 2 when the float 2 moves downwards in the water body 6, to thereby cause the float 6 to rotate relative to the shaft 8. After all, the shaft 8 will still be arrested against rotation by its holder 9, i.e. by weight 11 moving towards its equilibrium state under the influence of gravity.

[0042] The float 2 may define or comprise a spool 15 that is configured to receive a flexible suspension 16, such as a cable or chain, that is connected to the counterweight 14, which is best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6.

[0043] The anchoring cable 12 and the flexible suspension 16 that is connected to the counterweight 14 have opposite winding directions relative to the float 2, i.e. relative to the anchoring reel 13 and the spool 15, respectively. The flexible suspension 16 winds around the spool 15 when the float 2 moves upwards in the water body 6 as a result of the float 2 rotating in a first direction, and unwinds from the spool 15 when the float 2 moves downwards in the water body 6 and rotates in a second direction, that is opposite the first direction.

[0044] A diameter of the spool 15 that is configured to receive the flexible suspension 16 that is connected to the counterweight 14 and a diameter of the anchoring reel 13 that is configured to receive the at least one anchoring cable 12 comprise substantially the same dimension. In this way, an optimum balance between the mass of the counterweight 14 and its range of motion is obtained, keeping in mind that the range of motion of the counterweight 14 is two times the range of motion of the float 2. A smaller diameter of the spool 15 would require a heavier weight which would require more material, whereas a larger diameter of the spool would result in a larger range of motion of the counterweight 14. Moreover, although the counterweight 14 may be lighter when the diameter of the spool 15 is larger, a too light counterweight may have the risk to drift in strong currents, possibly causing the flexible suspension 16, that may be a cable, to become entangled with the anchoring cable 12.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the float 2 and the shaft 8 are elongate members, wherein the dimension of the float 2 may be chosen in relation to the length of the waves at the location where the wave energy converter 1 is going to be installed.

[0046] In the shown embodiment, the float 2 defines or comprises at least two anchoring reels 13 at a longitudinal offset relative to each other, and the spool 15 that is configured to receive the flexible suspension 16 that is connected to the counterweight 14 is arranged between the at least two anchoring reels 13. This arrangement provides the advantage that the float 2 may be connected in a reliable and stable manner to the anchoring 4. As indicated in FIG. 1, the anchoring may comprise a rotating attachment 17 to allow the float 2 to adjust its position in dependence of the actual wave direction at a specific time.

[0047] A rotation axis of the shaft 8 is preferably co-axially aligned with a rotation axis of the float 2.

[0048] The wave energy converter 1 may comprise one or more than one further generator 18 that is configured to generate electrical power when the float 2 rotates relative to the shaft 8. If the generator 10 and the one or more than one further generator 18 are independently and selectively operable, the wave energy converter 1 may be easily optimized when conditions vary. For example, only one of the generator 10 and the one or more than one further generator 18 may be active when the waves are small and have a limited power density, whereas multiple generators 10, 18 of the generator 10 and the one or more than one further generator 18 may be set in an active state when the waves have a higher power density. It is mentioned that, also if the wave energy converter 1 comprises only one generator 10, this single generator 10 may also be selectively operable, for example in order to temporarily switch off said generator 10.

[0049] The wave energy converter 1 may further comprise a gear box 19 that is configured to increase a rotational speed of the generator 10, or possibly of the one or more than one further generator 18, relative to a rotational speed of the float 2.

[0050] Also, the wave energy converter 1 may comprise: [0051] one or more than one sensor 20 for monitoring at least one of a rotational speed of the float 2, a rotational movement of the shaft 8 inside the float 2 and a relative rotational speed of the float 2 relative to the shaft 8 inside the float 2; and [0052] a controller 21, configured to control the generator 10 in dependency of the data obtained by the one or more than one sensor 20 to thereby adjust a load that the generator 10 causes to the shaft 8. For example, when the controller 21 receives information from the one or more than one sensor 20 that the rotational movement of the shaft 8 inside the float is too much, for example said shaft swinging more than 90 clockwise or counterclockwise to its equilibrium state due to extremely strong waves, the controller 21 may decrease the load caused by the generator 10 to the shaft to thereby prevent the shaft 8 from making a full rotation, i.e. the weight 11 moving over the top in the air chamber 7. On the other hand, if the waves have a too low power density for the generator 10 to work efficiently, the controller 21 may switch the generator 10 off in anticipation of stronger waves.

[0053] It is mentioned that, although the float 2 rotates, energy output may be done with a normal power cable 22 without the need for special swiveling connectors. After all, the float 2 will rotate only a few revolutions during its vertical range of motion R (FIG. 5), and at most about ten revolutions for small designs. Considering an operating depth of several tens of meters, a power cable will have sufficient flexibility to absorb the windings over its length. The power cable 22 may extend out of the float 2 and may be sealed off with a seal 29 that is configured to seal the air chamber 7 off from the water body 6. Alternatively, the power cable 22 may be connected in another watertight manner

[0054] According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention that is shown in front and side views in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the elongate spacer 3 is embodied as a rigid spacer 23 supporting a rack-and-pinion construction. The rigid spacer 23 supports a rack 24 that is engageable by an external toothing 25 of the float 2 that defines the pinion of the rack-and-pinion construction. In order to prevent the float 2 to drift away from the rigid spacer 3, 23, and to thereby guarantee a secure engagement between the pinion 25 and the rack 24, a securing link 27 is guidable in a guide 26.

[0055] The third preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is very closely related to the second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 7, and only differs in that the rack-and-pinion construction is arranged at an angle. In this way, the float 2 will also benefit from a horizontal component of waves, while also travelling a longer distance along the rack for a given vertical wave displacement.

[0056] The fourth preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 9 shows that the elongate spacer 3 may be an assembly of a flexible elongate spacer in the form of anchoring cables 12, and a rigid spacer 23 in the form of upright posts, extending from a floating platform 28.

[0057] It is remarked that the weight of the float 2 itself is sufficient to support a downward movement of the float 2 along the elongate spacer 3 in the second, third and fourth embodiment. A counterweight 14 as applied for the first embodiment is redundant for the second, third and fourth embodiment.

[0058] The wave energy converter 1 may be used in a method of generating electrical power from wave energy, comprising the steps of: [0059] arranging the float 2 in the water body 6; [0060] arranging the shaft 8 completely inside the float 2 and rotatably suspending the shaft 8 inside an air chamber 7 of the float 2 to thereby shield the shaft 8 off from the water body 6; [0061] arranging a generator 10 that is configured to generate electrical power when the float 2 rotates relative to the shaft 8 inside the air chamber 7 of the float 2 to thereby shield the generator 10 off from the water body 6; [0062] connecting the float 2 with the elongate spacer 3 to the anchoring 4 at, on or to a floor 5 of the water body 6; [0063] rotating the float 2 as it moves along the elongate spacer 3 due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body 6; [0064] arresting the shaft 8 that is arranged in the air chamber 7 of said float 2 against rotation as the float 2 rotates around the shaft 8; and [0065] generating electrical power from the relative rotation between the rotating float 2 and the shaft 8.

[0066] Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended only to illustrate the invention and not to limit in any way the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that where features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, such signs are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting on the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it is particularly noted that the skilled person can combine technical measures of the different embodiments. The scope of protection is defined solely by the following claims.