DEVICE FOR CONVERSION OF WAVE ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
20230089008 · 2023-03-23
Inventors
Cpc classification
F05B2260/505
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E10/30
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F05B2230/50
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2240/93
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2260/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2250/132
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2260/64
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03B13/1845
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2220/705
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2260/503
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy consists of a supporting structure, the first working body, an anchor and anchor cables. The supporting structure is connected to the anchors by anchor cables, while the first working body is slidably connected to the supporting structure. The motion transformation system is firmly connected to the supporting structure and comprises rigid gears toothed with gears with rolls on one side while on the other side they are hinged to the first working body, on the other side of the gears with the rolls, rigid gears are connected at one end, while their other end is hinged to other working body. The gears with rolls are connected by shafts with a multiplier that drives the generator that further produces electricity. The device constructed in this way has the possibility of transport to the place of exploitation, because it floats stably on its own. The anchor system is transported to the place of exploitation using a transport body that also has the ability to float on its own and to submerge.
Claims
1. A device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy wherein the device comprises a supporting structure, a first working body, a motion transformation system, anchors and anchor tethers, wherein the first working body is slidably connected to the supporting structure and is connected by first gears to the motion transformation system that is by means of second gears connected to a second working body, which is slidably connected to the supporting structure, wherein the anchors can be transported independently of the supporting structure using a transport body.
2. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the first gears are connected to second gears via the motion transformation system.
3. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the first gears and the second gears are made as a combination of pinions and racks.
4. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the second gears and third gears are connected so that the third gears rotate in same direction.
5. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein first gears are detached from the third gears.
6. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy according to claim 5, wherein the detachment of first gears from third gears is performed by pulling the first rigid gears in a first direction.
7. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 4, wherein the separation of the first gears from the third gears is performed by the use of a lever mechanism driven by an electric or a hydraulic cylinder.
8. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the second working body via the motion transformation system performs useful work when moving under the influence of gravity in a downward direction.
9. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the first working body includes at least two watertight chambers.
10. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 9, wherein the chambers of the first working body include a valve that allows water to enter and a valve that allows air to exit the chambers.
11. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the mass of the first working body is greater than its displacement and does not keep afloat on the surface of the water if the first working body is not connected to the second working body.
12. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the first working body, when placed into a safety position becomes affixed to the support construction in order to prevent its translational movement around the structure.
13. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the first working body is connected by the first gears to the motion transformation system and the second working body (600) can fill chambers with and empty chambers of water.
14. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the first working body has a movable wrapper, which can move along an axis of the first working body.
15. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein anchors consist of two or more weights connected to the support structure by a chain or cable.
16. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the supporting structure include peripheral elements that form a generally hexagon configuration.
17. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the transport body can float on the water surface.
18. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the transport body can regulate internal pressure.
19. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the transport body can adjust its own weight by release of water from inside chambers and adjust the immersion speed of the transport body (700).
20. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the transport body can be lifted by the use of compressed air and valves.
21. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 1, wherein the transport body regulates the amount of trapped air inside the transport body.
22. A device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy wherein the device comprises a supporting structure, a first working body, a motion transformation system, anchors and anchor tethers, wherein the first working body is slidably connected to the supporting structure and by gears connected to a motion transformation system that is by means of gears connected to a second working body that is slidably connected to the supporting structure.
23. The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy of claim 22 further including a wind turbine that is coupled on top of the supporting structure wherein the wind turbine works simultaneously to generate electricity.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy according to the invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Attached are the figures that are used for better understanding of the process according to the invention, i.e. the constructional characteristics of the device enabled by the described assembly and the device transport phases. The figures show examples of embodiments of the invention and should not be construed as limitation of other possible embodiments that are within the scope of protection defined by the claims. Technical characteristics according to the claims can be mutually combined in other examples of the embodiments of the structure. The drawings show the following:
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038]
[0039]
[0040]
[0041]
[0042]
[0043]
[0044]
[0045]
[0046]
[0047]
[0048]
[0049]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0050]
[0051]
[0052] The first working body 200 and the second working body 600 are rigidly connected via rigid gears 101a, 101b, 102a and 102b, picturesquely described as “two-scale scales”. Thus connected working bodies are unbalanced by a relatively small wave force making the system efficient. Then the second working body 600 pulls the first working body on the surface of the water by its weight and it has a smaller draft so it comes to the zone of higher wave energy since it is known that wave energy decreases exponentially with water depth. The first working body 200 under the action of higher wave energy transfers more energy to the system all the way to the generator and a larger amount of electricity is generated and the whole system is more efficient. That is the beauty of the invention.
[0053]
[0054] One type of multiplier is presented in order to show the possibility of device operation.
[0055] Shafts 104a and 104b are bedded in the housing 111, gears 105a, 105b, 106, and 107 are also located and bedded with their belonging shafts into the housing 111. The housing 111 is firmly attached to the supporting structure 300 (
[0056] The characteristic of this embodiment is that the loads that occur due to the coupling of the rigid gears 102a and 102b and gears 103a and 103b with rolls are mutually balanced on guide 113 and the loads transmitted to guides 117a, 117b, 117c (
[0057] The characteristic of this system is that the loads are brought from two sides and they are taken away from only one side through the generator gears so this transformation of power and movement can be achieved with much smaller and simpler parts that are lighter and contribute less to inertial loads.
[0058] On the other hand, the motion transformation system 100 is designed in such way that the first working body 200 and the second working body 600 (
[0059] It is possible to install systems for balancing of rigid gears 101a and 101b when attaching to the first working body 200 and balancing of rigid gears 102a and 102b when attaching to the second working body 600, such as a rocker, a lever system, a sprocket with a chain and hydraulic balancers and the like.
[0060]
There are two ways of releasing rigid gears from the gears with rolls, one as described below and the other one is by pulling rigid gears out of the grip by providing a system that returns the rigid gears to the grip of the gear with rolls.
[0061] A mechanical system is described here in order to illustrate the possibility of embodiment of the invention. Instead of the described system, a hydraulic, electromechanical, pneumatic systems or their combination can be installed with the same task to separate or pull out the rigid gear and gear with rolls from the grip.
[0062] The system comprises fixed guides 117a and 117b having the housings of the lever mechanism 114a firmly attached at the ends, 114a at one end and 114b at the other end (
[0063] The mechanism for separating rigid gears in the open position is shown in
[0064] It is calculated that the device is configured in the security mode during transport to the anchoring location. The safety mode is characterized by the fact that the position of the center of gravity of the entire system is at a minimum distance from the lowest point of the supporting structure of the device.
[0065]
[0066]
[0067] The configuration of the device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy into a safety mode comprises lowering the first working body 200 so that it rests on the supporting structure 300 and then lowering the second working body 600 to the lowest predicted position.
[0068] The procedure for configuring the device in safety mode is as follows: the generator is programmatically set to motor mode, the second working body 600 is raised over the rigid gears 102a and 102b to the position where the first working body 200 leans on the supporting structure 300, the generator then stops and holds the second working body 600 in the upper position, from this moment the process of separation of the rigid gears begins (as previously explained), after completion of the cycle of separating the rigid gears the second working body 600 is lowered to the lower position by the generator.
[0069] The system in the safety position has the lowest center of gravity and is ready to withstand the strongest storms.
[0070] When submerged to the lower point the working body 200 can be easily locked mechanically, electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically or by some of the systems so as not to move during strong storms.
[0071] It is possible to detach rigid gears 102a and 102b or simply the rigid gears 102a and 102b come out of the grip with the gears 103a and 103b with rolls.
[0072] After the storm ended, the second working body 600 is raised by pneumatics, hydraulics or mechanics and the rigid gears 102a and 102b with rolls are coupled with the gear 103a and 103b with rolls and then the second working body 600 is raised to the upper position by generator and the rigid gears 101a and 101a couple with the gear 103a and 103b with rolls, then the second working body 600 is in controlled manner lowered by generator to the middle position and the system is back to standard mode.
[0073]
[0074] It is important to emphasize that lowering the weight during transport is necessary so that the device for conversion of wave energy has sufficient stability provided by the lower position of the center of gravity of the device. The entire motion transformation system is placed on top of the structure and above the water which raises the center of gravity of the structure itself and when the second working body is in the working position it is high above the water and makes the device structure unstable. When the second working body is lowered towards the bottom of the structure the center of gravity point is lowered so that it approaches the buoyancy point and better stability is achieved.
[0075] In the operating configuration of the device for conversion wave energy into electrical energy as shown in
[0076] Embodiment of such a construction has a number of advantages over the previous solutions mentioned in the prior art. The first significant advantage is that the construction does not require a large depth of water during transport because it practically has a very low draft. On the other hand, the motion transformation system is located above the water and is available for service, replacement and regular maintenance. The motion transformation system can be replaced entirely with relatively small load capacity cranes that can often be found on smaller ships. Also, personnel, technicians performing the service do not have to enter the structure to do the servicing, but they do it all from the outside of the structure.
[0077] TLP (tension leg platform) platforms are convenient because they provide verticality of the device in standard operation but they require great forces in the anchor cables to avoid kneeling, i.d. loosening of the anchor cable that causes the device to lean over, and then during tightening, extreme forces in the anchor cables occur.
[0078] In order to avoid these extreme forces, the displacement is increased, i.e. the static force in anchor cables. This results in expensive devices and extra high forces in the cables that are very often on the limit of current technological materials, a larger number with expensive balancing is used.
[0079] This phenomenon of extreme increase can be avoided by installing a shock absorber to alleviate the impact forces when tightening after kneeling. These shock absorbers are expensive and difficult to rely on due to their operation in water and great forces.
[0080] A reliable and inexpensive novelty consisting of one or more weights is presented here. Namely, the first weight has the mass of our choice, always larger than the static one and has a stroke until it attaches the second weight or a fixed point. The second weight has a free stroke, i.e. it can raise until it attaches the third weight or fixed point.
[0081]
[0082] When kneeling happens, a dynamic force occurs in anchor cable 400 as a consequence of the inertia of the system displacement and it raises the weight 503 first that has Q1 mass, after the weight 503 is lifted it slows down the structure until the chain 505 is tightened, when the chain 505 is tightened the weight 502 lifts up and continues to move upwards together with the weight 503 until the chain 504 is tightened.
[0083] Operation principle: when the anchor cable 400 is loosened, after the wave force has stopped, the device returns to the standard position with some acceleration and speed. Due to the large mass and acceleration after kneeling the system tends to return to balance position whereby extreme forces are generated because the stopping time is extremely short. To increase the stopping path of the device, (i.e., to extend the time interval of the deceleration) a shock absorber is added. By choosing number and mass of the weights and their free strokes a satisfactory force after kneeling in anchor cables can be achieved. This is a reliable and inexpensive way to control forces after kneeling.
[0084] A transport body 700 as shown in
[0085] On the transport body 700, there are valves S2 for releasing water inside the transport body 700 and valves S1 for releasing air, a crane with a lower capacity than the weight of the load Q that is lowered to the bottom is used, on the transport body 700, when the load is lowered to greater depths where hydrostatic pressures on the formwork of the transport body is higher, in order not to make a thick, heavy and expensive formwork, the regulation valve R and the tank T with compressed air are installed to enable the relief of the formwork of the transport body 700 which is exposed to external pressure.
[0086] The load Q is attached to the transport body 700 that can float together with the load Q and transport body 700 is towed to the desired location by a ship, then attached to a crane or a suitable device, a cable or the like to place the transport body 700 to the correct location. Valves S2 open and water flows inside the transport body 700 and the excess air exits through valve S1 until the transport body 700 starts to sink, then the valve S1 shuts, valve S2 shuts so the speed of the load that is lowered could be controlled by means of a crane for example, in case when a small crane is used for diving, the diving speed has to be controlled, then a regulation valve with an accompanying tank of compressed air is installed. With increasing depth, the surrounding water pressure increases and exerts pressure on the formwork of the transport body 700, so that the formwork does not deform, compressed air from the tank T is inserted inside the transport body 700 to equalize the internal and external pressure. When the load Q touches the bottom, the valve S2 is opened so that the water enters again inside the transport body 700 and at the same time the valve S1 opens so that the compressed air of the same pressure as the external hydrostatic, can exit until the water level inside the transport body reaches the height to which it is valve tube S1 was installed preventing further air leakage. The height of the valve tube S1 is calculated in such a way as to provide a sufficient volume that can lift the transport body 700 from the bottom but now without the additional load Q. The filling of the transport body 700 with water after immersion has to be done because otherwise the transport body 700 would, after detaching the load Q, suddenly move towards the surface of the water due to the large difference between its own weight and submerged volume, in order for this not to happen, the transport body 700 must be filled with water, that is, the excess air must be expelled in the described manner
[0087] In the case of submersion of the transport body 700 when the speed of lowering is not important then the valve S2 remains open and in that case the pressure inside the transport body and outside is the same, provided that the valve S2 is of a suitable diameter to allow enough water to enter the transport body to equalize the pressure at dive.
[0088] The lifting of the transport body 700 from the bottom is performed by disconnecting the load Q after filling the transport body 700, the transport body 700 at that moment begins to move towards the surface of the water, as the transport body 700 approaches the free surface of the water, the pressure on the external part of the formwork of the transport body 700, pressure regulation inside the transport body 700 is carried out by controlled release of water through valves S2 and air through valves S1.
[0089]
[0090]
[0091] During translational movement (up or down) of the rigid gears 102a and 102b, the gears 103c and 103d with the rolls rotate in the same direction because the rigid gears 102a and 102b are placed on the same side of the gears 103c and 103d with the rolls in relation to their axes of rotation.
[0092] With this multiplier, a gear for changing the direction of rotation should not be used, as in the case described in
[0093]
[0094] The additional chamber V3 is placed on the first working body 200 from the upper side so that the valves Sg are further above the water surface and the valves Sd are closer to the water surface.
[0095] The valves Sd and Sg are closed and thus a large free side that is needed for bringing the system into resonance is provided and the large free side would increase the displacement of the first working body 200 (
[0096]
[0097] After the storm ends the system is brought to working position by raising the second working body to the upper position by the generator, then the first working body is uncoupled and lifted by hydraulics, mechanics and the like, to couple rigid gears 101a and 101b with gear 103a and 103b with rolls and then the second working body is lowered towards middle position and it pulls the first working body to the surface. Since the valves Sg and Sd are open when Sg, under the action of the second working body, comes above the water surface, the air will enter the chamber V3 and the water will flow out through the valve Sd. When the water is emptied from chamber V3, valves Sg and Sd close and the system is in the operating position.
[0098]
[0099]
[0100] The external wrapper is used with a larger diameter of the first working body in order to reduce the splashing of the upper surface of the first working body as well as to allow a larger volume of captured water W3′ and thus greater tensile force in rigid gears 101a and 101b resulting in higher energy and easier resonance of the system.
[0101]
[0102] Large platforms for wind generators on water, for example, have large static forces in the anchor cables and they collectively divide the large static force into three because they couple at three points due to the fact that the plane is defined with three points, if more cables were inserted, the static force would be reduced but it is difficult to provide that all points of attachment are in the same plane, i.e. to have the same tensile force in all anchor cables.
[0103] The presented patent solves this in an easy, cheap and efficient way.
[0104] At the external points on the structure 300 near the binding points of the anchor cables, hooks or bearings K, K1 should be provided where hydraulic cylinders hx with a hook system as in
[0105] After positioning of the structure 300 is completed, the hydraulic cylinders are removed and can be installed on another structure 300 in order to position it.
[0106] The drive for the hydraulic cylinders can be on board and the hydraulic hoses can be stretched from the hydraulic engine to the cylinders.
[0107] In order to use smaller diameter hydraulic cylinders, water can be partially let into the structure 300 which obtains a smaller displacement and when the structure 300 is placed in the desired position then the pressurized air is released to the upper valves in the structure 300 disposing the previously released water.
[0108] The supporting structure of the motion transformation system 100 include peripheral elements that form a generally hexagon configuration. The peripheral elements of structure 300 are spaced radially outwardly from the central structure and are interconnected to each other by a series of rods or pipes. Each peripheral element is connected to the central structure by a series of rods or pipes. While six peripheral elements are shown, it is contemplated that three to ten peripheral elements could be used. Anchors 500 are connected to each peripheral element by a tether in the form of cable or chain, for example. So if six peripheral elements are used, there are six anchors used to secure the peripheral elements. Extending upward from the central structure is a vertical support tower. Float 200 moves vertically along the support tower. The motion transformation system 100 can also include a wind generator in the form of a wind turbine that can be coupled on top of the motion transformation system 100 so that the wind generator can work simultaneously with the WEC device when it is in working mode, and it can also work smoothly when the WEC device is in safety mode.