GB2467026A

GB2467026A - Wave energy converter with articulated floats and mast

Info

Publication number: GB2467026A
Application number: GB0919231A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bndean Abdulkadir Omer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-19
Filing date: 2009-11-02
Publication date: 2010-07-21
Also published as: GB0919231D0; GB0900837D0

Abstract

A wave energy converter has a floating platform 3, one or more separate floats 4 articulated to the platform and an upwardly extending mast 5 attached to the platform by a ball and socket joint 7. A piston and cylinder arrangement 41, 51, 61 is connected between the platform and the relatively movable members, so that relative movement produces a hydraulic supply to drive an electric generator 25. There may also be a downwardly extending pole 14 connected to the platform by a ball and socket joint. There may be de-stabilisers 9, 33 in the form of annular channels in which a weighted ball runs freely, to exaggerate movement of the platform and mast.

Description

HYDRAULIC POWER GENERATOR OPERATED BY MOVEMENT OF WATER

This invention relates to an hydraulic power generator operated by movement of water. In particular, this generator is intended to float on water and to generate electric power as a result of movement of the water, for example, waves, which will rock the generator to enable the generation to take place.

There is always present the necessity to produce electrical energy from renewable sources and many different forms of this energy are currently available or proposed. These include solar panels, wind turbines and hydro electric systems using the force of either running water using water wheels or the transference of water from a specific height to a lower height using hydraulic turbines. Another source which has been attempted to be harnessed with varying amounts of success is the movement of the sea. This can be of a tidal nature in which the change in height of the water is harnessed or of the movement of waves can be used to drive generators. These latter arrangements have tended to be generally static even though they may be floating.

The present invention seeks to provide an electrical generator which can float on the surface of the sea and which can be acted on by the movement of the water on which it floats to generate electricity.

According to the invention, there is provided an hydraulic generator comprising a floating platform, an upwardly extending mast connected to the floating platform by a spherical joint, a separate float member articulated to the floating platform, a *: first piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to the separate float member in such a way that the movement of the S...

piston in the cylinder of the first piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the separate float member and the floating platform, a second piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to a part of the mast spaced from the spherical joint in such a way that the movement of the piston in the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the mast and the floating platform, an hydraulic fluid reservoir connected to inlets to the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement, an hydraulic motor connected to outlets of the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement, one way valves in the inlets and outlets of the cylinder so arranged that movement of the piston in either direction will drive the hydraulic motor and an electric generator driven by the hydraulic motor.

Preferably there are a plurality of float members.

The floating platform may have a downwardly extending rod connected to the floating platform by a spherical joint and a piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to a part of the rod spaced from the spherical joint in such a way that the movement of the piston in the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the rod and the floating platform.

Alternatively, a plurality of separate float members may be provided, and the floating platform may have a downwardly extending rod connected to the floating platform by a spherical joint and a piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to a part of the rod spaced from the spherical joint in such a way that the movement of the piston in the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the rod and the floating platform.

The floating platform may be provided with a destabiliser which acts to exaggerate any movement of the platform so as to increase the force which will S...

be generated by the movements of the platform.

S... S. * S The destabiliser may comprise an annular channel in which a weighted ball runs freely.

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The floating platform may be towed behind a boat which boat acts as a or the separate float member.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a system diagram of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the generator of Figures 1 to 3 for use in describing the operation of the generator and showing only one cylinder, and Figure 5 is a plan view of the use of the generator carried behind a boat.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, an hydraulic power generator 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. For the sake of simplicity, the hydraulic lines used are omitted. The connection arrangements for the hydraulic lines is shown in Figure 3. The generator 1 is intended to float on the surface of a body of moving or agitated water and to this end is based on a square floating platform 3 additionally supported by floats 4. Extending upwardly *:::: from the platform 3 is a mast 5 which is connected to the platform 3 by a spherical joint 7 which allows movement of the mast 5 relative to the platform 3 to an extent limited by certain restraining factors (not shown). At the top of the mast is a destabiliser 9 which comprises an annular channel 11 in which a weighted bali 13 runs freely. The purpose of this destabiliser 9 is to exaggerate any S. *S * . I * I

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movement of the mast 5 so as to increase the force which will be generated by the movements of the mast 5 relative to the platform 3.

Opposite to the mast 5 is a depending rod 14 which acts as a keel for the platform 3. Like the mast 5, the rod 14 is connected to the platform 3 by a second spherical joint 15. Also like the mast 5, the spherical joint 15 allows movement of the rod 5 relative to the platform 3 to an extent limited by certain restraining factors (not shown). The lower end of the rod 14 has a weight 17 which will tend to stabilise the rod 14 towards a vertical position. The weight 17 may be solid or may be filled with water or a combination of water and air as necessary to provide the desired characteristics.

Carried under the platform 3 is an hydraulic oil reservoir 21 and carried on the platform 3 are an hydraulic motor 23, an electric generator 25 connected to and driven by the motor 23 and an hydraulic connection system 27. The floats 4 which may be air filled or have a combination of air and water as required to provide the desired stabilising and flotation characteristics. The floats 4, of which there are, in this embodiment, four, are connected to the middle of the square sides of the platform 3 by levers 29. The levers 29 are connected to the platform 3 by spherical joints 31 which allow movement of the levers 29 relative to the platform 3 to an extent limited by certain restraining factors (not shown). A second destabiliser system 33 is provide on the platform 3 and comprises an annular channel 35 in which a weighted ball 37 runs freely. This destabiliser 33 works in a similar way to the destabiliser 9 and acts to exaggerate any movement of the platform 3 so as to increase the force which will be generated by the *: movements of the platform 3 relative to the floats 4, mast 5 and rod 14. * *** * S ***.

The main operating system comprises three sets of piston and cylinder * * arrangements. A first set is located at sea level, a second set is located in the air and the third set is located under the water. ** .* * * * * S

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The first set comprises four double cylinders 41 each carried by a short post 43 at the corners of the platform 3. The piston (not shown in these figures) of the first cylinder of the double cylinders 41 is connected by a rod 45 to one adjacent float lever 29 and the piston of the second cylinder of the double cylinder 41 is connected by a rod 47 to the other adjacent float lever 29. Thus any change in the spacing between the levers 29 and the post 43 i.e. any movement between the floating platform 3 and one of the connected floats 4, will result in a related movement between one or both cylinders and pistons.

The second set comprises four double cylinders 51 each carried by a post 53 extending upwardly from a side of the platform. The piston (not shown in these figures) of the first cylinder of the double cylinders 51 is connected by a rod 55 to one adjacent float lever 29 and the piston of the second cylinder of the double cylinder 51 is connected by a rod 57 to the mast 5. Thus any change in the spacing between the levers 29 or the mast 5 and the post 53 i.e. any movement between the floating platform 3 and either the connected float 4 or the mast 5, will result in a related movement between one or both cylinders and pistons.

The third set comprises four double cylinders 61 each carried by a post 63 extending downwardly from a side of the platform 3. The piston (not shown in these figures) of the first cylinder of the double cylinder 61 is connected by a rod to one adjacent float lever 29 and the piston of the second cylinder of the double cylinder 61 is connected by a rod 67 to the depending rod 14. Thus any change in the spacing between the levers 29 or the depending rod 14 and the post 53 i.e. any movement between the floating platform 3 and either the connected float 4 or the depending rod 14, will result in a related movement between one or both associated cylinders and pistons S...

All of the double cylinders 41, 51 and 61 are connected to the control valve system 27 by flexible hoses (not shown). S* ** * S S * .

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Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the connection of the double cylinders 41 51 and 61 to each other and to the reservoir 21. The actual operation of the generator will be discussed in relation to figure 4. For clarity, only four of the individual cylinders of the double cylinders are shown here instead of the eight which are actually present. The first or sea level set of cylinders 41 can be seen at 71, the second or air positioned cylinders 51 can be seen at 73 and the third set or underwater cylinders 61 can be seen at 75. Each cylinder of the double cylinders 41, 51 and 61 have a pair of inlet connections A and a pair of outlet connections B, the cylinders having an inlet connection A and an outlet connection B at each end or on opposite sides of the pistons (not shown). All of the inlet connections A are fed from the reservoir 21 through a first part 27a of the connection system 27 and all of the outlet connections B are fed to the hydraulic motor 23 through a second part 27b of the connection system 27 and inlet line 83. The outlet from the hydraulic motor 23 passes through the line 85 back to the reservoir 21 through a third part 27c of the connection system 27.

Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the generator, using a single double cylinder comprising two cylinders 101. In this figure can be seen the reservoir 21 which feeds the two input connections A of each cylinder 101 and the hydraulic motor 23 and electric generator 25 connected to the two outlets B of each cylinder 101.

Here, the pistons are shown in the cylinders 101 at 103. The two rods connecting the pistons 103 with the levers 29, mast 5 and/or rod 14 are shown at 105 and 107.

It will be appreciated that the cylinders 101 are mounted on the platform 3 in such a way that they remain stationary in relation to the platform so that any ... movement transmitted by the levers 29, mast 5 and/or rod 14 will be transmitted e.

through the rods 105 and 107 to move the pistons 103 relative to the cylinder 101. It must also be understood that the inlets A and outlets B are unidirectional valves, the inlets A only allowing hydraulic fluid into the respective cylinder 101 *� I * I I....,

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while the outlets B will only allow hydraulic fluid out of the respective cylinder 101.

In the static position shown, the system is in equilibrium, movement of either of the rods 105 and 107 to the right will move the associated pistons 103 to the right and force hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder 101 by the right hand outlet B and into the hydraulic motor 23 to drive it and the electric generator 25. At the same time, hydraulic fluid from the reservoir 21 can enter behind the piston to fill the space left by movement of the piston 103 through the left hand inlet A. If, on the contrary, either of the rods 105 and 107 and the piston 103 move to the left, the hydraulic fluid will be forced out of the associated cylinder 101 by the left hand outlet B and into the hydraulic motor 23 to drive it and the electric generator 25.

At the same time, hydraulic fluid from the reservoir 21 can enter behind the piston to fill the space left by movement of the piston 103 through the right hand inlet A. Thus any relative motion between the levers 29, mast 5 and/or rod 14 will cause movement of the pistons in one or more cylinders to drive the hydraulic motor 23 and the electric generator 25, The relative movement between the levers 29, mast 5 and/or rod 14 are caused by turbulence of the water in which the generator is floating. This turbulence will usually be caused by wave movement in the sea but may be caused by other forces such as the effect of storms on the sea.

Figure 5 shows one example of the application of the generator 1. in this example The main part of the generator is towed by a boat 201 which forms the fourth float. The other three floats 203 are specially shaped to enable suitable *: progress through the water. The electricity generated by the generator 1 can be ". used for any desired purpose and may for example, be fed to an electric motor e.

driving the boat's propeller. * S

It will be understood that many alterations of or additions to the above described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For * . S * *

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example, one or more of the sets of piston and cylinder arrangements may be omitted so that, for example a generator could be provided with any one of the sets or any two of the sets. The number of piston and cylinder arrangements in each set could be varied so as to have from one piston and cylinder arrangement upwards. The most favoured numbers are three or four. With less than three piston and cylinder arrangements, it would probably necessary to increase the stability of the mast and or downwardly extending post to prevent a system collapse. * a a S. * * a S...

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Claims

CLAIMS:- 1. An hydraulic generator comprising a floating platform, an upwardly extending mast connected to the floating platform by a spherical joint, a separate float member articulated to the floating platform, a first piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to the separate float member in such a way that the movement of the piston in the cylinder of the first piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the separate float member and the floating platform, a second piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to a part of the mast spaced from the spherical joint in such a way that the movement of the piston in the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the mast arid the floating platform, an hydraulic fluid reservoir connected to inlets to the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement, an hydraulic motor connected to outlets of the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement, one way valves in the inlets and outlets of the cylinder so arranged that movement of the piston in either direction will drive the hydraulic motor and an electric generator driven by the hydraulic motor.
2. An hydraulic generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of float members.
3. An hydraulic generator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the floating platform has a downwardly extending rod connected to the floating platform by a spherical joint and a piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to a part of the rod spaced from the spherical joint in such a way that the movement of the piston in the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the rod and the floating platform.*. S.. * . *( ** * , IS

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4. An hydraulic generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of separate float members is provided, and the floating platform has a downwardly extending rod connected to the floating platform by a spherical joint and a piston and cylinder arrangement mounted on the floating platform and attached to a part of the rod spaced from the spherical joint in such a way that the movement of the piston in the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrangement is controlled by relative movement between the rod and the floating platform.
5. An hydraulic generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the floating platform is provided with a destabiliser which acts to exaggerate any movement of the platform so as to increase the force which will be generated by the movements of the platform.
6. An hydraulic generator as claimed in claim 5 wherein the destabiliser comprises an annular channel in which a weighted ball runs freely.
7. An hydraulic generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the floating platform is towed behind a boat which boat acts as a or the separate float member.
8. An hydraulic generator substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. * S** * S* S* S 5S5* * S * .15* 5*.SS * *S Se Ce * S *. S. ** I * ISS C