AU2012100449A4 - Sea Wave Energy Plant - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A SWEP (Sea Wave Energy Plant) comprising multiple arrays of Sea Wave Energy Converter (SWEC) units, a hydraulic piping system, and power module, illustrated in figure 1. Designed to capture the energy from ocean waves to produce electrical energy for grid consumption. The Plant can also be configured to deliver seawater under significant pressure for use in desalination systems. Figure 2: Primary Converter Sub Module aj

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE 2012100449 There are six pages of the Description only Description A SWEP (Sea Wave Energy Plant) comprising multiple arrays of Sea Wave Energy Converter (SWEC) units, a hydraulic piping system, and power module. Designed to capture the energy from ocean waves to produce electrical energy for grid consumption. The plant can also be configured to deliver seawater under significant pressure for use in desalination systems. SWEC units includes the following: cylindrical float, made using existing pontoon / float products, materials, and technologies; ballast, made from standard plastic (PVC or similar) pipes filled with sea sand and / or another heavy substance; dual-action piston pumps (number of pumps per float and ballast depending on model size); and a support structure, including a self-adjusting tide and self preservation mechanism to adjust the height or submerge the unit. - In order to achieve the dual-action of piston pumps, the buoyancy of the float should be double the weight of the ballast. e The pressure generated by the system can be determined by the correlation of the weight in the ballast to the sum of piston surface areas. This provides an opportunity to use the conversion of potential wave energy into pumping seawater in a more effective way than other designs. - The common piston, shaft, and bore of each dual action piston pump ensure the force is pulling on the piston from the ballasts shaft negating the need to weigh down the float so that it can apply a pushing / bending force as moves down into a wave trough as would be required to cock a single action pump. * Separate inlet and outlet check valves operate the two strokes of the pump. - Seawater is accepted into the pump through the inlet valves and pumped through outlet valves into a larger common pipeline fitted with hydraulic accumulators where pulsation is reduced. Under an accumulated constant pressure the seawater is fed to a hydraulic turbine coupled to generator to produce electricity. " The support structure is constructed from standard plastic pipes and includes self-adjusted tide mechanism based on hydraulic cylinders. SWEC units are configured in pairs; this configuration is referred to as a sub module. Sub modules include two pumps, two floats and two ballasts to capture up to a 20 kW average hydraulic power. Hydraulic Piping System The pipeline system is made from standard commercially available pipes of appropriate diameter and composition. The pipeline system can also double to be the support structure of the converter sub module as illustrated in figure 1. The piping system combines output from each array of Sub modules and includes hydraulic accumulators for pulse dampening and storage of hydrokinetic energy as illustrated in figure 1. This output is directed to the power module.

Power Module The power generation unit is enclosed into a single module, which could be submersed to the sea floor with a small platform above the water to provide for service access and maintenance. The composition of the unit includes: - Hydraulic control Module, an automated system, which provide a stable supply of hydraulic power to the turbines - Turbine Module, a set of turbines and generators for high-efficiency conversion of hydrokinetic energy into electricity. Selection of capacities and parameters is done in accordance with the parameters of power converters and long-term analysis of the wave processes at a given site - Power Module, power panel, synchronizers, and transformers responsible for the power supply from the generators through an underwater cable to the Grid or other consumer. - Automation Module, SCADA system designed to provide fully automated and manual override control and management of SWEP with all real time data and control available to a central control room.

Illustrations Showing working principals: Figure 1 shows a general view of the power plant. Figure 2 shows the primary Converter Sub Module Figure 3 shows the Piston Pump Figure 4 shows the height adjustment system The general view of the plant illustrated in Figure 1 includes the following: 1-10. Inline arrays of sub modules. The hydraulic couplings between the sub units are flexible pipes / couplings as the sub modules are fixed to anchors with flexible couplings and are therefore able to move independently of each other. Each sub-module can be disconnected from the pipeline for service without stopping the other sub-modules. 11. SWEC sub module, as detailed in figure 2. Each sub module includes two pumps, two floats and two ballasts to capture up to a 20 kW average hydraulic power. 12. Hydraulic accumulators for pulse dampening and storage of hydrokinetic energy. 13. Submersed power and automation modules with docking / access platform.

The SWEP primary sub module pictured in Figure 2 includes: 1. A large diameter cylindrical float made from roto-molded poly or similar filled with marine grade closed cell foam. Diameter and height specified by wave parameters at site. 2. The shaft of the piston pump, made from stainless steel or composite materials that are resistant to seawater. The shaft is integral and connects the float and ballast, as a result of which the shaft is only responsible for pulling force. 3. The cylinder body of the pump made of stainless steel or composite materials that are resistant to seawater. Connected to the pressure pipeline through the outlet check valves. See pump figure 3. 4. The ballast, made from standard plastic large-diameter pipes, filled with wetted heavyweight materials, such as sand or gravel. 5. The support structure made from standard plastic pipes. 6. The hydraulic cylinder, providing automatic adjustment of the system to handle tidal movements. 7. Anchor to sea floor, in this example a dead weight anchor. Anchor technology selected will be site specific.

The diagram of the pump shown in Figure 3 includes the following: 1. The common shaft with the piston attached 2. Shaft seal to maintain seal and pressure in pump chambers. 3. The piston, made from stainless steel or composite materials that are resistant to seawater. 4. The pump cylinder made from stainless steel or composite materials that are resistant to seawater. The body of the pump is secured to a support structure and is connected to the pressure pipeline through the outlet check valves. 5. Inlet and outlet check valves, integral to piston pump operation.

Figure 4 illustrates the hydraulic cylinder and includes the following: 1. Hydraulic cylinder, made from stainless steel or composite materials that are resistant to seawater and secured to the support structure of the unit. 2. The pressure line valve (2) and release valve (8), opening in order to surface the unit. 3. The piston, made from stainless steel or composite materials that are resistant to seawater. 4. The pressure line valve (4) and release valve (7), opening in order to submerse the unit 5. The shaft, which is attached to the piston and the foundation of the seabed through a pivoting joint. 6. Anchor to sea floor, in this example a dead weight anchor. Anchor technology selected will be site specific.

Claims (5)

1. Inline arrays of SWECs (Sea Wave Energy Converter), Sub Modules self adjustable for tide levels with the main points of difference being in its utilization of a dual-action piston pumps with common solid shaft which captures energy not only during the waves rise to peak but also during the fall to trough and the collection of hydraulic output of such arrays intelligently through logically controlled hydraulic systems to reduce pulsation associated with wave power allowing the power plant to accept waves form any direction without adjustment of system or float layout.

2. Incorporating Cylindrical floats utilized in SWECs being made using existing pontoon / float products, materials, and technologies allowing extremely cost effective production. The cylindrical shape being integral to its ability to capture energy from waves approaching from any direction without the need for alignment.

3. Design captures maximum energy using float and ballast combinations configured to provide a neutral system weight through producing floats to the required volume by varying the diameter of such to ensure the height being set to maximum of half that of the available wave height (significant height) at the desired location so to efficiently capture energy from the waves rise to peak whilst providing an effective ballast weight (ballast weight less ballast displaced water weight) being half the effective float value (float value less float displaced water weight of the submersed float less the weight of the float) so to equally power the down stroke in the waves fall to trough.

4. Float, ballast, and all the structure of the unit made from readily available standard plastic pipes, which have a high resistance to seawater enabling their affordable procurement / production and replacement rather than implementing expensive high technology proprietary design which doom other similar eave generators to be unable to return on investment.

5. Automatic level control adapts system height to tide level and submerses for self-preservation during weather events, achieved with hydraulic cylinder principals, powered directly from system pressure sourced from the high-pressure pipeline, also holds modules above water independently as required for service.