DE102011101409A1 - Float power plant for utilizing wave energy, has generator that is driven by drive shaft by rotational movements of transmission wheel with lifting movement of float - Google Patents

Abstract

The power plant has float (5) comprising transmission wheel (6) with a generator (16), over which a tension element (30) is guided. A rising end (30b) of tension element is connected to the bottom of lake or to lake floating counterweight (9) and the descending end (30a) of tension element is connected to transmission wheel, so that the rotational movements of the transmission wheel are performed for driving the generator by drive shaft (17) with the lifting movement of the float. The tension element is guided as a loose roller in block and tackle principle.

Description

The invention relates to a floating body power plant for exploiting the wave energy according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a wave power plant is, for example, with the subject of US 6,695,536 B2 known.

In this known arrangement, a float is present, in the interior of which a generator is arranged, which has a deflection wheel, which is biased by spring force and on the outer circumference of a rope or a tension member is guided. One end of the tension member is located either on the bottom of the lake or on a floating weight in the lake, while the other end of the tension member is rolled up on the drum.

With appropriate lifting movement of the float thus the rope or the tension member is more or less aufgrollt on the cable drum and unrolled again.

These movements of the cable drum - but only in one direction of rotation - are used to drive an electric generator. Disadvantage of this arrangement is that only the increasing lifting movement of the shaft can be used to generate energy and not the downward stroke movement.

This is a very poor efficiency and given by the winding and Abwickelbewegungen the rope or the lifting member on the drum creates a high mechanical complexity with poor efficiency, because the weight of the rope or the lifting member also still has to be wound up by the drum, which leads to a loss of effect.

The winding movement of the drum must be so fast that exactly takes place the winding within a wave amplitude, otherwise there is also a loss of effect.

With the subject of JP 02136570 A Another floating body power plant has become known in which the vertical wave movements are utilized. Again, starting from an anchorage at the bottom of the lake a rope is passed through a dive buoy and the dive buoy is connected to a lifting rod, which performs a vertical displacement movement through the float. This vertical displacement movement is used to drive an electric generator. Again, there is the disadvantage that only one direction of the wave motion for conversion into electrical energy is used and, moreover, a high mechanical complexity in terms of the mechanical degree of control of the lifting rod is given.

With the subject of DE 60 2004 006 297 T2 Also, a floating body power plant is described in which, starting from a docked at the bottom of the lake anchoring a rope guide via two winding drums, the return springs are biased. Again, there is the disadvantage that energy can be obtained only in one direction (eg, in the rising wave motion), but not in the descending wave motion.

The invention is therefore the object of a floating body power plant for the utilization of wave energy according to the preamble of claim 1 so on to form that a much better energy utilization is given.

To solve the problem, the invention is characterized by the technical teaching of claim 1.

An essential feature of the invention is that the floating body power plant according to the invention comprises in its float at least one generator which is driven by at least one drive shaft, which drive shaft is rotatably connected to a Transmissionsrad, which is formed as a loose role of a pulley principle guided tension member ,

With the given technical teaching, there is the significant advantage that now both the ascending and the descending wave motion for the conversion of energy can be used equally, which practically doubles the efficiency compared to the known floating body power plants.

Important in the invention is that the arranged in floating body deflection now no longer is designed as a pulley, as is known in the prior art, but it is therefore referred to as a transmission wheel, because it is part of a loose role of a simple pulley.

Based on a so-called factor pulley, the invention uses the principle of a factor pulley for atomic number N = 2.

Thus, according to the invention, the loose roll is designed as a deflection roller in the floating body in the case of an N = 2 factor pulley, for which reason this deflection pulley is referred to as a transmission transmission wheel.

It is therefore not a simple deflection roller according to the prior art, but a loose role on pulley principle.

The invention is not limited to using ropes for the tension members. Instead of a rope also any chain hoists can be used.

In a third embodiment also toothed tension members can be used, as they are known in a V-belt.

It is important in the present invention that in the floating body power plant according to the invention an optimal conversion of the potential energy of the wave into an electrical energy with a twice as high efficiency takes place as described with reference to the above-mentioned documents.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the tension members are duplicated, that is, there are two parallel and mutually spaced, but non-rotatably connected transmission wheels, which are connected to a common drive shaft, which drive shaft, the drive shaft of the generator represents.

With the arrangement of two mutually parallel and mutually spaced transmission wheels on each of which a tension member runs, the advantage is achieved that the floating body is guided without tilting and parallel to the shaft, because the two parallel and mutually spaced tension members a canting this Avoid floating body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the tension members are designed as tension cables, but this term is only used for the sake of simplicity later, although the invention is generally directed to any tension members.

In order to grasp the two parallel and together in the direction of the lake bottom guided tension members near the bottom of the lake, it is provided that they are fastened above the lake bottom in a traverse and the traverse is in turn braced at the bottom with an anchor throttle relative to the lake bottom.

Of course, the use of such a traverse is not a solution, because the two tension members, which are performed in parallel and at a mutual distance in the direction of the lake bottom, can also be held directly anchored in the seabed anchor weight, provided that the waves always come from the same direction.

The traverse according to the invention thus provides only for a central anchoring on the bottom of the lake, although the invention is not limited thereto.

Important in the invention is that the two parallel and mutually spaced tension members are now guided over the two parallel transmission wheels and the descending tension member, beyond the respective transmission wheel is fixedly coupled to a counterweight. This counterweight can float freely in the sea.

However, it is preferred if the counterweight guided longitudinally guided along the descending tension members, for which purpose a spacer is preferably used, on which a parallel guide is arranged, which surrounds the descending tension member.

This has the advantage that the counterweight roller is now guided along the descending tension member, without it floating freely in the sea and may possibly lead to damage.

With such an arrangement of a loose roll in the form of transmission wheels there is accordingly the advantage that with a wave amplitude of size K, the counterweight now passes through the stroke 2X, with the result that a transmission takes place via the transmission wheels, which are thus driven twice as fast as if it were a simple pulley.

The counterweight is therefore to be adjusted with its weight so that the lifting movement in the downward direction is transmitted to the transmission wheels exactly the same as the lifting movement in the upward direction.

It should as possible slippage of the tension members on the transmission wheels are avoided, although the invention is not directed to the fact that slippage is absolutely excluded. It can also be quite tolerable such a slip.

Accordingly, it is important in the present invention that the generator performs a rotational speed-reversed torque control. This means that the reference variable for the generator control is the rotational speed of the respective transmission wheel and that in the direction of rotation reversal no energy is generated.

In general, one can think of the wave lift motion as a sinusoidal curve, which in one ascending shaft stroke and subdivide into a descending shaft stroke.

Important in the invention is only that the generator according to the invention evaluates both the potential energy of the rising shaft stroke and the potential energy of the descending shaft stroke in the same way and converts it into electrical energy.

For this reason, the rotational speed is detected by the transmission wheels and used for a rotational speed reversing torque control.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention also provides that the floating body according to the invention is designed as a buoyancy tank, which is submersible. Here, the invention provides an emergency lowering of the buoyancy tank, so that when exposed to elemental forces such. B. a hurricane of the floating body is partially flooded and can be stably positioned in a safe diving distance under water.

A surfacing is possible if one builds an overpressure tank in the buoyancy tank and the water flooded in the buoyancy tank again squeezes out.

A particular advantage of the invention is that an automatic Tidenhubangleichung takes place, this length of the tension members is always chosen so that it is always ensured that the counterweight, which should float in the water should not strike the seabed.

The subject of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual claims, but also from the combination of the individual claims with each other.

All information and features disclosed in the documents, including the abstract, in particular the spatial design shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention insofar as they are novel individually or in combination with respect to the prior art.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings showing only one embodiment. Here are from the drawings and their description further features essential to the invention and advantages of the invention.

1 : Schematizes the floating body power plant in two different working positions

2 : The front view of the floating body power plant behind 1

3 : The front view of the floating body power plant after 2

4 : The principle of application of the floating body power plant after the 1 to 3

5 : Schematically depicts the transformation of potential wave energy into electrical energy

6 : Schematisiert a block diagram of the generator used for this purpose.

In 1 In general, a floating body power plant is shown which essentially consists of a floating body 5 exists in the area of an upper line 23 Floats on a wave, the wave motion with reference numerals 24 is specified. The float 5 has acc. 2 and 3 an upper part on, as a compressed air chamber 20 is formed, which has a separation protection 37 separated from a lower part, which serves as a buoyancy chamber 36 is trained.

In the interior of the float 5 namely in the area of the compressed air chamber 20 is replaceable a generator chamber 38 Arranged over an inspection cover 7 can be opened so that a generator arranged therein 16 is easily interchangeable.

The generator 16 is on both sides with drive shafts 17 connected in turn rotatably at the respective end with a transmission wheel 6 are connected.

As indicated in the general description, this transmission wheel serves 6 as a loose role of a pulley, whose principle is based on the 4 will be shown later.

The descending tension member 30a is in pairs, as is in 2 is shown and each part of the descending tension member 30a is in the area of a traverse arranged near the bottom of the lake 3 at each 2 mutually parallel attachment points 26 attached.

At the bottom of the crossbar 3 is over an attachment point 27 an anchor trunk 2 attached, the gem. 1 with an anchor weight resting on the lake bottom 1 is rotatably connected.

The weight of the anchor weight 1 must be chosen so that in any case, the upward buoyancy of the float 5 not to lift the anchor weight 1 from the lake bottom 22 leads.

The two tension members both in the descending and in the ascending branch are about hawser introductions 4 through the float 5 passed and in the direction of the transmission wheel 6 directed.

To the entire float 5 To make submersible are at the bottom end of the buoyancy chamber 36 open water inlets and outlets 18 arranged. In the area of the opposite compressed air chamber 20 are tank vents 19 provided, which can be controllably supplied with compressed air.

Furthermore, in a buoy bag 13 in the float 5 one in the float 5 releasably held radio and navigation buoy 21 arranged, which is an antenna 12 where they are using an anchoring buoy 14 with an anchor weight 15 connected is.

The aforementioned radio and navigation buoy 21 has the task of a submerged float 5 to be found again.

Similarly, the corresponding controls and battery elements in the radio and Navigationsboje 21 arranged to control the diving and floating movements of the float in case of power failure 5 perform.

Because the generator 16 is used to generate electricity, it is necessary that in the generation of electricity electrical energy via an electrical line 28 in the direction of the sea bottom. This is in 2 shown, this electrical line via a cable outlet 8th at the float 5 is guided down.

1 shows that the electric wire 28 in the area of a cable guide 29 is connected via any route with a corresponding energy consumer or power distributor, preferably the cable continuity 29 over the lake bottom 22 is guided.

The electrical line 28 is for length compensation via a cable loop 11 in the area below the crossbar 3 fitted.

Referring to the basic principle of the present invention is on 1 and 4 directed.

At the descending part of the tension member 30 (tension member 30b ) is at the lower free end a counterweight 9 arranged, which has a spacer 10 with the descending part of the tension member 30a connected is.

The wave generator defined thereby 25 Acts accordingly to the principle of loose role gem. the 1 and 4 , If now the float 5 gem. 4 a wave lift 31 performs the amplitude X, the generator performs 16 itself also a wave stroke of the amplitude X by. Now it is important that the counterweight 9 and the tension member 30 perform the double shaft stroke, that is a double stroke 40 (= 2X).

Thus, there is an increase in number at the transmission wheel 6 each in the direction of the arrows 35a and 35b ,

It is therefore a factor of 2 to the amplitude of the shaft stroke 31 ,

The movements of the counterweight 9 in the direction of the arrows 32 . 33 are translated by a factor of 2.

5 now shows the utilization of the potential wave energy in electrical energy. It can be seen that the potential wave energy as a sine wave gem. 5 takes place, making it an ascending potential energy 42 and a descending potential energy 43 gives. Between the two there is a reversal of direction 41 , What is important now is that the electrical energy that comes with the generator 16 always points in the same direction, that means every potential energy leads to an energy conversion acc. the electrical energy 44 , which are only schematized rectangles in 5 are drawn.

The 6 schematically shows the operating principle of the speed-controlled torque control with reversal of direction. It is shown that the generator 16 in the direction of the arrows 35a and 35b each driven in opposite directions and that z. B. from three-phase current at the lines at the output 46 is produced. This three-phase current is at the output 46 the input of a reverse rotation stage 45 fed, in which, regardless of the sign of the injected energy always a pointing in the same direction energy is generated at the output 47 z. B. as a three-phase current and via the aforementioned electrical line 28 is dissipated.

Thus, a two-phase alternating current can be generated in the same way or a direct current.

It is important in the present invention, therefore, that a relatively small-sized power electronics 39 that is easily present in the generator chamber 38 can be accommodated, making the entire module for energy conversion easy serviced and replaceable in the float 5 is arranged.

Important in the present invention is that can be dispensed with reverse gear, as is known in the prior art, but in the present invention, both the back and forth movement of the transmission wheels is used to a uniform energy conversion, without being more mechanical Gear conversions needed.

So there is a pure electronic conversion of the drive energy in a pointing in the same direction energy conversion.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

anchor weight

2

anchor cable

3

traverse

4

Tross introduction

5

float

6

Transmission wheel = loose roll

7

Access Doors

8th

Cable outlet

9

counterweight

10

spacer

11

cable loop

12

antenna

13

buoys pocket

14

Anchor buoy

15

anchor weight

16

generator

17

drive shaft

18

Water inlet and outlet

19

tank ventilation

20

Compressed air chamber

21

Radio and navigation buoy

22

reason

23

Top line

24

wave motion

25

wave generator

26

attachment point

27

attachment point

28

electrical line

29

Cable continuation

30

tension member

30a

Tension member descending

30b

Tension member ascending

31

shaft stroke

32

arrow

33

arrow

34

parallel guide

35

Arrow direction a, b

36

buoyancy chamber

37

separation Schott

38

generator chamber

39

power electronics

40

stroke distance

41

Direction of rotation

42

pot. energy up

43

Pot. Energy

44

elec. energy

45

Rotation reversal stage

46

output

47

output

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 6695536 B2 [0002]
• JP 02136570A [0008]
• DE 602004006297 T2 [0009]

Claims (9)

Floating power plant for the utilization of wave energy, whereby a floating body ( 5 ) with a generator ( 16 ), which is a transmission wheel ( 6 ), over the outer circumference of a tension member ( 30 ) whose ascending end ( 30b ) at the bottom of the lake or at a counterweight floating in the lake ( 9 ), while its descending end ( 30a ) on the transmission wheel ( 6 ) is guided, so that with the lifting movement of the float ( 5 ) the rotational movements of the transmission wheel ( 6 ) for driving the electric generator ( 16 ) by means of drive shaft ( 17 ) is used, and the tension member ( 30 ) is performed as a loose role pulley principle. Floating power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the pulley is a factor 2 pulley and thus the counterweight ( 9 ) the double stroke (K) as the float ( 5 ). Floating-body power plant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tension member ( 30 ) is designed as a rope, chain or toothed V-belt. Floating-body power plant according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the tension member ( 30 ) is present twice, as well as two parallel and mutually spaced, but non-rotatably connected transmission wheels ( 6 ) are provided, which with a common drive shaft ( 17 ) of the generator ( 16 ) are connected. Floating-body power plant according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the tension member ( 30 ) with the descending end ( 30a ) on or above the bottom of the lake in a traverse ( 3 ), which at the bottom with an anchor trunk ( 1 ) is anchored to the lake bottom. Floating-body power plant according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the tension member ( 30 ) with the ascending end ( 30b ) fixed with a counterweight ( 9 ), which floats in the sea. Floating power plant according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the counterweight ( 9 ) along the ascending tension member ( 30b ) is guided along, for which a spacer ( 10 ) is used, on which a parallel guide ( 34 ) is arranged, which the ascending tension member ( 30b ) surrounds. Floating-body power plant according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the counterweight ( 9 ) is selected with its weight so that the lifting movement (X) in the downward direction ( 32 ) exactly like the lifting movement (X) in the upward direction ( 33 ) on the transmission wheel ( 6 ) is transmitted. Floating power plant according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the floating body ( 5 ) can be filled with water and / or air.

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