EP3821122A1 - Convertisseur d'énergie marine à blocage des vagues - Google Patents

Convertisseur d'énergie marine à blocage des vagues

Info

Publication number
EP3821122A1
EP3821122A1 EP19753201.3A EP19753201A EP3821122A1 EP 3821122 A1 EP3821122 A1 EP 3821122A1 EP 19753201 A EP19753201 A EP 19753201A EP 3821122 A1 EP3821122 A1 EP 3821122A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
latch control
fluid
compressor
damper
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19753201.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Brian Wall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority claimed from PCT/IE2019/000007 external-priority patent/WO2020012453A1/fr
Publication of EP3821122A1 publication Critical patent/EP3821122A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/20—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" wherein both members, i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/1845—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom slides relative to the rem
    • F03B13/187—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom slides relative to the rem and the wom directly actuates the piston of a pump
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2270/00—Control
    • F05B2270/10—Purpose of the control system
    • F05B2270/18—Purpose of the control system to control buoyancy
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2270/00—Control
    • F05B2270/10—Purpose of the control system
    • F05B2270/20—Purpose of the control system to optimise the performance of a machine
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2270/00—Control
    • F05B2270/10—Purpose of the control system
    • F05B2270/20—Purpose of the control system to optimise the performance of a machine
    • F05B2270/202—Tuning to wave conditions
    • Y—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
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the use of marine devices to exploit the energy in aquatic waves.
  • the invention provides for an apparatus that increases the amount of energy that can be captured from each wave while at the same time further reducing the risk of damage to the device.
  • a buoyant moving component rises and falls with the waves in relation to a floatation component that is submerged beneath the water surface. This movement of one moving component relative to another static component is converted into useable energy.
  • This invention provides for a latching mechanism that allows the buoyant moving component to be temporarily locked in position at both the crest and the trough of each wave. The buoyant moving component is not released to descend or ascend, until the next wave or trough has arrived. This ensures that the buoyant moving component travels the maximum distance without the support of the surrounding water. In this way the apparatus captures the maximum energy from each wave, and does so without the buoyant moving component making contact with the floatation component other than via a moving shaft and guides.
  • the present invention provides a novel and inventive means of achieving this objective.
  • Waves are a clean, renewable source of energy that is exploitable in most ocean environments using mechanical devices designed to extract energy from the movement of the waves.
  • wave energy devices have so far failed to exploit the full potential energy available. There are several reasons.
  • such a device will fail to capture the full available energy in each wave if the movement of the buoyant moving component is not synchronized with the varying frequency of the waves.
  • the invention described herein addresses the challenge inherent in extracting the maximum energy from waves and provides for an apparatus for doing this in a novel, inventive and more efficient manner.
  • the invention provides for an apparatus in which fluid is trapped in a compressor chamber inside a floatation component when a buoyant moving component has, a) ascended to the crest of a wave, or b) descended to the trough of a wave.
  • the trapped fluid in the compressor chamber prevents the buoyant moving component from moving until the buoyant moving component can travel the maximum distance to maximize energy capture.
  • a latching mechanism To trap the fluid in the compressor chamber, a latching mechanism detects when a wave has reached it’s crest or trough. The latching mechanism then releases the trapped fluid from the compressor chamber. Once the fluid is free to leave the compressor chamber the buoyant moving component is free to either ascend or descend.
  • the movement of the buoyant moving component expels the fluid from one part of the compressor chamber while drawing fluid into the other.
  • the fluid is expelled at the maximum level of compression to be a) exploited for the maximum amount of work or, alternatively, is b) delivered into storage to be exploited for later work.
  • the present invention provides for a simpler, more efficient, and more robust mechanism for achieving this goal.
  • the present invention provides for an apparatus that uses simple floats that respond to the waves. These floats cause a cylinder to rotate around the compressor chamber so as to trap and release fluid and thereby control the movement of the buoyant moving component relative to the floatation component. Consequently, the invention described herein provides a simpler means of increasing the overall energy capture from each wave while also reducing the likelihood of damage and prolonging the lifetime of a device. Thus this invention magnifies the operational range and efficiency of the prior art: the mechanism described in applicant's previous patent: Irish Patent Number 86608.
  • the apparatus comprises six main components:
  • a floatation component that is a buoyant structure, is submerged in water, and supports the apparatus in water.
  • the floatation component contains an adjustable buoyancy chamber that allows the buoyancy of the floatation component to be adjusted.
  • the floatation component contains an access aperture.
  • the access aperture allows water to move in and out of the adjustable buoyancy chamber and also allows access to the adjustable buoyancy chamber for maintenance purposes.
  • the upper part of the floatation component contains floatation component guide shafts, which are shafts that are vertical in orientation, and open at the top. b) Stabilization components that stabilize the floatation component at a fixed location and at a fixed level below the water surface.
  • the stabilization components include:
  • a buoyant moving component that includes:
  • buoyant moving component shaft that is free to move vertically inside the floatation component to convert wave motion into useful energy
  • buoyant moving component float that contains buoyant moving component guide channels;
  • the buoyant moving component guide channels are channels that are vertical in orientation and accommodate guides to maintain vertical movement by the buoyant moving component.
  • a compressor unit that is within the floatation component to compress fluid.
  • the compressor unit includes:
  • a compressor chamber that is in the shape of a cylinder and that is surrounded by the compressor unit outer housing;
  • valves that control the direction of flow of incoming and outgoing fluid.
  • the compressor chamber surrounds a section of the buoyant moving component shaft, but allows the buoyant moving component shaft to move vertically within the compressor chamber.
  • the section of the buoyant moving component shaft that is within the compressor chamber is wider than the rest of the buoyant moving component shaft, and forms a compressor piston.
  • the compressor piston fits closely within the compressor chamber but is free to move vertically inside the compressor chamber.
  • the compressor chamber contains fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures, through which fluid is admitted at a pressure and expelled at a higher pressure due to the movement of the compressor piston, which is raised and lowered by the movement of the buoyant moving component.
  • a guiding structure to ensure that the movement of the buoyant moving component is always vertical.
  • the guiding structure includes guides that are long vertical rigid structures supported by the floatation component.
  • Some of the guides are supported from within the floatation component guide shafts and protrude freely through the buoyant moving component guide channels in the buoyant moving component float. f) A latching mechanism to delay the ascent and descent of the buoyant moving component.
  • the latching mechanism includes guides that are latch control piston guides.
  • Latch control piston guides are guides that are sufficiently buoyant to rise with the waves but heavy enough to compress fluid upon descent.
  • the lowest part of a latch control piston guide is wider than the main body of the latch control piston guide and forms a latch control piston.
  • Some of the floatation component guide shafts are latch control guide shafts and the lower section of a latch control guide shaft is exactly wide enough to accommodate a latch control piston, while the upper section of the latch control guide shaft is too narrow to accommodate a latch control piston.
  • each latch control guide shaft is fluidly connected to a latch control chamber.
  • a latch control chamber is a chamber that holds fluid and accommodates rotating structures.
  • Each latch control guide shaft is also fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via a latch control chamber fluid pipe loop.
  • the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop is a pipe connected to the latch control guide shaft via an aperture near, but not at, the top of the widest section of the latch control guide shaft.
  • the latch control guide shaft, the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop, and the latch control chamber form a circuit, through which fluid is free to flow in either direction.
  • the latch control chamber contains latch control blades.
  • the latch control blades are positioned at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the latch control chamber.
  • the latch control blades are free to rotate in response to fluid moving between the fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft and the fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop.
  • Each latch control blade is fixed to a latch sleeve.
  • the latch sleeve is located at the center of the latch control chamber.
  • the latch sleeve is in the shape of a cylinder and stands perpendicular to the plane of the latch control chamber, the walls of the latch sleeve being parallel to the walls of the latch control chamber.
  • the latch sleeve extends above the latch control chamber through an adjuster chamber.
  • the adjuster chamber is a chamber that retains fluid and accommodates rotating structures.
  • the adjuster chamber contains partitions that partition the adjuster chamber into adjuster chamber compartments.
  • the adjuster chamber contains blades that are fixed to the latch sleeve. Each adjuster chamber blade is positioned between the adjuster chamber partitions so that each rotation away from a central orientation of the adjuster chamber blades results in an increase in pressure in one side of the adjuster chamber compartments and a decrease in pressure in the other side of the adjuster chamber compartments. Each adjuster chamber blade is positioned perpendicular to the plane of the adjuster chamber.
  • Each adjuster chamber blade is free to rotate within the adjuster
  • Each adjuster chamber compartment is fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir via two fluid connections to the fluid reservoir. These fluid connections to the fluid reservoir are located on either side of each adjuster chamber blade, and adjacent to an adjuster chamber partition on opposite sides of each adjuster chamber compartment.
  • the fluid reservoir forms a single adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop.
  • Each adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop forms a vertical loop located above the uppermost part of the adjuster chamber, and stands perpendicular to the plane of the adjuster chamber.
  • Each adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop contains air trapped at the highest point of the adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop.
  • the latch sleeve also extends above the adjuster chamber and surrounds the compressor chamber, where the latch sleeve is surrounded by the compressor unit outer housing.
  • the latch sleeve is free to rotate between the compressor unit outer housing and the compressor chamber.
  • the compressor unit outer housing contains fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures, which correspond exactly with the compressor chamber fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures.
  • the exterior of the compressor unit outer housing apertures are connected to valved fluid inlet and valved fluid outlet pipes.
  • the section of the latch sleeve situated between the compressor chamber and the compressor unit outer housing contains latch sleeve apertures.
  • the latch sleeve apertures are located to align sometimes with the fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures in the wall of the compressor chamber and the corresponding apertures in the wall of the compressor unit outer housing.
  • the latch sleeve apertures align with the apertures in the wall of the compressor chamber and the corresponding apertures in the wall of the compressor unit outer housing only when the latch control blades are equally distant between the fluid connections to the latch control guide shafts and the fluid connections to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loops.
  • the invention provides for a wave energy apparatus that can capture more energy from waves than earlier inventions because the latching mechanism of the apparatus delays a buoyant moving component at the crest and trough of each wave, and releases the buoyant moving component only when the next trough and crest has arrived.
  • the apparatus allows the buoyant moving component to travel the maximum distance in response to each wave and capture the maximum amount of energy.
  • the latching mechanism of this apparatus also allows the buoyant moving component to be kept synchronized with the waves at all times, thereby
  • the latching mechanism of this apparatus also allows the floatation component to be held stable below the sea surface as there is no fixed contact between the buoyant moving component and the floatation component. This means that the majority of the device can be kept below the most turbulent layers of the sea so the apparatus is less likely to be damaged in storms. Consequently, the apparatus can be used to extract energy from the most energy-rich waves in the world without fear of damage.
  • the apparatus described in this invention uses a simple pumping mechanism. This allows the device to pump fluid into storage so that clean, renewable, consistent power can be supplied to an electricity grid whenever power is required.
  • the apparatus would be cheap to build, cheap to maintain, less likely to break down, and would have a longer working life.
  • the floatation component comprises one or more floatation units.
  • the interior of a floatation unit is connected to the exterior of the floatation component by means of one or more valved hose pipes, which are long enough to reach the water surface.
  • the stabilization components include mooring ropes connected to the upper and lower parts of the floatation component.
  • the stabilization components include a damper chamber which contains damper chamber fluid and a freely-moving damper float.
  • the base of the damper float is connected directly by ropes to the seabed anchors or to ropes connected to a stability device that is suspended below the floatation component.
  • the damper float fits exactly within the damper chamber and the damper float contains vertical damper float channels.
  • the damper float channels contain valves biased to allow damper chamber fluid to flow from above the damper float to below the damper float.
  • the damper chamber contains a vertical damper chamber shaft that extends through the damper float and, around which, the damper float is free to move vertically.
  • the damper chamber shaft is connected to an external source of fluid and the damper chamber shaft fluidly connects the parts of the damper chamber above and below the damper float.
  • the damper chamber shaft contains damper chamber inlet valves that are biased to admit fluid to the part of the damper chamber below the damper float whenever a set pressure has been reached in the damper chamber shaft.
  • the damper chamber shaft extends out through the upper part of the damper chamber and as far as the uppermost part of the floatation component.
  • the walls of the damper chamber shaft in the upper part of the damper chamber contain damper chamber shaft apertures through which the damper chamber fluid is free to circulate.
  • the damper chamber shaft contains a damper chamber piston guide that fits exactly inside the damper chamber shaft.
  • the damper chamber piston guide is long enough to extend through the upper part of the floatation component and through a buoyant moving component guide channel.
  • damper chamber piston guide is buoyant enough to rise and fall with each wave.
  • the buoyant moving component shaft contains a vertical channel with inlet and outlet apertures.
  • the compressor chamber fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures are located both above and below the optimum stroke of the compressor piston.
  • the sections of the compressor chamber above and below the compressor chamber inlet and outlet apertures contain high pressure release valves.
  • an outlet pipe connected to one part of the compressor chamber is connected to an inlet pipe connected to another part of the compressor chamber.
  • compressor chamber fluid outlet apertures are connected to adjustable outlet valves.
  • pipes that remove fluid from the compressor chamber connect the compressor unit to a device for the exploitation of compressed fluid or to a compressed fluid storage tank.
  • some, or all, of the latch control piston guides are fixed together by a buoyant guides link.
  • the buoyant guides link is fixed to the latch control piston guides at a distance above the buoyant moving component that is greater than the longest stroke of the compressor chamber piston.
  • some, or all, of the latch control piston guides contain a buoyant guide block.
  • a buoyant guide block is a short section of the latch control piston guide that is wider than the buoyant moving component guide channels and the floatation component guide shafts.
  • each latch control guide shaft is fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via the uppermost part of the latch control chamber.
  • each latch control chamber fluid pipe loop is fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via the uppermost part of the latch control chamber.
  • the latch control chamber contains vertical partitions that that partition the latch control chamber into separate latch control chamber compartments.
  • each latch control blade is located between the latch control partitions.
  • fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft and the fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop are located on opposite sides of each latch control chamber compartment, and adjacent to the opposite latch control partitions.
  • the latch control chamber contains barriers to the rotation of latch control blades in the form of latch control blade stops that are positioned no farther than a part of the way across the diameter of any fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft or any fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop.
  • some latch control chamber compartments are fluidly connected to floatation component guide shafts that supply fluid to the latch control chamber and receive fluid from the latch control chamber.
  • Figure 1 shows an external side view of one embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 shows an external top-view in one embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 3 shows a cross-section side-view of one embodiment of the invention and depicts the buoyant moving component, shaft, guides, piston, and compressor unit, in relation to the latching mechanism from a North-South perspective.
  • Figure 4 shows a cross-section close-up in one embodiment of the invention and depicts the latching mechanism and compressor unit from a North-South perspective.
  • Figure 5 shows a top view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross- section through the latching mechanism in relation to the compressor unit at the level of the compressor piston.
  • Figure 6 shows a top view in one embodiment of the invention that depicts a close up cross-section through the compressor unit at the level of the compressor piston.
  • Figure 7 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross- section through the latch control chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is halted at either the crest or the trough of a wave.
  • Figure 8 shows a cross-section top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross-section through the adjuster chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is halted at either the crest or the trough of a wave.
  • Figure 9 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross- section through the latch control chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is ascending towards the crest of a wave.
  • Figure 10 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross- section through the adjuster chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is ascending towards the crest of a wave.
  • Figure 11 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross- section through the latch control chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is descending towards the trough of a wave.
  • Figure 12 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross- section through the adjuster chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is descending towards the trough of a wave.
  • Figure 13 shows a cross-section side-view in one embodiment of the invention and depicts the buoyant moving component, shaft, guides, piston, compressor unit, and latching mechanism in relation to the damper mechanism from an East/West perspective.
  • Figure 1 Referring to Figure 1 , there is illustrated an external side view of one embodiment of the invention depicting the Floatation Component (1 ), and the Buoyant Moving Component (2).
  • Buoyant Guides (10) which comprise Standard Buoyant Guides, Latch Control Piston Guides, and Damper Chamber Piston Guides, all of which confine the Buoyant Moving Component (2) to vertical movement only.
  • all the guides are free to rise and fall with each wave and can remain in the same relationship to the sea surface at all times but are linked by a Buoyant Guides Link (51 ) so that all the guides rise and fall in unison.
  • all the Buoyant Guides (10) extend down through Floatation Component Guide Shafts (not shown) in the submerged Floatation Component (1 ) and extend up through the Buoyant Moving Component (2).
  • Component Shaft (8) which is a shaft connecting the Buoyant Moving Component (2) with the Compressor Chamber (not shown here); Mooring Ropes (7), which are ropes that moor the apparatus to seabed anchors to hold the apparatus in position; the Stability Plate (3), which is a sea anchor that helps to hold the Floatation Component (1 ) at a fixed level below the trough of the average wave at all times by inhibiting vertical movement in response to waves; Stability Fins (4), which are vertical blades positioned to inhibit horizontal movement of the
  • Floatation Component (1 ) so as to prevent rocking of the apparatus in response to sea conditions;
  • a Fluid Outlet Pipe (5) which is a flexible pipe that can deliver compressed fluid from the said Compressor Chamber (not shown here) to seabed storage or for immediate exploitation for work;
  • a Fluid Inlet Pipe (6) which is a pipe that in this embodiment of the invention can deliver seawater to the
  • FIG 2 there is illustrated according to this same embodiment of the invention an external top-view of an apparatus.
  • the Stability Plate (3) (described in the description of figure 1 ); Stability Fins (4), (described in the description of figure 1 ); Mooring Ropes (7), (described in the description of figure 1); and the Buoyant Moving Component Float (9), (described in the description of figure 1).
  • the Latch Control Piston Guides (15) which, as well as confining the Buoyant Moving Component (2) to vertical movement only, also control a latching mechanism, which in this embodiment of the invention can stop and restart the movement of the Buoyant Moving Component (2).
  • Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16) which control the damper mechanism (not shown here) and also confine the Buoyant Moving Component to vertical movement only.
  • Standard Buoyant Guides (17) which can, in one embodiment of the invention, allow water to enter and exit the latching mechanism (not shown here), the Standard Buoyant Guides (17) also confine the Buoyant Moving Component (2) to vertical movement only.
  • FIG. 3 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side-view of an apparatus from a North/South
  • Compressor Piston 13
  • Compressor Chamber 14
  • the said fluid is pumped into the said Compressor Chamber (14) through the
  • the Back Stop Buffer Zones (11) are areas in the Compressor Chamber (14) in which fluid is trapped so as to act as a brake on the movement of the Buoyant Moving Component (2), so that the Buoyant Moving Component (2) is confined to moving within a set range of wave sizes.
  • Latch Control Guide Shafts (52) in which the Latch Control Piston Guides (15) are free to rise and fall with the sea surface and in so doing can pump fluid into and out of the Latch Control Chamber (24), which controls the movement of the Buoyant Moving Component (2) by halting the movement of the said Buoyant Moving Component (2).
  • Adjuster Chamber (27) which serves to release the Buoyant Moving Component (2) from the control of the Latch Control Chamber (24) and allows the said Buoyant Moving Component (2) to rise or fall in response to the waves.
  • the Buoyant Moving Component Guide Channels (54) through which the said Latch Control Piston Guides (15) are free to rise and fall.
  • the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (36) which is an internal seawater ballast tank (or space), into which air and water can be inserted to adjust the buoyancy of the Floatation Component (1).
  • the Access Aperture (37) which allows water to move in and out of the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (36) and also provides access for maintenance.
  • FIG 4 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view close-up of the interior of the apparatus also from a North/South perspective.
  • Stability Plate (3) the Stability Fins (4), Compressor Chamber Fluid Outlet Pipe (5), Compressor Chamber Fluid Inlet Pipe (6), Back Stop Buffer Zones High Pressure Release Pipe (12), Compressor Piston (13), Compressor Chamber Down-stroke Inlet Valves (18), Compressor Chamber Down-stroke Outlet Valves (19), Compressor Chamber Up-stroke inlet Valves (20), Compressor Chamber Up-stroke Outlet Valves (21), Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (36), Access Aperture (37): all described in Fig 1 , Fig 2 and Fig 3.
  • Back Stop Buffer Zone High Pressure Release Pipes (12) which are fluidly connected to the Upper and Lower Back Stop Buffer Zones (11 ), and which allow for a restricted release of trapped fluid to protect against damage to the apparatus at high pressures.
  • the Latch Sleeve (23) also extends down beyond the base of the said Adjuster Chamber (27) into the said Latch Control Chamber (24) where the said Latch Sleeve (23) is attached to the Latch Control Blades (25).
  • the said Latch Sleeve (23) is free to rotate between the Compressor Chamber Wall (22) and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing (32), which in this embodiment of the invention is also cylindrical in shape and closely surrounds the said Latch Sleeve (23).
  • Latch Control Piston Guides which control the latching mechanism by pumping fluid through the said Latch Control Chamber (24) and into and out of the Latch Control Chamber Fluid Pipe Loop (57), which is a fluid reservoir fluidly connected to the said Latch Control Guide Shafts (52) and the Latch Control Chamber (24).
  • Latch Control Piston At the base of each of the said Latch Control Piston Guides (15) is a Latch Control Piston (58).
  • the pumping of fluid in and out of the said Latch Control Chamber (24) causes the Latch Control Blades (25) to rotate either to left or right away from a neutral orientation within the said Latch Control Chamber (24).
  • Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), to which the said Latch Sleeve (23) is also connected are also shown in fig 4.
  • the deflection of the Latch Sleeve (23) away from a neutral orientation also deflects the said Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) away from a neutral orientation and causes fluid in the said Adjuster Chamber (27) to be forced into an uneven distribution in the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (31).
  • the said Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (31) function as fluid reservoirs in which gravity causes a return to even distribution of fluid once the pressure to deflect the aforementioned Latch Control Blades (25) has ceased.
  • the subsequent movement of fluid through the said Adjuster Chamber (27) rotates the said
  • Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) back into a neutral position, and thereby rotates the said Latch Sleeve (23) back into a position where the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35) are once again in a position of alignment so that fluid can again flow in and out of the Compressor Chamber (14), allowing the Buoyant Moving Component to rise or fall.
  • FIG. 5 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view of the interior of the apparatus showing the relative positions of the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), the Latch Control Piston Guides (15), the Latch Control Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (57), the Latch Control Chamber (24), the Latch Control Blades (25), the Adjuster Chamber (27), the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (31 ), the Compressor Chamber Fluid Inlet Pipe (6), Compressor Chamber Fluid Outlet Pipe (5), the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing
  • Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35) are aligned and fluid is free to enter and exit the Compressor Chamber (14) and the Buoyant Moving Component (2) is free to rise or fall.
  • FIG 6 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a close-up cross-section top view of the compressor unit in relation to various parts of the latching mechanism. Depicted are the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), the Latch Sleeve (23), which can rotate between the Compressor Chamber Wail (22) and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing (32); the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), which rotate the said Latch Sleeve (23) back into a neutral position; the Adjuster Chamber Partitions (29), which create separate compartments within the Adjuster Chamber (shown in Fig 5).
  • FIG. 7 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Latch Control Chamber (24) in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), the Latch Control Guide Shafts (52), the Latch Control Piston Guides (15), which control the latching mechanism, the Latch Control Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (57), which allow water to enter and exit the latching mechanism; the Latch Sleeve (23), which can rotate between the
  • FIG. 8 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Adjuster Chamber (27) in relation to the Compressor Unit when the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), are all in an aligned position, a position in which fluid is free to enter and exit the
  • Compressor Chamber and the Buoyant Moving Component is free to rise or fall. Also shown are the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), and the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), which rotate the Latch Sleeve (23) back into a neutral position. Also shown are the Adjuster Chamber Partitions (29), which create separate compartments within the Adjuster Chamber (27).
  • FIG 9 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view shows the Latch Control Chamber in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 7 but in this illustration the Latch Control Blades (25) have been deflected from the neutral position due to the Latch Control Piston Guides (15) descending with a receding wave so that the Latch Sleeve (23) has been rotated into an orientation where the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), are all in a non-aligned position and fluid is no longer free to enter or exit the Compressor Chamber (not shown) and as a result the Buoyant Moving Component (not shown) is no longer free to fall with the receding wave.
  • FIG 10 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Adjuster Chamber (27) in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 8 but in this illustration the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) have been deflected from the neutral position (depicted in Figure 8) by the Latch Control Piston Guides (not shown) descending with a falling wave. As a result the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) have been deflected inside the Adjuster Chamber causing fluid to be pushed higher on one side of the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loop (31 ) and lower on the other.
  • FIG 11 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Latch Control Chamber in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 7 and Figure 9 but in this illustration the Latch Control Blades (25) have been deflected from the neutral position due to the Latch Control Piston Guides (not shown) ascending with a rising wave so that the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), are all in a non-aligned position and fluid is no longer free to enter or exit the Compressor Chamber (not shown) and the Buoyant Moving Component (not shown) is no longer free to ascend with the rising wave.
  • FIG 12 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Adjuster Chamber (27) in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 8 and Figure 10 but in this illustration the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) have been deflected from the neutral position (depicted in Figure 8) by the Latch Control Piston Guides (not shown) ascending with a rising wave and the resulting deflection of the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) inside the Adjuster Chamber causing fluid to be pushed higher on one side of the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loop (31 ) and lower on the other.
  • FIG. 13 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view of an apparatus from an East/West
  • the Damper Float (40) can be connected from below to anchors in the seabed via Mooring Ropes (7) and Mooring Rope Pulleys (43), which are positioned within the Floatation Component (1 ).
  • the Damper Float (40) is free to move vertically inside the Damper Chamber (39) and, being buoyant, will move upwards inside the Damper Chamber (39) when the Mooring Ropes (7) are slack. As a result the Damper Float (40) will tighten any slackening of the Mooring Ropes (7).
  • the said Damper Float (40) will also assist any sudden descent of the Floatation Component (1 ) caused by the receding of a wave and will resist any sudden upward movement of the Floatation Component (1) due to the rising of a wave.
  • the Damper Float (40) is shaped so that fluid inside the Damper Chamber (39) can move rapidly from above the Damper Float (40) to below the Damper Float (40) via Valved Damper Float Channels (41), which facilitate the rapid upward movement of the Damper Float (40) in response to a receding wave.
  • the said Valved Damper Float Channels (41 ) prevent the transfer of the fluid from below the Damper Float (40) to above the Damper Float (40) so that the Damper Float (40) will not respond to a rising wave and will thus keep the Mooring Ropes (7) tight at all times.
  • the Damper Float (40) will help maintain the uppermost part of the Floatation Component (1 ) below the level of the wave trough at all times.
  • the Damper Float (40) is also shaped to facilitate fluid gradually moving in either direction within the said Damper Chamber (39) via open, non-valved Narrow Damper Float Channels (42), which facilitate the gradual transfer of the fluid in either direction within the Damper Chamber (39) thus allowing the gradual rise and fall of the Damper Float (40) in response to the gradual rising and falling of tides so that the Damper Float (40) can help maintain the uppermost part of the
  • the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16) which, in this embodiment of the invention, can be shaped to be free to rise and fall with each wave. Consequently, the rise and fall of the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16), forces fluid to be drawn in and out of the Damper Chamber Shaft (45) via Damper Chamber Shaft Apertures (46), the Damper Chamber Shaft Apertures (46), being positioned so that as long as the Floatation Component (1) remains a set distance below the wave trough, the movement of the said Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16), will only pump fluid into and out of, the said Damper Chamber Shaft (45).
  • the increased fluid pressure below the said Damper Float (40) will force the said Damper Float (40) upwards and tighten the Mooring Ropes (7) and thereby prevent the Floatation Component (1) from rising closer to the surface and thus serve to maintain the Floatation Component (1) at a set distance below the water surface at all times.
  • the Damper Chamber Equalization Pipes (47) which fluidly connect the Damper Chamber (39) to a source of external fluid to equalize pressure and facilitate movement of the Damper Float (40) within the Damper Chamber (39).
  • the Damper Chamber Shaft Inlet Valves (59) which fluidly connect the Damper Chamber Shaft (45) to a source of external fluid to equalize pressure and facilitate movement of the Damper

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil permettant d'extraire de l'énergie à partir des vagues d'eau. Selon l'invention, un élément mobile flottant peut être relié à un élément de flottaison immergé uniquement au moyen d'un arbre et de guides flottants. Un mécanisme de blocage, pouvant détecter la crête et le creux de chaque vague, peut arrêter l'élément mobile flottant au niveau de la crête et du creux de chaque vague, et peut libérer l'élément mobile flottant lors de l'arrivée du prochain creux ou crête, de sorte que l'élément mobile flottant puisse descendre et monter de la distance maximale et capturer la quantité maximale d'énergie sans se mettre en contact direct avec l'élément de flottaison immergé. En particulier, l'invention utilise des guides flottants pour commander un cylindre rotatif autour d'une unité de compression, afin de commander le mouvement de l'élément mobile flottant en fonction des vagues.
EP19753201.3A 2018-07-09 2019-07-05 Convertisseur d'énergie marine à blocage des vagues Withdrawn EP3821122A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IES20180213 2018-07-09
PCT/IE2019/000007 WO2020012453A1 (fr) 2018-07-09 2019-07-05 Convertisseur d'énergie marine à blocage des vagues

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3821122A1 true EP3821122A1 (fr) 2021-05-19

Family

ID=75436699

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19753201.3A Withdrawn EP3821122A1 (fr) 2018-07-09 2019-07-05 Convertisseur d'énergie marine à blocage des vagues

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3821122A1 (fr)
MA (1) MA53133A (fr)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MA53133A (fr) 2021-05-19

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