ES2312294A1 - Apparatus to convert the energy of the surface in electricity. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for converting wave energy into electricity, which is constituted by a sealed enclosure (19), inside which are encapsulated electric generators whose stators/casings (1) are integral with the enclosure (19); while its rotors (2) and counterweights (5) are integral with an axis (4), mounted inside the envelope (19), along it and with the possibility of free rotation; so that the movement of the shell (19) produced by the marine swell is transmitted to the housings/stator (1) of the generators that move with it while the rotors (2) remain almost fixed, as they remain positioned in verticality by the action of gravity. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Apparatus for converting wave energy into electricity.

Technical sector

Multiple devices have been developed to the use of sea energy and more specifically of the Wave energy

The present invention is framed in this technical sector, in the case of a new device of the type of the so-called wave power generators, identified by the acronym "GEO".

State of the art

GEOs are devices that transform the wave energy in other energy, usually electrical; also they must be able to resist the onslaught of the sea and function efficiently for wide frequency and amplitude ranges wave.

There are many GEO modalities that allow get wave energy, although, currently, it has not selected a concrete model for industrial development, it is In other words, they have not yet reached technological maturity.

In general, GEOs are based on a of the following energy absorption techniques:

TO.-

Of the push of the wave.

B.-

From the variation of the height of the wave.

C.-

By the variation of the pressure under the surface of the wave.

Normally, there is a double conversion energy, an initial or primary conversion, followed by a secondary conversion

In the primary conversion, the energy of the wave is captured by mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic systems, turning the swell into the movement of a body or the circulation of a fluid In the secondary conversion, the mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic movements become Usable energy, usually in electrical energy.

There are a large number of devices designed for the use of this type of wave energy, in contrast with any other type of renewable energy. A Classification of current GEO devices is:

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 Totalizers.- They are devices located perpendicular to the direction of advance of the wave and prepared to catch the wave, Storing water in an elevated dam. The stored water is later it passes through turbines.

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 Pumping.- It is about systems that take advantage of the vertical movement of particles of water, to create a pumping system, using a float and an elastic hose.

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 Hydraulics.- They are systems of floats connected to each other. The most popular is known as "Duck" or "Duck Salter". consisting of a float, whose narrower section faces the wave in order to absorb its  Best possible movement.

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 Oscillating column.- In these devices, the oscillation of water inside a chamber partially submerged and open below sea level, It produces a change in air pressure above water.

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 Swingarms.-. The movement of balancing becomes, through a mechanical system or hydraulic, in a linear or rotary motion that is applied to a Electric generator. They can be both floating and submerged.

Within the general concept of the devices tilting, US Patent No. US4300871 describes an apparatus that is composed of a correlation of compartments arranged one followed by another along a support cable, incorporating each compartment a series of mechanisms gyroscopic An apparatus is known from the PCT WO2008 / 051642 which inside a spherical body incorporates a rotating pendulum that It drives an electric generator. Spanish patent 200402948, describes various designs of oscillating electric machines, appropriate for the transformation of the primary energy of the waves, directly, in electrical energy.

Obtaining energy from waves is the source  emerging marine energy that is generating more interest in the countries that have this resource. Now, although it exists a high number of prototypes of different technologies in the phase of tests, a state of maturity has not been achieved so far enough for commercial developments, needing a strong impulse in R&D.

The medium power wave parks (from order of some megawatts), may be commercially exploited at medium term, while large (on the order of hundreds of megawatts) will be developed in the longer term.

The improvements that must be addressed in GEOs, They are:

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 Its efficient integration in the power grid

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 The improvement in yields of the teams.

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 Its robustness, to be able to withstand extreme weather

Object of the invention

It is an apparatus for converting the energy of " offshore " waves into electrical energy. This device can operate both floating and submerged, with a relative inertial movement, based on a simple pendular system, which allows the direct conversion of wave energy into electrical energy, that is, there is no double energy conversion. All the elements of the energy converter are encapsulated and, therefore, without contact with the aggressive marine environment.

The device consists of an envelope waterproof, with a design that gives it an unstable character in the sense of the wave -heading-, so as to facilitate its oscillation. It also has a keel system, with a double object: on the one hand, dampen the balance movement perpendicular to the direction of the wave, and on the other, for convenient orientation of the envelope in order to obtain maximum energy from the surf; the latter, helped by the clamping system of the envelope to the sea floor.

The envelope is subdivided inside into two  watertight compartments, upper one, in which they are installed all the components of the generation system, and the other lower, which forms an adjustable water tank, whose objective is to enhance the instability of the envelope and regulate its degree immersion

In the upper compartment there is a set of electric generators whose housings / stators go attached to the shell frame, while the rotors remain virtually fixed. The stators constitute the mobile part of the generators

The rotors together with counterweights go mounted, in solidarity, on an axis that can rotate freely with respect to the envelope by means of bearings; so that, by gravity, the whole axis-rotors-counterweights, tends to maintain an upright position, while the stator will swing together to the envelope by the action of the waves.

The generator set is complemented by a electric power conditioning system, consisting of rectifying equipment, energy storage and inverters, at whose output you get electric power to the voltage and low frequency industrial frequency (BT). A BT / MT transformer and a medium voltage cell (MT) allow the interconnection of various envelopes and the export of energy to the power grid by an underwater cable.

In this way the apparatus object of the present invention offers an embodiment in which the converter energy is encapsulated and, therefore, without contact with the aggressive marine environment.

In addition, the construction of the object of the invention is compact and robust, able to withstand temporary extreme sailors; while the unique conception of the generator electric allows high generation performance to be achieved to all wave regimes, which translates into some significant improvements compared to the solutions developed up to now.

Description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective of the object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows the elevation view of the object of the invention.

Figure 3 shows the left side view of the object of the invention.

Figure 4 shows the longitudinal section A-A ', indicated in figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the cross section B-B ', indicated in figure 2.

Figure 6 shows - in perspective and shape schematic- a swell park, consisting of several units of the object of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figures 4 and 5 detail the sections longitudinal and transverse of the invention, for the particular case of four power generation units (GE); yes well in In general, it could contain more or less number, according to aspects of technical-economic viability and value of the wave resource at the site.

The apparatus object of the invention has a enclosure (19) which is divided into two compartments tobacconists One, superior (22), occupied by the generation room and which has a door (21) to access the compartment (22), for maintenance and tuning. The second compartment (16), arranged at the bottom of the envelope (19), is separated from the first by a horizontal partition (23). This lower compartment (16) is constituted in a water tank marine adjustable through a motor pump (18) and a water inlet (17) to the tank (16). He deposit constituted by the lower compartment (16) has for object to enhance the instability of the device, as well as allow its depth immersion established by a control system  generation (10).

Each of the generator units Electrical (GE) works under the stator / housing principle mobile and virtually fixed rotor. Indeed, the housing (1) of the generator is firmly attached to the structure of the envelope (19) by means of crossbars (3); therefore the stator It constitutes the mobile part of the generator.

The rotor (2) of each generator constitutes the fixed part of the generator. An axis (4) crosses the entire section longitudinal of the apparatus, being integral with the rotors (2) of the generators and with weights or counterweights (5) that hang from he. Said axis (4), is attached to the envelope (19) by a radial metal structure (6) and two extreme supports (7). He set consisting of the shaft (4), the rotors (2) and the counterweights (5) can rotate freely through a bearing assembly arranged in the metal structures that support it (6 and 7). From this way, the whole is subjected to the action of gravity, tending to remain upright, independently of the position of the envelope (19), which is subjected to the action of the waves.

The envelope (19) is provided with a pair of keels (24) and mooring eye bolts (20); the keels direct the envelope with the direction of the swell and the stabilize against unwanted balance movement perpendicular to the waves. Moreover, the fixing system of the envelope to the seabed, maintains the correct positioning, and prevents contact between them, when they form part of a swell park (Figure 6).

The generators have output cables electrical (8) that are of sufficient length to compensate the stator oscillations, without damage and are channeled from each generator to the power conditioning system electric (9).

By the oscillatory operating regime of the generators, their output signal is amplitude and frequency variables; therefore, the power conditioning system Electric (9) will consist of rectifying equipment, storage of energy and inverters, whose output will be electrical energy to the industrial voltage and frequency in BT. A three phase transformer BT / MT (11) will condition the power parameters to the required for the export of energy. When it is a several GEO swell park, each envelope will have a MT cell, for the interconnection of the various GEOs. The Energy evacuation is done through an underwater cable (12).

Each of the elements of the system generation, will have the corresponding devices of protection, measurement and control. In this sense, the existence of a communications equipment (13), with an antenna sender-receiver (14) for generation control. Likewise, It has a manual control for adjustment and tuning of everything the system.

The device has signaling beacons (15) for indication of its position.

The pitch of the envelope (19), originated by the swell produces a relative movement between the armature and the inductor of the generators housed inside, generating electric power.

In the object generating electricity apparatus of the invention, the transformation of wave energy into Electric power is direct, that is, without a device converter, mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic, between the enclosure (19) and electric generators.

On the other hand, the envelope (19) will be anchored to the seabed and will have the possibility of submerging partially or totally; partial immersion, to achieve maximum use for each state of the sea, and the total, in anticipation of catastrophic effects on equipment, when they originate strong storms that could cause deterioration, unraveling or, even its destruction.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for converting the energy of the waves into electricity, characterized in that it is constituted by a sealed envelope (19), in whose interior some electric generators are encapsulated whose stators / housings (1) are integral with the envelope (19); while its rotors (2) and counterweights (5) are integral with an axis (4), mounted inside the enclosure (19), along it and with the possibility of free rotation; so that the movement of the envelope (19) produced by the sea waves is transmitted to the housings / stator (1) of the generators that move with it; while the rotors (2) remain almost fixed, as they remain positioned vertically by the action of gravity. 2. Apparatus for converting wave energy into electricity, in all according to the first claim, characterized in that the envelope (19) is divided into two upper and lower compartments, of which the upper compartment (22) is occupied by the generation room; while the lower one (16) constitutes a tank of selectively adjustable marine water in its volume, to enhance the instability of the apparatus and allow its immersion to a depth established by the generation control system (10). 3. Apparatus for converting the energy of the waves into electricity, in all according to the first claim, characterized in that the envelope (19) is provided with a pair of keels (24) and mooring eyes (20); the keels direct the envelope with the swell and stabilize it against the movement of balance perpendicular to the direction of the swell; while, the system of fixing the envelope to the sea floor, maintains the correct positioning of the envelope, and prevents contact between them, when they are part of a swell park. 4. Apparatus for converting wave energy into electricity, in all according to the first claim, characterized in that the electric generators have output cables (8) of sufficient length to compensate for oscillations of the housing / stator (1 ) of each generator; said electrical output cables (8) are channeled to an electrical power conditioning system (9), constituted by the corresponding rectifying devices, energy stores and inverters, at whose output a balanced three-phase electrical energy of industrial frequency is obtained, in low voltage 5. Apparatus for converting the energy of the waves into electricity, in all according to the first and fourth claims, characterized in that in addition to the equipment (9) for conditioning the electrical energy, the existence of a three-phase transformer (11) and a medium voltage cell to condition the parameters of the power, the interconnection of envelopes and the evacuation of the electrical energy through an underwater cable (12). 6. Apparatus for converting the energy of the waves into electricity, in all according to the first claim, characterized in that the corresponding protection and measurement equipment, a communications equipment (13) and a system will be arranged within the enclosure (19). generation control (10). 7. Apparatus for converting the energy of the waves into electricity, in all according to the first claim, characterized in that it is provided to incorporate a signaling beacon (15) for the indication of its position at sea. 8. Apparatus for converting wave energy into electricity, in all according to the first claim, characterized in that, according to a preferred embodiment, the axis (4) is attached to the envelope (19) by a radial structure (6) and two extreme supports (7), in relation to which bearings are arranged that allow free rotation of the shaft (4). 9. Apparatus for converting the energy of the waves into electricity, in all according to the first and second claims, characterized in that in relation to the upper compartment (22) of the envelope (19) a door (21) for the work is arranged of maintenance and tuning.