FR2483532A1 - Marine energy generation plant - uses floating wing shaped elements connected to accumulation pump and storage reservoir supplying to floating turbine-generator - Google Patents

Abstract

The plant includes a set of floating vanes transmitting the surface wave motion to respective accumulation pumps via a cable and pulley system. The pumps are supported by the sea bed and are coupled to the end of a supply channel of a common reservoir located above sea level for pumping the sea water up into the latter. The reservoir is in turn coupled to a water turbine driving an electricity generator, both of which are supported by a further float for using the difference in level due to the tide. Pref. two floats are coupled to their respective accumulator pumps so that each float acts as the counterweight for the other, providing a self-balancing system. The plant combines the action of the wave motion and tidal motion to obtain the benefits of each.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for producing energy using the power of the swell and the variations in the water level due to this swell and the tides.
In known devices of this kind, the power of the swell or the difference in water levels due to the tides is used to actuate turbines driving electrical energy generators. The efficiency of these devices is low, because: On the one hand, the direct transformation of wave movements into rotary movements of turbines producing energy is technically very difficult, the movements of the waves being irregular, which causes large On the other hand, the movements of the tides are very slow, which increases the weakness of the yield.
The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks, because: Firstly, it combines the device using the power of the swell and the device using the variations in the water level due to tides in a single production unit of 'energy. Secondly the part of the device using the power of the wave, also uses the variation of the level of the water produced by the wave. To do this we use a floating wing yes behaves on the wave as behaves a kite in the airs, facing the wave due to the extent of its surface and floating on the wave due to its density. Thirdly, by associating the floating wings in parallel two by two with chars, at a given moment a floating wing can be on the crest of the wave, while the other floating wing is in the hollow of the wave Thus all the power of the wave movements can be absorbed. Fourth, the use of two cables and pulleys controlling two pumps coupled to a device allowing the accumulation of certain irregular movement of the wave comprising their two pistons associated with a return spring allows this device to have a large flexibility and transform the slightest movements of the wave into movements of the pistons of the pumps which propel the water into an elevated holding tank from where it will be used to produce energy; the irregular movements of the wave cause the compression of the return spring which with a certain delay actuates the pistons, thus the totality of the power of the wave manifested by these more or more regular movements is transmitted to the pistons of the pumps. Storing the water in an elevated tank allows regularization and better use of the waterfall controlling the turbine-generator assembly. The fact that this assembly is arranged on a float allows differences in level to be used. water due to tides to generate energy.

 According to a first variant of the device, the floating wings are arranged in parallel, by group @ of two successively fronting the wave at the same point. One floating wing being on the crest of the wave, while the other is behind in the same axis, in the hollow of the same wave, When the wave progresses, the positions of the floating wings are inverted, which activates the pumps which propel water into the holding tank. fig. 5.

 According to a second variant of the device, the floating wings are arranged in staggered rows facing each other in groups of two at different points of the wave. The first row of floating wings being spaced on the crest of the wave, when the second row of floating wings is in the hollow of the wave opposite the spaces existing between the floating wings of the first row. The progression of the wave as previously reverses the positions of the floating wings. And causes pumping, fig. 6 ,.

The device according to the invention makes it possible, by the action of pumps actuated by the floating wings with the aid of cables and pulleys, to store water by means of pipes in a retaining cylinder arranged on the shore on a height. Another expandable pipeline connects the holding tank to a turbine-generator assembly disposed at sea level on a float, which allows variations in water level due to tides to be used to generate energy.

the accompanying drawings are sectional views of the device, when the floating wings are arranged in parallel or staggered
As it is represented, the device comprises for each TV, wave treatment element, / a frame I, supporting the storage pumps 2, 3, / and their transmission members 4, 5, connecting them to the floating wings 6, 7, the accumulator pumps 2, 3, are arranged at the end of the pipe supplying the holding tank 8, common to all the TV wave treatment units, located on an elevated part of the shore. Another extendable pipe connects the reservoir ae retained 8, to a turbine-generator assembly 9, disposed on a float in a location sheltered from the coast.

The chassis I, formed of a base 10, supports: On the one hand, the storage pumps 2, 3, formed from the cylinders 20S 30, in which the pistons 21, 31 respectively slide, actuated respectively by the parts in the form of U, 22, 32, the ends 220, 320 of which are respectively connected to the pistons 21. 31, while their two other ends 221, 321e slide one inside the other Which makes it possible to interpose between them a spring of booster 23, of which I1 end 230, presses on end 32I, of the U-shaped part, 32, and pushes it against the stop 222s of the US-shaped part 22; while the end 231 of the return spring 23 presses on the end 221 of the U-shaped part 22 and pushes it against the stop 322 of the piece in the form of
U, 32 ,. The cylinder 20 is provided with an intake valve 200S with an ejection valve 201, and with a stop 202 ,. The cylinder 30, is provided with an intake valve 300, an ejection valve 301, and a stop 302,. On the other hand, the bars 40, 50, integral with the chassis I, support the transmission members 4, 5 ,. On the end 400, of the bar 40, slides the bearing 401, of the pulley 402,. The bearing 401, is provided with a thread 403 ,. at the end 404, of the bar 40, slides the bearing 405, of the pulley 406 ,. The bearing 405, is provided with a thread 407 ,. In the part of the chaser I, which forms the center of the bar 40, is disposed the bearing 410, of the double worm screw 41, whose thread 411, controls the position of the bearing 401, by means of its thread 403 ,; while the thread 412 controls the position of the bearing 405, by means of its thread 407 ,. the pitch of the threads 411, 412, of the double worm screw 41, and of the threads 403, 407, are reversed. One end 413, of double worm screw 4 ~, is provided with a joint 414, connecting it to another rod 4I5, itself provided with a hinge 416, integral with a control crank 417, rotating in a bearing 4I8 ,. On the end 500, of the bar 50, slides the bearing 501, of the pulley 502,. The bearing 501, is provided with a thread 503 ,.

On the end 504, of the bar 50, slides the bearing 505, of the pulley 506,. The bearing 505, is provided with a thread 507,. In the part of the chassis I, which forms the center of the bar 50, is disposed the bearing 510, of the double worm screw 51, whose thread 511, controls the position of the bearing 501, by means of its thread 503 ,; while the thread 5I2, controls the position of the bearing 505, by means of its thread 507 ,. The pitch of the threads 511, 512, of the double worm screw 51, and the threads 503, 507, are reversed. One end 513, of the double worm screw 51, is provided with a joint 5I4, connecting it to a rod 515, itself provided with a 5I6 articulation, secured to a control crank
517, turning in a bearing 518 ,.

The part 22, in the shape of a U, is connected in its center 223, at a
end 420, of a cable 42, which is wound on the pulleys 502, 402,
and at its other end 421, fixed at the center of one end 60, of
the floating wing 6 @. The floating wing 6 is formed of two large
surfaces 61, 62, sufficiently convex to form a sealed volume
ensuring the buoyancy of the wing 6 ,. The other 60 'end of the
the floating 6, at its center fixed at the end 4210 of the cable 420
another TV wave processing element ', Room 32, in
U-shaped, is connected at its center 323, at one end 520, of a
cable 52, which is wound on pulleys 506, 406, and has its other ex
end 521, fixed at the center of one end 70, of the floating wing
7, .The floating wing 7, is formed by two large surfaces 71, 72,
sufficiently convex to form a tight volume ensuring its flow
stability. The other end 70 'of the floating wing 7, at its center
attached to end 521 'of cable 52' of another milking element
lying TV waves'.

Between the cylinders 20, 30, is arranged the end 800, of the
pipe 802 forming a chamber playing the role of collector of
the water leaving the ejection valves 201, 301 ,. Line 80,
which is divided in its vertical part into several pipes
801p 802, controlled by valves 8010, 8020, connected by its end
mite 800, 17 TV wave processing element, to re tank
held 8, by its vertical ends 811, 812 ,. The bottom 81, from re
retainer 8, is connected by an extendable pipe 90, controlled by the valve 90002 and / formed by two tubes 900, 901, fitting one into the other to a
assembly consisting of a turbine 91, driving a generator 92, dis
placed on a float 93,. The whole being located on shore 94,
in a sheltered place, because the float 93, undergoes the variations of
water level due to the tides and not those due to swell.

 When the swell touches on a TV wave processing element.

The first wave exerts on the floating wing 7, two thrusts, a vertical from bottom to top PA, due to the principle of archimedes which is applied on the face 71, the wave raising the level of the water and a horizontal thrust PV, towards the shore on the front part 710, of its face 71, due to the advancement of the waters of the wave. The floating wing, by its shape and the large surface area it offers to the wave, completely faces its front part 710, rising slightly. The floating wing 7, behaves on the wave like a kite in the air, that is to say that it hovers on the crest of the wave while rising and recedes while following the wave towards the shore thus capturing all the power of the wave. This results in a traction of the floating wing 7, on its cable 52, equal to the result of these two vertical and horizontal forces exerted by the wave. This push
PR, exerted on the floating wing 7, is transmitted to the cable 52, fixed to it by its end 521,. The cable 52, moves by rotating the pulleys 506, 406, and fixed by its end 520, to the center 323 , of the U-shaped part, 32, displaces the latter towards the shore.

The part 32, by its end 321, presses on the end 230, of the return spring 23, which does not compress and by its end 231, presses on the end 22I, of the part 22, in the form of U, which moves towards the shore in a movement identical to that of part 32 ,. Which causes: On the one hand, the displacement towards the e shore of the piston 31, fixed to the part 32, by its end 320, therefore the filling of the cylinder 30, because there is opening of the intake valve 300, and closing the ejection valve 301 ,.

On the other hand, the displacement towards the shore of the piston 21, fixed to the piece 22, by its end 220, therefore the exp @ lsion of the water contained in the cylinder 20, because there is opening of the valve d ejection 201, and closing the intake valve 200 ,. The water coming from the cylinder 20, passes in the collector 800, then in the line 80, then through the vertical ends 811, 812, of the line 8C? springs from the holding tank 8. Depending on the propelling force of the water, one or more vertical pipes 801, 802, from the pipe 80, controlled by the valves 8010, 8020, are used, the weight of the column to move, because it is necessary that for a given section, the thrust from top to bottom exerted by the weight of the water column contained in the vertical part constituted by the vertical pipes 881, 802, the valves of which are open, is less than the push from bottom to top exerted by the water propelled by the piston 21 ,. On the other hand, the p-iece 22, fixed in its middle 223, at the end 420, of the cable 42, exerts a traction which causes its displacement which makes the pulleys 502, 402 pivot, the end 421 , of the cable 42, exerts on the floating wing 6, a vertical pull from top to bottom, which located on the rear part of the preceding wave is in the position of descent towards the rear trough thereof. or the effect of the previous wave is longer than expected, that is to say that the floating wing 6, undergoes vertical pushes for a longer time from bottom to side and horizontal towards the shore of the wave preceding that taken as a starting point for the description; the cable 42 has its return movement blocked and maintains its traction on the part 22, which maintains @ by its end 221, its pressure on the end 231, of the return spring 23,. The latter is therefore simultaneously subjected to two pressures on the one hand, on its end 230, the pressure of the end 321, of the piece 32, and on the other hand, on its end 231, the pressure of the end 221 of the part 22, which causes its contraction. The part 22 remains stationary while the part 32 performs its movement, which results in an increase in the distance separating the pistons 21, 31, and a refilling of the cylinder. 30,; the cylinder 20 stores the tool water contained. There is therefore an accumulation of energy which results in the contraction of the return spring 23, and conservation of the water in the cylinder 20, but as soon as the effect of the preceding wave ceases, this energy is returned. .Car the descent of the floating garlic @ 6, is possible, which makes possible the return movement of the eable 42, which releases the part 22, which is propelled towards the shore by the pressure of the end 23I, of the spring return 23, on its end 22I ,. by its end 220, the piece 22, displaces the piston 21 towards the shore, which expels the water contained in the cylinder 20, in the manifold 800, the intake valve 200, closing while the ejection valve 201 opens, thus repeating with a certain delay the propulsion of water into the holding tank 8, described above.

When the wave which acts on the floating wing 7, progresses its pressures on the latter decreased then will be exerted on the floating wing 6, which in turn undergoes two thrusts, a vertical from bottom to top PA, due to the principle of archimede which is applied on its surface 61, and a horizontal thrust PV, towards the shore on the front part 610, of its surface 61,. As before the
PR, resulting from these two forces causes the cable 42 to be pulled, which rotates the pulleys 402, 502, in the opposite direction and causes the part 22 to move outward, which has the effect of causing: on the one hand, the displacement of the piston 21, fixed at the end 220, of the part 22, towards the sea and of causing the filling of the cylinder 20, due to the closing of the ejection valve 201, and the opening of the intake valve 200 ,.

On the other hand, the displacement of the part 32, outwardly due to the pressure exerted by the end 221, of the part 22, on the end 23IS of the return spring 23, which does not compress and by its end 230, transmits this pressure to the end 321, of the part 32,. This displacement towards the broad of the piece 32, Pro voque: On the one hand, the displacement towards the broad of the piston 31, fixed to the end 320, of the part 32, and therefore 13 expulsion of the water contained in the cylinder 30. since there is opening of the ejection valve 301, and closing of the intake valve 300 ,. On the other hand, the. pulling in the opposite direction as before the cable 52, which rotates the pulleys 506, 4062 in the opposite direction and by its end 52I exerts on the floating wing 7, a pull from top to bottom which helps its descent because it is on the back of the wave.

In the case where the effect of this wave is longer than expected, if a process similar to that described above the spring allows return 23, by contracting to accumulate energy from the wave and delays the movement of the piece 32 ,. When the effect of the wave is complete the relaxation of the return spring 23, causes the movement of the part 32,. There is therefore expulsion of the water contained in the cylinder 30, towards the manifold 800 "due to the opening of the ejection valve 301, and the closing of the intake valve 300,.

 To avoid as much as possible this contraction of the return spring 23, the spacing of the pulleys 402, 406 is adjusted, which makes it possible to adapt the spacing of the floating wings 6, 7, to the spacing of the waves which approach the dimension parallel to a certain distance from each other. To do this, the double worm screw 41 is caused to rotate, by acting on its control crank 417,. . According to the rotation of the double worm 41, the threads 411, 412, with inverted steps cause the bearings 401, 405 to move apart or closer together, respectively integral with the threads 403, 407, and respectively supporting the pulleys 402, 406 . To adjust the height of the floating wings 6, 7, as a function of the water level due to the tide, action is taken on the spacing of the pulleys 502, 506 ,. To do this, the double endless screw 5I is caused to rotate, by turning its control crank 517,.

According to the direction of rotation of the double worm screw 51, the threads 411, 512, with reversed steps cause the spacing or the approximation of the bearings 501, 505, respectively integral with the threads 503, 507, and respectively supporting the pulleys 502r 506 ,. The combined play of the double worm screws 41, 51 makes it possible to adapt the element for processing TV waves to all tides and to all types of waves.

The water arriving in the holding tank 8 flows through the extendable pipe 90, which is the penstock supplying the turbine 91, coupled to the generator 92, producing electricity. The flow rate of the extensible penstock 90, is regulated by the valve 9000, which allows a constant production of energy and an adaptation of 18 energy production according to the needs of consumption. The height of this waterfall varies with the tides because the turbine assembly 9I, generator 92, is arranged on a float 93, which makes it possible to reduce the flow rate of the expandable penstock 90, at low tide for the same production. energy, because in this case the waterfall is maximum. It is thus possible by adapting energy production to the tides to have better profitability of the device.

The device which is the subject of the invention can be used in all cases where the swell does not encounter any disturbing natural element
Its progress towards the coast and where it is possible to create an elevated reservoir for retention. It should be noted that it is possible to use small elevated tanks on frames, which makes the device usable on almost all shores.

Particularly interesting applications can be the production of electrical energy, the participation in the fight against pollution by propelling a non-polluting device for the production of energy, the improvement of the operating conditions of the coast, because the device by breaking the waves makes the coast more hospitable, which allows leisure activities to settle there.

The use of the holding tank allows aquaculture and the development of marine flora and fauna

Claims (7)

 CLAIMS. I. Energy production device using the action of swell and tides, on a set composed of floating wings 6, 7, storage pumps 2, 3, a holding tank 8, and a floating turbine generator group 9, characterized in that the floating wings 6, 7, by their surface and their density transmit the movements of the waves using cables 42, 52, and pulleys 402, 406, 502 , 506, to storage pumps 2, 3, projecting water with the possibility of shifting the movement into a holding tank 8, from where it will be used to produce energy. 2. Energy production device according to claim I, characterized in that the TV wave processing element comprises two floating wings 6, 7, associated with two storage pumps 2, 3, using cables 42, 52, so that each floating wing 6, or 7, @erve da counterweight to the other to bring it back into position. low.  3. Energy production device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for capturing the movements of the waves is a floating wing 6, or 7, facing the wave and behaving in front of it, like a deer. flying against the wind 4. An energy production device according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for transmitting the simultaneous vertical and horizontal pressures exerted by the waves on the  s floating wings 6, 7 make it possible to transform these pressures into reciprocating linear movements of the pistons 21, 31, of the accumulation pumps 2, 3, with a minimum of loss. 5. An energy production device according to claim 4, characterized in that the traction means ensuring the connection between the floating wings 6, 7, and the pistons 21, 31, of the pumps 2, .3, allows the using a return spring 23, delaying the movement of one of the pistons 21, 31, under certain conditions to better adapt the pumping to the movements and characteristics of the waves  6. An energy production device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for storing the water coming from the pumping is a holding tank / situated on a height, which allows a regulation of the flow of l installation and adaptation of production to the needs of users  7. An energy production device according to claim 69 characterized in that the energy production means consists of a turbine-generator assembly 9, disposed on a float 93, and supplied by an expandable penstock 90, connected to the reservoir 8, ee, which allows variations in water levels due to the tides to be used to produce energy