FR2894299A1 - Liquid waviness and oscillation converting device, has float including ballistic compartments, where side of lateral wall of compartments has sealed joints that are arranged to partially cover orifices of lateral wall and lock shafts - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a float (3) guided by a guiding support (2) that is anchored in a sub-marine base with the help of a guiding unit (12). An electrical generator converts the relative displacement between the float and the support into available energy e.g. electrical energy. The guiding unit includes a roller, a pinion or a wheel in contact with a conveyor track of the support. The float has ballistic compartments, where a side of a lateral wall of the compartments has toric sealed joints that are arranged to partially cover orifices of the lateral wall and lock shafts.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for

  converting the undulation and / or oscillations of a liquid in which it is at least partially immersed into usable energy. It applies in particular but not exclusively to the conversion of wave, wave and tidal energy into electrical energy. It is known that there are already devices for converting the mechanical energy of waves, waves and tide into electrical energy. Thus, in particular, patent FR 2,834,757 has already proposed a device connected to the seabed by an anchor, the latter comprising at least a first flexible connecting element acting on a hydraulic jack mounted in a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic motor so that the action of the connecting element on the jack during vertical movements of the apparatus, generates in the hydraulic circuit a variation in flow and / or pressure for driving in rotation of said hydraulic motor. Also patent JP 5 288 141 discloses a device in which floats each guided on a mast anchored in the seabed by means of rollers, actuate racks rotating a generator of electric current.

  Nevertheless, these devices are relatively complex and generally comprise a relatively large number of parts such as, for example, valves, kinetic wheels, cables, return pulleys, rack-and-pinion assemblies which increases the wear problems. and corrosion and requires significant maintenance efforts.

  The object of the invention is therefore more particularly to eliminate these disadvantages. For this purpose, it proposes a device involving, as in the previously mentioned example, a float guided by a guiding device anchored in the seabed, using guiding means and having conversion means making it possible to convert the relative displacements between the float and the guiding device into usable energy such as, for example, electrical energy.

  According to the invention, the guide means comprise at least one roller, a pinion or a wheel in contact with a raceway of the guide device, and the conversion means comprise at least one electric generator driven in rotation by said roller, said pinion or said wheel.

  Advantageously, the roller, the pinion or the wheel can be rotatably mounted about an axis connected to the float. Thanks to these provisions, the sliding movement of the float subjected to the swell causes a rotational movement of said roller, pinion or wheel which is connected to at least one generator, which makes it possible to produce electrical energy while limiting the kinematic chain to strictly necessary. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the device comprises: a substantially vertical guide support fixed directly or indirectly to a seabed; A float comprising: a through-hole, of substantially vertical axis, which opens into its upper face and in its lower face, the diameter of this hole being substantially greater than that of the guide support in order to allow the sliding of the float; with respect to said medium; o at least one compartment which comprises an anterior opening opening into said through hole, a bottom wall, an upper wall, a rear wall and two side walls each having an orifice of horizontal axis facing one another; this compartment also comprises: at least one guiding means such as a roller, a pinion or a wheel whose horizontal axis is substantially parallel to the plane of said opening, and arranged so as to be in contact with the surface of said support guide when it is secured to the float; at least one drive shaft passing through the horizontal axis of said guide means and passing through said orifices of said side walls, at least one of the ends of this drive shaft being connected to at least one generatrix included in the body; float.

  Thus, under the action of the swell and / or the waves and / or the tide and / or buoyancy, the float is driven by an alternating vertical movement 25 which drives the guiding means in contact with the surface of the guide support. The reciprocating rotary movement of these guide means is then transmitted to the drive shafts and the generator which can produce electric energy in this way.

  Advantageously, in order to prevent the passage of liquid in the body of the float, at least one of the faces of each side wall of said compartments may comprise toric sealable seals arranged to partially cover said orifices of these side walls and to grip the drive shafts.

  Advantageously, the device according to the invention may also comprise means for exerting a pressure of the guide means on the surface of the guide support so as to prevent inadvertent sliding of these guide means.

  Advantageously, the device according to the invention may comprise several generators each capable of operating alternately in one direction and in the other.

  The device according to the invention may also comprise: • means for inverting the voltage generated by the generators in the direction of rotation of said generators; • means for converting the voltage generated by the generators into an AC or DC voltage; Means for stabilizing and / or regulating the voltages generated by said generators

  Advantageously, the thermal energy released by the generators during their operation can be used to heat water thus making it possible to recover energy in the form of electricity but also in the form of hot water.

  Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention overhung by an industrial platform.

  Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the guide device and the float of the device according to the invention in disassembled position.

  Figures 3, 4 and 5 are a schematic representation of the movement of floats each sliding around a foot of a tripod guide device.

  In this example, the device according to the invention 1 comprises a guiding device 2 constituted by a guiding support, of substantially vertical axis, fixed to an underwater bottom or to a floating base (not shown) which is maintained in position with anchors allowing it to remain fixed in relation to the seabed.

  Thus, the attachment of the guide device 2 to the seabed can be achieved in particular by maintaining in position the floating base using anchoring lines substantially parallel and constantly under tension.

  The guide support 2 may in particular be cylindrical or faceted and is preferably shaped so as not to oppose excessive resistance to the elements.

  The device according to the invention 1 also comprises a float 3 comprising a through hole 4, which opens substantially in the median zone of its upper face and its lower face. In order to allow the float 3 to slide with respect to said guide support 2, the diameter of said hole 4 is substantially greater than that of the guide support 2.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the guide support 2 may comprise several substantially vertical feet. Thus, for example, it can be tripod, three floats of the aforesaid type 3 each sliding relative to one of the three legs 30, 30 ', 30 "of the guide support 2.

  Advantageously, the structure and the shape of the float 3 are designed to ensure its buoyancy, which facilitates its transport to the mainland for periodic visits and / or repairs. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the float 3 may be composed of two removable floating hulls 18, 18 'can be assembled and disassemble around a substantially vertical axis.

  The float 3 may comprise four compartments 5 arranged at substantially regular intervals around said through hole 4. Each of these compartments 5 comprises an anterior opening 6 opening into said through hole 4, a bottom wall, an upper wall, a rear wall 9 and two side walls 10 each having an orifice 11 of horizontal axis facing one another.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the compartments 5 may be cylindrical, they then each comprise an opening 6 opening into said through hole 4, a bottom wall, an upper wall, and a side wall 10 having two orifices 11 of horizontal axis facing one another.

  According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, each of said compartments 5 does not comprise a bottom wall and upper wall, they then constitute with said through hole 4, a single through hole which opens into the upper and lower face of the float 3. Thus, in the case where the float 3 comprises four compartments 5 arranged at regular intervals, these constitute with the through-hole 4 of the float 3, a single through-hole having substantially the shape of a cross. Each compartment 5 also comprises: At least one guide means 12 whose horizontal axis is substantially parallel to the plane of said opening 6 and arranged to be in contact with the surface of said guide support 2 when it is it is secured to the float 3. • At least one drive shaft 13 passing through the horizontal axis of said guide means 2 and passing through said orifices 11 of said side walls 10. At least one end of the drive shaft 13 being connected to at least one generator 14 included in the body of the float 3.

  Said guide means 12 may be in particular a roller, a wheel or a pinion meshing with a rack (not shown) extending vertically on the surface of the guide support 2. Advantageously, to prevent the passage of water in the body of the float 3, the latter may comprise toric seals 15 which are arranged so as to partially cover said orifices 11 of said side walls 10 and to grip said drive shafts 13. device according to the invention 1 may also comprise means (not shown) for exerting a pressure of the guide means 12 on the surface of the guide support 2 so as to prevent inadvertent sliding of these guide means 12. The generators 14 are direct or alternating current generators however, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, they can be replaced by hydraulic pumps (not shown). depicted her e). Advantageously, the device according to the invention 1 may comprise several generatrices 14 which are preferably sealed and can each operate alternately in one direction and the other.

  Advantageously, the thermal energy released by the generators 14 during their operation can be used to heat water thus making it possible to recover energy in the form of electricity but also in the form of hot water.

  In this way, under the action of the swell and / or the waves and / or the tide and / or buoyancy, the float 3 is driven by an alternating vertical movement which drives the guide means 12 in contact with the surface of the guide support 2. The reciprocating rotary movement of these guide means 12 is then transmitted to the drive shafts 13 and the generator 14 which can produce electrical energy in this way.

  Advantageously, the vertical reciprocating movement of the float 3 makes it possible to automatically clean the guide device 2 and the guide means 12 by preventing the attachment of elements such as crustaceans and / or sediments.

  Advantageously, the device according to the invention 1 can be overhung by an industrial platform 16 supported by the guide support 2 and on which the electrical energy thus produced can be used to power its industrial equipment. These platforms 16 may comprise at least one additional energy generating device such as a wind power generating device 17 and / or a thermal energy generating device (not shown) and / or a device for generating energy. production of solar energy 19.30 - 9 Devices according to the invention 1 with or without industrial platforms 16 can be grouped together in relatively small spaces in order to form "wave farms" or more generally "multienergetic farms".

  The device according to the invention 1 may comprise an electronic control device (not shown) making it possible to control in particular: • the generators 14 in real time and thus to manage the production of energy according to the needs; • the float 3 in order to adapt the amplitude of its race according to the tidal range and the movements of the swell; the amplitude of the stroke of the float 3 to be at least equal to the sum of the tidal range, the amplitude of the swell and a safety gap.

  Advantageously, the float 3 may comprise ballast compartments (not shown) at its base, the filling of which may be controlled at the announcement of a major storm, in order to allow its diving and thus to avoid be subject to excessive movement under the action of a particularly strong swell; filling and emptying said ballasting compartments that can be controlled by said electronic control device.

  Several devices according to the invention 1 can be grouped into a network and include an electronic control device of the aforesaid type for controlling: • the actuation and stopping of the sliding of the floats 3 relative to the guiding devices 2; As well as the resistance encountered by the guiding means 12 during their displacements on the surface of said guiding devices 2. In this way and advantageously, this network grouping of the devices according to the invention 1 makes it possible to to ensure a production of an electrical energy average over time in fact, by means of a control device of the aforesaid type, it is possible to order an appropriate phase shift of the stroke of each of said floats 3 which makes it possible to overcome the constraints related to the alternating movements of the swell.

  The alternative embodiment of the invention according to which the guide support 2 may comprise several substantially vertical feet also makes it possible to dispense with the alternating movements of the swell thanks to an appropriate phase shift of the different floats 3.

  By way of example, taking the following hypotheses: • as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the guiding support 2 is tripod, it comprises two lateral feet 30, 30 'and a median foot 30 " equidistant from these other two feet, the distance between the two lateral feet 30, 30 'is substantially equal to half a wave of waves, the device according to the invention 1 comprises a control device of the aforesaid type (not shown) which can control: o the actuation and stopping of the sliding floats 3 relative to the guide devices 2; o and the resistance encountered by the guide means 12 during their movements on the surface of said guide devices 2.

  Figure 3 schematically illustrates the positioning of the different floats 3 at time to. The floats 3 sliding around the lateral feet 30, 30 'are located respectively at the top and the trough of the wave, their respective speeds being zero at this instant, the energy they produce is also zero. On the other hand, the float 3 sliding around the median foot 30 "is situated substantially" in the middle "of the wave, and therefore produces a non-zero energy equal to W. Therefore, at the instant to, the device according to the invention 1 produces an energy having a value equal to W.

  FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the positioning of the various floats 3 at the instant to + of the pitch of the swell. The float 3 sliding around the median foot 30 "is located at the top of the wave, the energy it produces is then zero.The floats 3 sliding around the lateral feet 30, 30 'meanwhile are substantially arranged" in the middle of the wave and therefore each produce an energy equal to W. Therefore, at the moment to + of the wave pitch, the device according to the invention 1 produces an energy having a value equal to 2W.

  FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the positioning of the various floats 3 at the moment t + '/ 2 of the pitch of the swell. The floats 3 sliding around the lateral feet 30, 30 'are respectively located in the hollow and the top of the wave, their respective speed being zero at this moment, the energy they produce is also zero. By cons, the float 3 sliding around the median foot 30 "is located substantially" in the middle "of the wave, and therefore produces a non-zero energy equal to W. Therefore, at the moment to + '/ 2 of the step of the swell, the device according to the invention 1 produces an energy having a value equal to W.

  In order to make the value of the energy produced by the device according to the invention 1 substantially constant, said control device can control the stopping of the sliding of one of the floats 3 sliding around the lateral feet 30, 30 'to the instants to + (k *) of the pitch of the swell (k being an odd natural integer different from 0). In this way, the energy (and therefore the voltage) produced by the device according to the invention 1 is constant (in this case, it is equal to w), said control device and the guide support 2 constituting - 12 means for stabilizing and / or regulating the voltages generated by said generators 14. In order to transform the DC or AC voltage of the current produced by the generators 14 respectively into an AC or DC voltage current, the device according to the invention 1 may also include means for converting the DC or AC voltage generated by the generators 14 respectively to an AC or DC voltage, such as voltage converters (not shown), for example for converting a 650 V DC current into a voltage converter. three-phase alternating current 380 V usable directly near the device according to the invention 1, such as, for example, on an industrial platform Rielle 16 overhanging it. Advantageously, the device according to the invention may comprise a "bus drive" (not shown) for summing the energies of each generator 14 and thus making it possible to transform an alternating current of 750 V produced by the generators into a direct current of 650 V .

Claims (23)

claims   1. Device (1) for converting the undulation and / or oscillations of a liquid in which it is at least partially immersed in a usable energy, characterized in that it comprises a float (3) guided by a guiding device (2) anchored in the sea bed, by means of guide means (12) and having conversion means (14) for converting the relative displacements between the float (3) and the guiding (2) into a usable energy such as electrical energy.   2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means (12) comprise at least one roller, a pinion or a wheel in contact with a raceway of the guide device (2), and the conversion means (14) comprise at least one electric generator driven in rotation by said roller, said pinion or said wheel.   3. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the roller, the pinion or the wheel is rotatably mounted about an axis (13) connected to the float (3).   4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: s a substantially vertical guide support (2) fixed directly or indirectly to a seabed; • a float (3) comprising: o a through hole (4), of substantially vertical axis, which opens in its upper face and in its lower face, the diameter of this hole (4) being substantially greater than that -14 - the guide support (2) to allow the sliding of the float (3) relative to said support (2); at least one compartment (5) which comprises an anterior opening (6) opening into said through-hole (4), a bottom wall, an upper wall, a rear wall (9) and two lateral walls (10) each having an orifice horizontal axis (11) facing one another; this compartment (5) also comprises: at least one guide means (12) such as a roller, a pinion meshing with a rack or a wheel whose horizontal axis is substantially parallel to the plane of said opening (6) and arranged to be in contact with the surface of said guide support (2) when it is secured to the float (3); At least one drive shaft passing through the horizontal axis of said guide means (2) and passing through said orifices (11) of said side walls (10), at least one of the ends of said drive shaft (13); the drive (13) being connected to at least one generator (14) included in the body of the float (3).   5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide device (2) is fixed to a floating base which is held in position by means of substantially parallel anchoring lines 25 and constantly under tension. to remain fixed in relation to the seabed.   6. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the guide support (2) is cylindrical or faceted and is shaped so as not to oppose excessive resistance to the elements. 15-   7. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the guide support (2) comprises a plurality of substantially vertical feet, a float (3) sliding relative to each of these feet.   8. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the float (3) is composed of two removable floating hulls (18, 18 ') which can be assembled and disassembled around an axis substantially vertical. 10   9. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the compartments (5) are cylindrical.   10. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that each of said compartments (5) comprises no bottom wall and upper wall.   11. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the body of the float (3) comprises O-rings (15) which are arranged to partially cover said orifices (11). ) of said side walls (10) and to grip said drive shafts (13).   12. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that it comprises means for exerting a pressure of the guide means (12) on the surface of the guide support (2). in order to prevent inadvertent sliding of these guide means (12).   13. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the conversion means (14) are constituted by hydraulic pumps.   14. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the (the) generatrix (s) (14) is (are) sealed and operates (ent) alternately in one direction and the other .   15. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that the generators (14) constitute a means for producing thermal energy, the thermal energy released by the generators (14) during their operation to heat water. 10   16. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 15, characterized in that it is overhung by an industrial platform (16) supported by the guide support (2) and on which the electrical energy thus produced can be used to power its industrial equipment.   Device (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the platforms (16) comprise a wind power generating device (17) and / or a thermal energy generating device and / or a device solar energy production (19). 20   18. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 17, characterized in that the devices according to the invention (1) are grouped in a network. 25   19. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 18, characterized in that it comprises an electronic control device for controlling: • the generators (14) in real time and thus to manage the production of energy depending on the needs ; The float (3) in order to adapt the amplitude of its stroke according to the tidal range and the movements of the swell; the amplitude of the float stroke (3) to be at least equal to the sum of the tidal range, the swell amplitude and a safety clearance; Actuating and stopping the sliding of the floats (3) relative to the guiding devices (2); The resistance encountered by the guiding means (12) during their movements on the surface of said guiding devices (2).   20. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 19, characterized in that the float (3) comprises at its base ballast compartments.   21. Device (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that the filling and emptying of said ballasting compartments are controlled by said electronic control device.   22. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 21, characterized in that it comprises means for converting the DC or AC voltage generated by the generators (14) respectively in an AC or DC voltage.   23. Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 22, characterized in that it comprises a "bus drive" for summing the energies of each generator (14).