FR2914703A1 - Wave power device for producing electrical current, has movable float permanently arranged in backwash zone of breaking waves generated by shallow water, where float is provided with containment units that generate electrical energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (DHM) has a sphere or cylinder or disc movable float (FLO) permanently arranged in a backwash zone (ZOR) of breaking waves (VADI, VAD2, VAD3) generated by the shallow water, such as beach or submarine reef. The movable float is provided with containment units (MOC), which are used for generating electrical energy (ENE). The containment units permit the movable float arranged on the shallow water by pressing of the breaking waves and take away of the shallow water before arrival of the breaking waves.

Description

The present invention relates to a wave energy device. Such

  This device is particularly aimed at states and companies wishing to produce energy from waves and waves. In general, existing marine devices are not without a number of drawbacks among which: Onshore devices using the energy of currents, such as submerged propellers, are expensive, fragile, difficult to monitor, dependent on appropriate sites , depending on the currents. Devices using tidal energy, such as the bulge groups of the Rance dam, have the same defects. Devices using the thermal gradient of the oceans are expensive, fragile, large, difficult to monitor. Strictly speaking, devices using wave energy can use the springboard effect of waves, such as the Danish sea dragon or the Norwegian tapchan, to fill an overhanging tank, offshore or onshore, the tank empties itself by gravity. operating a propeller. This technique is poorly controlled, expensive and depends on a certain wave height. Another type of device such as the one presented in the document WO 2006 108 421 implements a float connected to a fixed structure by a moving part. the vertical movements of the float under the effect of the waves animate these moving parts, which generates cost. This technique is poorly controlled, expensive and dependent on some wave height or heave. Finally, some devices use waves to pressurize the air in a cavity, like a piston. A propeller disposed in a decompression line can produce current. This technique is limited because it depends on large waves. In addition, it is complex because it involves many technologies. In order to overcome these various problems, the object of the invention is to propose a wave energy device.

  According to a major characteristic of the invention, consisting of a mobile float permanently disposed in a surf zone of breaking waves generated by a high floor, such as a beach or an underwater reef, this float being provided with means of containment these means are capable of generating electrical energy.

  The surf zones are numerous, easy to access when they are coastal, and active all year long. The wave height is small compared to the amplitude of the horizontal movements of the float. According to another characteristic of the invention, these confinement means comprising on the one hand at least one anchor, and on the other hand at least one mechanical connection, these confinement means are alternatively able to leave this float in position. to approach this high ground under the pressure of this wave, and to remove it from this high ground before the arrival of the next wave. The necessary equipment is minimal, easy to implement. Maintenance is simplified. According to another characteristic of the invention, this anchoring being situated between this float and this high-base, this mechanical connection being shortened when it is pushed by this float, and lengthening when it pushes this float, the movements of this mechanical linkage generate electrical energy. According to another characteristic of the invention, this float being situated between this anchorage and this high-end, the mechanical connection lengthening when it is pushed by this float, and shortening when it pushes this float, the movements of the mechanical linkage generate electrical energy. According to another characteristic of the invention, the mechanical connection integrates at least one mechanical spring. According to another characteristic of the invention, the mechanical connection integrates at least one pneumatic cylinder.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the surf zone being fixed, for example in the absence of tides, this anchoring is fixed. According to another characteristic of the invention, the surf zone being mobile, for example in the presence of tides, it has at least one of the following characteristics: this anchoring is mobile; the amplitude of the movements of this mechanical link is variable; . The invention can thus be adapted to all types of coastal or reef environments with a surf. According to another characteristic of the invention, it allows movements of the float parallel to the movements of the waves. This eliminates the parasitic effects of movements perpendicular to the waves. According to another characteristic of the invention, this float is in one of the following forms: a sphere, a cylinder, a disc. -3- These forms guarantee the solidity, the little risk of hanging sparks or floating debris, and a good responsiveness to the waves. The features of the invention mentioned above in a nonlimiting manner will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a view from above of an embodiment. according to the invention. The invention relates to a DHM wave energy device for producing electric current from the swell. Said device DHM consists of a mobile float FLO permanently disposed in a surf zone ZOR waves breaking VAD1, VAD2, VAD3 generated by a high bottom HAF. Said highland HAF may be a beach or underwater reef near which the waves break. Instead of being simple sinusoidal undulations of the marine or lacustrine surface, said waves VAD1, VAD2, VAD3 sweep said high HAF bottom on which they break while moving forward and back alternately. Said float FLO is provided with MOC containment means keeping it permanently in said ZOR wave zone so that it can follow the movement of said waves VAD1, VAD2, VAD3. In addition, said MOC means are able to generate electrical energy ENE. Said MOC containment means comprise on the one hand at least one anchor ANC1, ANC2, which may be in the form of a post integral with the seabed, or possibly a fixed buoy connected to said fund by one or more chains or lines The said MOC containment means also comprise at least one mechanical link LIM1, LIM2, for example two tubes TUBI, TUB2 sliding one inside the other.

  Said MOC confinement means are alternatively able to let said float FLO approach said high bottom HAF under the thrust of one of said waves VAD1, VAD2, VAD3, and away from said high bottom HAF before the arrival of said next wave VAD1, VAD2, VAD3. For this purpose, they integrate a mechanical element able to accumulate energy during the approach phase, and to restore it during the phase of removal. A mechanical spring RES housed in said tubes TUBI, TUB2 constitutes such a mechanical element. in another embodiment not shown, it could be a pneumatic cylinder VER. In the present embodiment, said float FLO is located between said anchoring ANC1, ANC2 and said high-bottom HAF. Said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 extends when it is pushed by said float FLO which is even pushed by one of said waves VAD1, VAD2, VAD3, which lengthens said spring RES. Said mechanical connection is shortened when it pushes said FLO float to meet the next wave VAD1, VAD2, VAD3, which occurs under the effect of the restoring force of said RES spring is shortened. The movements of said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 generate electrical energy ENE by setting in motion a suitable moving part not shown. In another embodiment, not shown, said anchoring ANC1, ANC2 being located between said float FLO and said high bottom 1-IAF. Said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 is shortened when it is pushed by said float FLO, and lengthens when it pushes said float FLO. It can integrate for example said pneumatic cylinder VER. The movements of said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 also generate electrical energy ENE. Said surf zone ZOR can be fixed, for example in the absence of tides, as shown in the present embodiment. In this case, said anchoring ANC1, ANC2 is fixed. On the other hand, said ZOR surf zone can be mobile, for example in the presence of tides. It then has at least one of the following characteristics: said anchoring ANC1, ANC2 is mobile, the amplitude of the movements of said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 is variable. As shown in Figure 2, the device has several anchors A NC1, ANC2, in this case two. This allows movements of said float FLO parallel to the movements of said waves VAD1, VAD2, VAD3. Said float FLO can be in many forms, including one of the following forms: - a sphere, - a cylinder, - a disc. It should be noted that the previously described device can receive any item not described and falling within the scope of the invention. The embodiments of the invention presented above were chosen because of their practical nature. It would not be possible, however, to exhaustively list all the embodiments covered by this invention. In particular, any means described may be replaced by equivalent means without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

claims   1) DHM wave energy device characterized in that it consists of a mobile float FLO permanently disposed in a surf zone ZOR breaking waves VAD1, VAD2, VAD3 generated by a high bottom HAF, such as a beach or a reef submarine , said float FLO being provided with MOC confinement means, said MOC means are able to generate electrical energy ENE.   2) DHM device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said MOC confinement means comprising on the one hand at least one anchor ANC1, ANC2, and on the other hand at least one mechanical link LIM1, LIM2, said MOC containment means are alternatively able to let said FLO float approach said high bottom HAF under the thrust of said wave VAD1, VAD2, VAD3, and away from said high bottom HAF before the arrival of said next wave VAD1, VAD2, VAD3.   3) Device DHM according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said anchoring ANC1, ANC2 being located between said float FLO and said high bottom HAF, said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 shortening when pushed by said float FLO, and lengthening when it pushes said float FLO, the movements of said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 generate electrical energy ENE.   4) Device DHM according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said float FLO being located between said anchor ANC1, ANC2 and said high bottom HAF, said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 lengthening when pushed by said float FLO, and shortening when it pushes said float FLO, the movements of said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 generate electrical energy ENE.   5) Device DHM according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mechanical connection LIM1, LIM2 integrates at least one mechanical spring RES. -6-7-   6) Device DHM according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mechanical connection LIM1, LIM2 incorporates at least one pneumatic cylinder VEP.   7) DHM device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ZOR surf zone being fixed, for example in the absence of tides, said anchoring ANC1, ANC2 is fixed.   8) Device DHM according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said surf zone ZOR being movable, for example in the presence of tides, it has at least one of the following characteristics: said anchoring ANC1, ANC2 is mobile, the amplitude of the movements of said mechanical link LIM1, LIM2 is variable. 15   9) Device DHM according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it allows movements of said float FLO parallel to the movements of said waves VAD1, VAD2, VAD3.   10) DHM device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, said float FLO is in one of the following forms: a sphere, a cylinder, a disc. 25 30 35