GB2356430A - Wave energy convertor - Google Patents
Wave energy convertor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2356430A GB2356430A GB9927065A GB9927065A GB2356430A GB 2356430 A GB2356430 A GB 2356430A GB 9927065 A GB9927065 A GB 9927065A GB 9927065 A GB9927065 A GB 9927065A GB 2356430 A GB2356430 A GB 2356430A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- shaft
- sense
- water
- rotor
- freewheel
- 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.)
- Granted
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"
- F03B13/18—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
- F03B13/1855—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 where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression
-
- 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
- F03B13/1805—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 is hinged to the rem
- F03B13/1825—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 is hinged to the rem for 360° rotation
- F03B13/183—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 is hinged to the rem for 360° rotation of a turbine-like wom
-
- 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
-
- 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
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
Abstract
The convertor comprises a bladed rotor 1 fixed to the lower end of a long (3m) vertical shaft 4 the upper end of which is coupled by driving means 8-11, 16, 17 to an electric generator 13 mounted on a floating platform 7. As the platform rises and falls with the surface of the water, the rotor is caused to turn by reacting with the relatively less mobile deeper water. The driving means drives the generator in one sense only, regardless of the sense of rotation of the rotor by means of a first freewheel 14 in the hub of pulley 8 driving the generator when the rotor turns in a first sense and freewheeling when the rotor turns in the other direction whereupon a second freewheel 18 drives the generator. The rotor may alternatively have reversible pitch blades to provide unidirectional motion to the shaft.
Description
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATOR This invention concerns means for generating
electric power f rom the natural turbulent motion of a body of water such as the sea or a large lake.
A considerable amount of energy is stored in the surface layer of a body of water which has been set into motion under the influence of natural forces such as those of winds and tides. Various attempts have been made to harness this energy and to use it to generate electric power. However, these attempts have encountered various problems, and it has not yet been found possible to construct durable and commercially successful means for generating electric power from the movement of the surface of a body of water.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for harnessing the energy available in the surface layers of a body of water which is acted upon by natural forces.
The invention provides means for harnessing the energy available in the surface layers of a body of water which means comprise a rotor fixed to the lower end of a long, substantially vertical shaft the upper end of which is coupled by driving means to an electric generator mounted on a platform capable of floating on water, the driving means being such as to transmit rotary motion to the generator in one sense only, regardless of the sense of rotation of the rotor.
The body of water is conveniently the sea or a relatively large lake. The platform is arranged to float on the upper surface of the body of water, and, as the platform rises and falls in a substantially vertical direction as a result of turbulence on the surface of the body of water, the rotor is dragged upwards or downwards through the water, thus causing the rotor to rotate. The shaft is preferably of sufficient length that the rotor is at a depth at which the water is substantially free of motion in a vertical direction. The actual preferred length of the shaft will depend on conditions such as the amplitude and frequency of wave motions on the surface of the body of water, but will generally be at least 3 metres.
The rotor preferably comprises a plurality of vanes connected to an axial hub in order to provide efficient conversion of vertical motion through the water into rotary motion.
The driving means preferably comprise first and second freewheel mechanisms fixed to the shaft, the first freewheel mechanism being adapted to provide positive rotary motion in a predetermined sense to the electric generator when the shaft is rotating in a first sense, and to freewheel when the shaft is rotating in the opposite sense, while the second freewheel mechanism is adapted to provide positive rotary motion in the same predetermined sense to the electric generator when the shaft is rotating in the opposite sense, and to freewheel when the shaft is rotating in the first sense.
Alternatively, the rotor may be provided with vanes, the pitch of which is automatically reversed when the vertical direction of motion of the shaft is reversed.
The shaft is preferably supported in at least one bearing which is provided in a block which is fixed to the side of the platform. The bearing is preferably provided with a seal to prevent the ingress of water.
A plant for generating electricity may conveniently be constructed by mounting a plurality of units comprising shaft, rotor, driving means and electric generator to a single floating platform.
Accordingly the invention also provides apparatus for generating electricity by harnessing the energy available in the surface layers of a body of water comprising a plurality of means as hereinbefore described fixed to a single platform capable of floating on water.
The following is a description of one embodiment of the invention, by way of example only, and is illustrated by means of the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of electric generating means in accordance with the invention.
A rotor 1, comprising four vanes 2 (only two shown) mounted on an axial hub 3, is fixed to the lower end of a long shaft 4. The shaft 4 is supported in bearing blocks 5 and 6, each bearing being provided with a seal to prevent the ingress of water. The bearing blocks 5 and 6 are rigidly mounted on a platform 7 which is of such construction and material that it is capable of floating in both salt and fresh water.
To the upper end of the shaft 4 are attached two driving pulleys 8 and 9. The pulley 8 is arranged to drive by means of a belt 10 a pulley 11 which is rigidly fixed to a shaft 12 of an electric generator 13. In the hub of pulley 8 is set a freewheel mechanism 14, which is adapted to provide drive to the belt 10 when shaft 4 is rotating in the sense indicated by the arrow 15. The pulley 9 is arranged to drive by means of a belt 16 a pulley 17 which is rigidly fixed to shaft 12. In the hub of pulley 9 is set a freewheel mechanism 18, which is adapted to provide drive to the belt 16 when shaft 4 is rotating in the sense opposite to that indicated by the arrow 15.
In operation, the platform 7 rides on the surface layer of a body of water such as the sea or a large lake. The hatched line 19 represents the surface of the body of water when it is disturbed by the action of wind and/or tidal flow and/or currents. Under such conditions, the platform 7 rides up and down, and the rotor 1 is dragged through the water in a substantially vertical direction. When the platform 7 is riding upwards, the rotor 1 rotates in one particular sense, and when the platform is subsiding downwards the rotor 1 rotates in the opposite sense. However, the freewheel mechanisms 14 and 18 ensure that motion in one rotary sense only is transmitted to the shaft 12 of the generator 13.
Claims (10)
1. Means for harnessing the energy available in the surface layers of a body of water which means comprise a rotor fixed to the lower end of a long, substantially vertical shaft the upper end of which is coupled by driving means to an electric generator mounted on a platform capable of floating on water, the driving means being such as to transmit rotary motion to the generator in one sense only, regardless of the sense of rotation of the rotor.
2. Means according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is of sufficient length that the rotor is at a depth at which the water is substantially free of motion in a vertical direction.
3. Means according to claim 2, wherein the shaft has a length of at least 3 metres.
4. Means according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein he rotor comprises a plurality of vanes connected to an axial hub.
5. Means according to any one of claim 1 to 4, wherein the driving means comprise first and second freewheel mechanisms fixed to the shaft, the first freewheel mechanism being adapted to provide positive rotary motion in a predetermined sense to the electric generator when the shaft is rotating in a first sense, and to freewheel when the shaft is rotating in the opposite sense, while the second freewheel mechanism is adapted to provide positive rotary motion in the same predetermined sense to the electric generator when the shaft is rotating in the opposite sense, and to freewheel when the shaft is rotating in the first sense.
6. Means according to any one of claim 1 to 4, wherein the rotor is provided with vanes, the pitch of which is automatically reversed when the vertical direction of motion of the shaft is reversed.
7. Means according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the shaft is supported in at least one bearing which is provided in a block which is fixed to the side of the platform.
8. Means according to claim 7, wherein the bearing is provided with a seal to prevent the ingress of water.
9. Apparatus for generating electricity by harnessing the energy available in the surface layers of a body of water comprising a plurality of means in accordance with claim 1 fixed to a single platform capable of floating on water.
10. Means for harnessing the energy available in the surface layers of a body of water as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9927065A GB2356430B (en) | 1999-11-17 | 1999-11-17 | Electric power generator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9927065A GB2356430B (en) | 1999-11-17 | 1999-11-17 | Electric power generator |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9927065D0 GB9927065D0 (en) | 2000-01-12 |
| GB2356430A true GB2356430A (en) | 2001-05-23 |
| GB2356430B GB2356430B (en) | 2002-12-04 |
Family
ID=10864596
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9927065A Expired - Fee Related GB2356430B (en) | 1999-11-17 | 1999-11-17 | Electric power generator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2356430B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2390401A (en) * | 2002-07-01 | 2004-01-07 | William George Lyne | Electricity generator utilising water energy |
| GB2390876A (en) * | 2002-05-23 | 2004-01-21 | Keith White | Wave energy electricity generator |
| WO2008052440A1 (en) * | 2006-10-31 | 2008-05-08 | Zhihong Deng | A wave energy propulsion device |
| WO2008101381A1 (en) * | 2007-01-27 | 2008-08-28 | Zhihui Deng | A method and device of using oceanic wave to generate electricity |
| FR2927958A1 (en) * | 2008-02-22 | 2009-08-28 | Slawomir Klukowski | DEVICE FOR COLLECTING THE ENERGY OF THE WAVE. |
| WO2012146197A1 (en) * | 2011-04-29 | 2012-11-01 | Zhao Gaoyuan | Floating-type ocean current combination power generation device |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1452359A (en) * | 1973-06-18 | 1976-10-13 | Gustafson M W | Device for utilizing wave energy |
| WO1980002181A1 (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1980-10-16 | Roche Kerandraon Oliver | Device for transforming the energy of a moving fluid |
| US4447740A (en) * | 1979-11-08 | 1984-05-08 | Heck Louis J | Wave responsive generator |
| EP0170737A1 (en) * | 1983-07-08 | 1986-02-12 | Hal R. Linderfelt | Apparatus for harvesting wave energy |
-
1999
- 1999-11-17 GB GB9927065A patent/GB2356430B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1452359A (en) * | 1973-06-18 | 1976-10-13 | Gustafson M W | Device for utilizing wave energy |
| WO1980002181A1 (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1980-10-16 | Roche Kerandraon Oliver | Device for transforming the energy of a moving fluid |
| US4447740A (en) * | 1979-11-08 | 1984-05-08 | Heck Louis J | Wave responsive generator |
| EP0170737A1 (en) * | 1983-07-08 | 1986-02-12 | Hal R. Linderfelt | Apparatus for harvesting wave energy |
Cited By (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2390876A (en) * | 2002-05-23 | 2004-01-21 | Keith White | Wave energy electricity generator |
| GB2390401A (en) * | 2002-07-01 | 2004-01-07 | William George Lyne | Electricity generator utilising water energy |
| GB2390401B (en) * | 2002-07-01 | 2005-08-31 | William George Lyne | Electicity generating equipment |
| WO2008052440A1 (en) * | 2006-10-31 | 2008-05-08 | Zhihong Deng | A wave energy propulsion device |
| WO2008101381A1 (en) * | 2007-01-27 | 2008-08-28 | Zhihui Deng | A method and device of using oceanic wave to generate electricity |
| FR2927958A1 (en) * | 2008-02-22 | 2009-08-28 | Slawomir Klukowski | DEVICE FOR COLLECTING THE ENERGY OF THE WAVE. |
| WO2009115675A2 (en) * | 2008-02-22 | 2009-09-24 | Slawomir Klukowski | Device for collecting swell energy |
| WO2009115675A3 (en) * | 2008-02-22 | 2009-11-12 | Slawomir Klukowski | Device for collecting swell energy |
| US8497593B2 (en) | 2008-02-22 | 2013-07-30 | Slawomir Klukowski | Device for collecting swell energy |
| WO2012146197A1 (en) * | 2011-04-29 | 2012-11-01 | Zhao Gaoyuan | Floating-type ocean current combination power generation device |
| US9709020B2 (en) | 2011-04-29 | 2017-07-18 | Gaoyuan Zhao | Floating-type ocean current combination power generation device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2356430B (en) | 2002-12-04 |
| GB9927065D0 (en) | 2000-01-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20091117 |