GB2472055A - Dual bellows pneumatic wave energy device - Google Patents

Dual bellows pneumatic wave energy device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2472055A
GB2472055A GB0912790A GB0912790A GB2472055A GB 2472055 A GB2472055 A GB 2472055A GB 0912790 A GB0912790 A GB 0912790A GB 0912790 A GB0912790 A GB 0912790A GB 2472055 A GB2472055 A GB 2472055A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
frame
wave energy
dual bellows
turbine housing
bellows
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0912790A
Other versions
GB0912790D0 (en
Inventor
Gregory Adam Clouter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0912790A priority Critical patent/GB2472055A/en
Publication of GB0912790D0 publication Critical patent/GB0912790D0/en
Publication of GB2472055A publication Critical patent/GB2472055A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F03B13/24—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 to produce a flow of air, e.g. to drive an air turbine
    • 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
    • F03B13/187—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 and the wom directly actuates the piston of a pump
    • 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
    • F03B13/188—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 flexible or deformable
    • 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

A dual bellows pneumatic wave energy device comprises an oscillating frame 1 connected to a float 4 and counterweight 2. The frame passes through sealed tubular holes 7 in a submerged buoyant turbine housing 6, which is moored to a heavy weight 9. The dual bellows 16, 18 are attached to the frame 1 and have outlet nozzles 12 and inlet valves 13 sealed to the turbine housing, so that movement of the frame in either direction produces air flow to drive the turbine. Rings 17 allow sliding movement between the bellows 16, 18 and the frame 1.

Description

Dual Bellows Combination Wave Energy Converter This invention relates to a wave energy converter based on the point absorber float system type, whereby the oscillating motion of the surface wave energy is converted to rotational mechanical energy by way of pneumatic pressure created by the reciprocating movement of a dual bellows air pump acting on a unidirectional turbine.
Point absorber type wave energy converters are generally considered to be the most efficient and practical form of extracting the peak energy of a surface wave, with the wave energy capture potential estimated to be up to 20% of the wave front encountered by the float, exploiting wave height as opposed to kinetic energy.
Point absorbers are generally considered to be second generation type devices as their optimum level of efficiency would be in a modest wave climate which is anticipated in near shore locations at depths of between 30 -metres.
Other forms of wave energy converters are generally considered to be economically unviable because they are to large, complex and designed to extract energy from more powerful offshore waves. Locations offshore however expose these devices to severe wave conditions which require additional expensive shut down mechanisms and potentially longer periods of loss of output, increased wear on components which equals a shorter working life and a higher risk of sustaining serious damage.
The project brief behind this invention is based on the assumption that electricity can only be practically generated from wave energy if the price is competitive in relation to the costs of extracting energy from other renewable energy sources. The point absorber type wave energy converter has the greatest potential of meeting the competitive price gap for electrical generation from wave energy then any other of the wave energy converter types currently available.
The design brief behind this invention is to devise a wave energy converter of the point absorber type which are inexpensive in terms of being comparatively small in size, which are easier to install in arrays in near shore locations to absorb wave fronts of between 10-30 Kilowatts per metre, and which uses a simple method of energy conversion. A USD of 0.10/Kwh is identified as the point where electrical generation becomes economically viable.
A point absorber system converts the oscillating energy of a wave into reciprocating linear motion of a traditional pump mechanism which is then converted into mechanical energy to drive a generator. There are five power extraction options available to a pump mechanism: Pneumatic (air pump); oil hydraulic; water hydraulic; direct mechanical (rack and pinion); and direct electrical (linear generator). Pneumatic extraction offers the least expensive option in terms of providing the potential for non complex design, lower technology mechanical cost, lower expectation of wear, higher component durability and less maintenance.
This invention therefore relates to a point absorber wave energy converter which exploits pneumatic power by means of a device comprising of a dual bellows pump housed in a single frame, which extracts energy from both the upward and downward movement of the point absorber in relation to the oscillation of the surface wave by reciprocally pumping a flow of air at a constant pressure on to a unidirectional air turbine located in the turbine housing which is located in the middle of the frame between the two bellow pumps.
Moorings, installation, maintenance and decommissioning of WEC devices are major expense factors to be considered in estimating the costs and viability of a device. The dual bellows combination is designed so that each device is a free standing moored structure consisting of an anchor weight tethered to the submerged floating turbine housing buoy and a dual bellows frame tethered to the surface floating point absorber at one end and a corresponding counter weight at the other end, which reciprocates the said frame through the said turbine housing buoy. The structure of the device is designed to meet the same installation requirements of naval moored mine combinations, whereby each device can be laid from a mine layer type vessel, dropped at regular intervals to form arrays to be released and wired up to wave hub type transmission systems.
The embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings (figures 1 and 2) showing profiles of the Dual Bellows Combination (not to scale) with the following numbered details: Figure 1 1: The Oscillating Frame; 2: Counter Weight attached to lower terminus of Oscillating Frame; 3: Tether Line between Oscillating Frame and Counter Weight; 4: Point Absorber Float; 5: Tether lines between Point Absorber Float and Oscillating Frame; 6: Turbine Housing Buoy; 7: Sealed Frame Channels dissecting Turbine Housing Buoy; 8: Mooring Line between Turbine Housing Buoy and Anchor Weight; 9: Anchor Weight; Figure 2 10: Bellow Caisson attached to Oscillating Frame; 11: Bellow Caisson attached to Turbine Housing Buoy; 12: Bellow outlet Nozzle; 13: Bellow Inlet Valve; 14: Turbine Rotor; 15: Generator and Torque Transducer Housing.
16. Dual Bellows 17. Three ringed chain link 18. Ribbed limbs of bellows As shown in figures 1 and 2, an oscillating frame (1) moves in reaction to wave height variation by means of a counter weight (2) for down stroke and point absorber float (4) for upward stroke attached by tethering lines (3) and (5). The oscillating frame (1) is allowed to oscillate independently of the turbine housing buoy (6) by way of sealed frame channels (7). The turbine housing buoy (6) remains stationary in relation to the oscillating frame (1) by means of the anchor weight (9) attached by moorings (8). The dual bellows (16) are attached at one end (10) to the oscillating frame (1) and at the adjacent end (11) to the turbine housing buoy. The dual bellows (16) are attached to the oscillating frame (1) by means of ring attachments (17). With each upward and downward stroke of the oscillating frame (1), pneumatic pressure is forced from the bellows (16) into the turbine housing buoy (6) via the bellows outlet nozzle (12) directly onto the rotor blade of the turbine (14) before entering the adjacent bellow segment via the inlet valve (13). The rotary energy of the turbine is then carried to the generator and torque transducer (18) via shaft (19). -4..
GB0912790A 2009-07-23 2009-07-23 Dual bellows pneumatic wave energy device Withdrawn GB2472055A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0912790A GB2472055A (en) 2009-07-23 2009-07-23 Dual bellows pneumatic wave energy device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0912790A GB2472055A (en) 2009-07-23 2009-07-23 Dual bellows pneumatic wave energy device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0912790D0 GB0912790D0 (en) 2009-08-26
GB2472055A true GB2472055A (en) 2011-01-26

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0912790A Withdrawn GB2472055A (en) 2009-07-23 2009-07-23 Dual bellows pneumatic wave energy device

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2472055A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2532074A (en) * 2014-11-09 2016-05-11 James Macdonald Farley Francis Wave power converter
WO2017217919A1 (en) 2016-06-13 2017-12-21 Novige Ab Apparatus for harvesting energy from waves
EP3869028A1 (en) 2020-02-20 2021-08-25 Novige AB Power take-off apparatus for a wave energy converter and wave energy converter comprising the same

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4076463A (en) * 1976-10-26 1978-02-28 Mordechai Welczer Wave motor
GB2044843A (en) * 1979-03-07 1980-10-22 British Petroleum Co Wave energy device
US5329497A (en) * 1992-10-19 1994-07-12 Branislav Previsic Device for generation of hydrodynamic power
CA2099964A1 (en) * 1993-07-06 1995-01-07 Paul J. G. Tremblay Surface wave driven generator
GB2281943A (en) * 1992-05-22 1995-03-22 Yim Myung Shik Sea wave-power generating device
GB2449443A (en) * 2007-05-22 2008-11-26 Allen Charles Peter Cox Wave or tide driven pump with water anchor

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4076463A (en) * 1976-10-26 1978-02-28 Mordechai Welczer Wave motor
GB2044843A (en) * 1979-03-07 1980-10-22 British Petroleum Co Wave energy device
GB2281943A (en) * 1992-05-22 1995-03-22 Yim Myung Shik Sea wave-power generating device
US5329497A (en) * 1992-10-19 1994-07-12 Branislav Previsic Device for generation of hydrodynamic power
CA2099964A1 (en) * 1993-07-06 1995-01-07 Paul J. G. Tremblay Surface wave driven generator
GB2449443A (en) * 2007-05-22 2008-11-26 Allen Charles Peter Cox Wave or tide driven pump with water anchor

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2532074A (en) * 2014-11-09 2016-05-11 James Macdonald Farley Francis Wave power converter
WO2016071711A1 (en) * 2014-11-09 2016-05-12 Francis James Macdonald Farley Wave power converter
GB2532074B (en) * 2014-11-09 2017-06-21 James Macdonald Farley Francis Wave power converter
US20170314526A1 (en) * 2014-11-09 2017-11-02 Francis James MacDonald Farley Wave power converter
AU2015341522B2 (en) * 2014-11-09 2018-03-15 Francis James Macdonald Farley Wave power converter
WO2017217919A1 (en) 2016-06-13 2017-12-21 Novige Ab Apparatus for harvesting energy from waves
EP3469208A4 (en) * 2016-06-13 2019-04-17 Novige AB Apparatus for harvesting energy from waves
EP3869028A1 (en) 2020-02-20 2021-08-25 Novige AB Power take-off apparatus for a wave energy converter and wave energy converter comprising the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0912790D0 (en) 2009-08-26

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