GB2487753A - Wave energy converter - Google Patents

Wave energy converter Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2487753A
GB2487753A GB1101825.6A GB201101825A GB2487753A GB 2487753 A GB2487753 A GB 2487753A GB 201101825 A GB201101825 A GB 201101825A GB 2487753 A GB2487753 A GB 2487753A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
buoyant body
power converter
spring
waves
attached
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Withdrawn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
GB1101825.6A
Other versions
GB201101825D0 (en
Inventor
John Pitchford
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 GB1101825.6A priority Critical patent/GB2487753A/en
Publication of GB201101825D0 publication Critical patent/GB201101825D0/en
Priority to GB1122396.3A priority patent/GB2487819B/en
Priority to IE20120018A priority patent/IE86151B1/en
Publication of GB2487753A publication Critical patent/GB2487753A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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
    • F03B13/1805—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
    • F03B13/181—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 limited rotation
    • F03B13/1815—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 limited rotation with an up-and-down movement
    • 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
    • F03B13/181—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 limited rotation
    • 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

Abstract

A device for absorbing the energy that is carried in waves on the surface of the sea comprising a beam 4 positioned across the top of a buoyant body 1 and supported at one end by a pivot 3 and at the other end by a power converter 6 and spring 5. The device is moored to the sea bed by a cable 7 from one end of the beam. On the opposite side to the mooring cable a weight 2 is attached, either to the beam or to a cantilever (8, Figs 3, 4) connected to the buoyant member. A series of waves passing the device will cause the buoyant body to rise and fall, thereby extending and compressing the power converter and absorbing power from the waves.

Description

I
WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER
Waves arise naturally on the surface of the sea as a result of wind passing over the surface of the water. A wave grows in height by absorbing energy from the wind. When a wave reaches a shelving shoreline, it breaks and dissipates its energy as heat.
Converting the energy in waves into useful power has been the quest of inventors for many years.
Whilst waves carry a large quantity of energy, the major problem in converting this energy into power is the fact that they move very slowly with low amplitude.
This invention is a device that will absorb the energy from a series of waves and convert it into power.
The primary embodiment of the device is shown in Figure 1.
The device comprises: a buoyant body (1); a weight (2); a pivot (3); a beam (4); a spring (5); a power converter (6) and a mooring cable (7) The buoyant body (I) floats on the surface of the sea. For the purpose of this patent, the side of the buoyant body (I) that faces the oncoming waves is called the leading side, and the side of the buoyant body (I) that faces the receding waves is called the trailing side. The buoyant body (1) has a beam across the top. The beam overlaps the leading and trailing side of the buoyant body. The beam (4) is connected to the buoyant body (I) by a pivot at the trailing side. The beam (4) is connected to the leading side of the buoyant body (I) by the spring (5) and power converter (6). The device is connected to the sea bed by a mooring cable (7), which is attached to the end of the beam (4) that overlaps the leading side of the buoyant body (I). The weight is attached to the end of the beam that overlaps the trailing side of the buoyant body (1).
The spring (5) is any device that will change in length under the action of a tensile or compressive load. The simplest form of spring is a metal coil. However, springs can be engineered from a wide variety of mechanisms and materials.
The power converter (6) is any device that generates power by utilizing a cyclical increase and decrease in distance. The simplest form of power converter (6) is a linear viscous dashpot damper The use of a dashpot damper is unlikely to have any practical value as the dashpot damper converts the energy it absorbs directly into heat.
The spring (5) and weight (2) form a harmonic oscillator which will absorb the maximum energy at only a limited range of wave periods. If it is required to maximize the energy absorbed by the invention in various sea states, the value of the stiffness of the spring (5) and the power generated by the power converter (6) must be capable of being varied.
The spring and power converter may be combined into a single device such as a hydraulic cylinder and pneumatic accumulator.
A description of the operation of the primary embodiment of the device is given in the paragraph below.
If one considers the invention on a calm flat sea, the force resulting from the compression of the spring (5) must be sufficient to balance the weight (2) and hold the beam (4) close to the horizontal. A wave approaching the invention will cause the buoyant body (1) to rise. The end of the beam (4) that is connected to the mooring cable (7) will remain at a fixed elevation. The consequence of the buoyant body (1) rising and the end of the beam (4), to which the mooring cable (7)is attached, remaining at a fixed elevation, is that the spring (5) and power converter (6) will be compressed. A trough following the wave will have the reverse effect and cause the spring (5) and power converter (6) to be extended. A series of waves and troughs will cause the power converter to be compressed and extended repeatedly, thereby, absorbing energy from the waves.
A second embodiment is shown in Figure 2.
The device comprises the same components as in the primary embodiment. In this embodiment, compared with the primary embodiment, the pivot (3) is located on the leading side of the buoyant body (1) and the power converter (6) and spring (7) are located on the trailing side of the buoyant body.
The description of the operation of the second embodiment is exactly the same as the primary embodiment.
A third embodiment is shown in Figure 3.
The device comprises the same components as in the primary embodiment except that: a cantilever (8) is attached to the trailing side of the buoyant body to which the weight (2) is attached, rather than being attached to the beam (4).
The description of the operation of the third embodiment is exactly the same as the primary embodiment.
A fourth embodiment is shown in Figure 4.
The device comprises the same components as in the third embodiment. In this embodiment the position of the pivot (3) is interchanged with that of the spring (5) and power converter (6).
The description of the operation of the fourth embodiment is exactly the same as the primary embodiment.

Claims (4)

  1. CLkIMS 1. A device for absorbing the energy that is carried in waves on the surface of the sea comprising: a buoyant body; a weight; a pivot; a beam; a spring; a power converter and a mooring cable, wherein, the mooring cable is attached between the sea bed and the end of the beam that overlaps the leading side of the buoyant body, the beam is supported on the leading side of the buoyant body by a spring and power converter and on the trailing side of the buoyant body by a pivot, the weight is attached to the end of the beam that overlaps the trailing side of the buoyant body, so that! a series of waves passing the device will cause the buoyant body to rise and fall thereby extending and compressing the power converter, producing power and absorbing power from the waves.
  2. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the location of the spring and the power converter are interchanged with the location of the pivot.
  3. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a cantilever is attached to the trailing side of the buoyant body and the weight is attached to the cantilever rather than the beam.
  4. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the location of the spring and the power converter are interchanged with the location of the pivot.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A device for absorbing the energy that is carried in waves on the surface of the sea comprising: a buoyant body; a weight; a pivot; a beam; a spring; a power converter and a mooring cable, wherein, the mooring cable is attached between the sea bed and an end of the beam which overlaps the leading side of the buoyant body, the beam is supported on a first side of the buoyant body by the spring and power converter and on a second side of the buoyant body by the pivot, the weight is attached to either an end of the beam which overlaps the trailing side of the buoyant body or to a cantilever attached to the trailing side of the buoyant body, so that, a series of waves passing the device will cause the buoyant body to rise and fall thereby extending and compressing the power converter, producing power and absorbing power from the waves.2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the first side is the leading side and the second side is the trailing side.3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the first side is the trailing side and the second side is the leading side. * S *S Ss * * * *d (1. * 5*55 C, U *. * C, *S
GB1101825.6A 2011-02-03 2011-02-03 Wave energy converter Withdrawn GB2487753A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1101825.6A GB2487753A (en) 2011-02-03 2011-02-03 Wave energy converter
GB1122396.3A GB2487819B (en) 2011-02-03 2011-12-23 Wave energy converter
IE20120018A IE86151B1 (en) 2011-02-03 2012-01-13 Wave energy converter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1101825.6A GB2487753A (en) 2011-02-03 2011-02-03 Wave energy converter

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201101825D0 GB201101825D0 (en) 2011-03-16
GB2487753A true GB2487753A (en) 2012-08-08

Family

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Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1101825.6A Withdrawn GB2487753A (en) 2011-02-03 2011-02-03 Wave energy converter
GB1122396.3A Expired - Fee Related GB2487819B (en) 2011-02-03 2011-12-23 Wave energy converter

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1122396.3A Expired - Fee Related GB2487819B (en) 2011-02-03 2011-12-23 Wave energy converter

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2487753A (en)
IE (1) IE86151B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105484931A (en) * 2014-09-24 2016-04-13 无锡津天阳激光电子有限公司 Pumping-unit-imitated sea wave electric generator
CN111365182A (en) * 2020-05-06 2020-07-03 荆门创佳机械科技有限公司 Inclined wave-facing plate rocker type wave power generation device

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3419565A1 (en) * 1984-05-25 1985-11-28 Rolf Dr. 5090 Leverkusen Brück Device for generating energy from sea waves
WO2009098514A2 (en) * 2008-02-07 2009-08-13 Pure Marine Gen Limited Wave energy conversion apparatus

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3419565A1 (en) * 1984-05-25 1985-11-28 Rolf Dr. 5090 Leverkusen Brück Device for generating energy from sea waves
WO2009098514A2 (en) * 2008-02-07 2009-08-13 Pure Marine Gen Limited Wave energy conversion apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201122396D0 (en) 2012-02-08
GB2487819A (en) 2012-08-08
GB2487819B (en) 2013-01-30
GB201101825D0 (en) 2011-03-16
IE86151B1 (en) 2013-03-13

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