GB2563108A

GB2563108A - Wave powered fluid pump

Info

Publication number: GB2563108A
Application number: GB1800306.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Smith Alvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-01-09
Filing date: 2018-01-09
Publication date: 2018-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-09
Also published as: GB2563108B; GB201800306D0

Abstract

A wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump is anchored via a multidirectional coupling 3 to the sea bed 1. A float 10 partially submerged on the water surface 11 supports a substantially vertical reciprocating cylinder 7, which on a wave draws fluid in through valve 14. On the working down stroke in the following trough, the piston 8 at the top of elongate member 6, pressurises chamber 9, using gravity and ballast 22, attached externally towards the base of the cylinder. The ballast increases the weight of the cylinder, to produce the required pressurisation of the fluid. The outer diameter of the elongate member, occupies less than 90% of the bore diameter of the reciprocating pressure cylinder. The pressure piston and/or cylinder, may pass above the surface float, and/or above the water surface. Extensions can be added to the elongate member, for location in deeper water.

Description

A wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump.

Introduction and background to the Invention.

Wave energy converters are not new and many examples can be found as prior art, many prior art wave energy converters are designed to provide part of a system of converting renewable wave energy into electrical power.

Electrical power demand for the world population is a growing necessity, now with the increasing requirement for electrical powered vehicles and commercial computer systems it is essential that all methods for clean electrical power must be sought to give our planet a fair chance.

Furthermore Storage of clean potential energy for on demand electrical power generation is becoming a necessary requirement.

This Invention could supply a source of clean energy as stored water at a high head as clean potential on demand energy for powering hydro electricity turbine generators.

Alternatively this invention could supply a pressurised gas which could be stored as clean potential on demand energy to drive pressure motor driven electrical generators.

Many prior art wave energy converters use pressurised fluid in various forms of hydraulic systems, whether they are pressurised oil based, or pressurised water based, or pressurised gas based. The Invention in the following description does Not use oil as the hydraulic liquid element. This Inventions description will refer to the hydraulic liquid element as fluid.

Most wave energy converters have to cope with the extremes of weather, including storms, very strong currents, water depth variation, wind, ice, salt corrosion, plant life, marine organisms, very large swells, and not least huge damaging waves during storms.

Conditions as previously described suggest that a design of a wave energy converter must lead to a well constructed very robust device which will have to be capable of coping with the extreme environments a wave energy converter will have to endure.

The Invention, detailed in the following description, is a substantially vertically orientated point absorber fluid pumping device, for location in a body of water, powered by waves or swell on the upstroke, then by gravity in the form of a ballasted cylinder on the working down stroke.

The pumping device can pressurise a fluid, the pressure of which can power equipment such as a hydro electric turbine generator to generate power by directing the pressurised fluid via an accumulator directly to the turbine, or pressure driven motor, or via a pumped storage system such as a reservoir where a fluid such as water can be stored to enable on demand energy to hydro electric turbines.

The pumping of water to a hydro electrical turbine, or to a reservoir for on demand hydro electrical power is a known art. Electrically powered water pumps are normally powered by off peak electricity in the early hours to return the water used for on demand power generation to the higher head reservoir on demand system, the difference in off peak and peak price making the power generated profitable. Unfortunately this off peak source of power can come from burning polluting fossil fuels and the source can come from the use of nuclear power, all which heat the planet.

However, as the demand for off peak power is becoming more in demand across the world, with electric car batteries potentially being recharged during off peak periods and computer systems running continuously through twenty four hours, forms of generating power other than fossil fuels, solar, wind, and nuclear, are becoming a necessity.

This necessity increases the demand for stored clean energy, wherever possible storage of clean potential on demand energy built up as a bank of potential energy stored for use at peak and regular periods will ensure a lower amount of continuous fossil fuelled or nuclear generation of power will be required as the storage banks of cleanly generated potential on demand energy could be called upon to supply the peak periods whilst topping up in off peak periods.

It is intended that this Invention as a wave powered renewable energy converter is the form to create clean on and off peak clean stored energy as predicted above will be required.

In the design of this Invention, the innovation which may not have been present in previous examples in the art could now assist in making the device easier to deploy, easier to maintain and enable a much higher pressure to be obtained from the device more simply than earlier examples, whilst making production of the device and the resultant power more economical to achieve, resulting in a more efficient commercially attractive device.

Brief Description of Figures

In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the First embodiment in a mid-tide position.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the First embodiment in a high tide position.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the First embodiment in a low tide position.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the Second embodiment in a mid-tide position wherein the reciprocating cylinder 7, projects above the buoyant wave float and surface of the body of water.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the Third embodiment in a low tide position with the elongate extension member 16, attached for deeper water deployment.

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the Fourth embodiment in a mid tide position, showing an alternative outlet conduit 13, for the fluid from the top of the pressure chamber via valve 15a.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view of a conical 10a, Second embodiment of the buoyant float.

Figure 8 shows an isometric view of a horizontal hydrofoil 10b, Third embodiment of the buoyant float.

Figure 9 shows an isometric view of a vertical hydrofoil 10c, Fourth embodiment of the buoyant float.

Figure 10 shows a sectional view of a spherical lOd, Fifth embodiment of the Buoyant Float.

Detailed Description

The Detailed Description will now refer to the Figures of the Invention.

With Reference to Figures 1,2, and 3, wherein the 1st embodiment of the Invention is shown;

The elongate member 6, is anchored via a multidirectional coupling 3, fixed to a connector 2, set in the waterbed 1, a buoyant float 10, which is partially submerged and partially above the surface 11, of the body of water 21, supports a reciprocating cylinder 7, which has ballast 22, attached externally to the reciprocating cylinder 7. The reciprocating cylinder slides over the elongate member 6, centralised by bearings 19, and 20, jointly urging the reciprocating cylinder 7, and elongate member 6, into a substantially vertical orientation in the body of water 21. At the upper end of the elongate member 6, is a pressure piston 8.

On a rising wave or swell, the buoyant float 10, rises and raises the ballasted reciprocating cylinder 7, which slides up the elongate member 6, increasing the volume of the cylinders chamber 9, above the piston 8, creating a depression in the chamber 9, which draws fluid in port/s 18, through the manifold 4, through ports 17, through intake valve 14, filling the chamber 9, with fluid.

As the wave or swell passes, the float 10, descends in the following trough on the working down stroke, causing the ballasted cylinder 7, to descend, the change in fluid flow direction causes intake valve 14, to close, the reduction in volume of chamber 9, creates fluid pressure in chamber 9, which holds intake valve 14, tightly closed. The pressurised fluid in pressure chamber 9, causes the exit valve 15, in pressure piston 8, to open which allows pressurised fluid to pass through exit valve 15, down through the elongate member 6, which also acts as a conduit. At the base of the elongate member 6, the flexible conduit/s 12, allow the pressurised fluid to pass through and exit to a requirement. After the trough passes, the cylinder 7, rises in the next wave or swell again causing a depression in the cylinders chamber 9, which closes fluid exit valve 15, and opens intake valve 14, causing the cylinder to recharge allowing the pumping cycle to continue.

With Reference to Figure 4, wherein a Second embodiment of the invention is shown;

The pumping device shown in figure 4, shows example of pressure chamber top capping plate 23, commonly located at the top of reciprocating cylinder 7, the reciprocating cylinder shown projecting through the buoyant float 10, and projecting above the surface of the water 11, allowing a longer stroke of the pump than shown in Figures 1,2, and 3, when the pumping device is deployed in Shallower bodies of water 21, the cylinder projection is advantageous where the pumping device is required in areas where depths are shallower but have sufficiently higher waves or swell to create useful strokes of the pumping device.

Whilst the Figure 4 second embodiment of the device will possibly be less stable than a device with a lesser projecting cylinder 7, through the surface float 10, this embodiment of the invention would especially be advantageous in lower Tidal Change shallower bodies of water 21, where waves or swell are encountered, for example Mediterranean near shore mainland and Mediterranean near shore Island requirements.

With Reference to Figure 5, wherein a third embodiment of the invention is shown;

The pumping device shown in Figure 5, shows a non extending extension elongate member 16, fitted to the base of the elongate member 6, the extension elongate member 16, which can be of various fixed lengths allows deployment in Deeper water and also acts as a conduit which carries the pressurised fluid from the elongate member 6, to the flexible outlet conduit/s 12, near the base of the extension 16.

With Reference to Figure 6, wherein a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown;

The pumping device in Figure 6, shows an alternative inlet valve positionl4a, attached to manifold inlet port 18, also it shows an alternative outlet valve position 15a, at the upper end of the reciprocating pressure cylinder 7, these alternative valve positions enable the pressurised fluid to exit through valve 15a, through a flexible conduit 13, to a requirement above or below the surface of the water 11.

With reference to all Figures 1, to 10;

The buoyant float 10, may be replaced with a conical shaped float 10a, or a horizontal hydrofoil shaped float 10b, or a vertical hydrofoil shaped float 10c, or spherical shaped float lOd, which may support reciprocating cylinder 7, by shackled retainer, all the buoyant Floats 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and lOd, may be made from flexible air retaining fabric which would enable the said floats to be constructed as inflatable components for their use as buoyant floats, this would enable the floats to be deflated if required, also the floats could be deflated to reduce their bulk for transportation, for example transportation in shipping containers, making the complete pump much more cost effective to transport anywhere in the world.

With Reference to Figures 1 to 6;

The elongate member 6, and or the extension member/s 16, may be partially constructed from multi tubes or multi rods for additional rigidity.

The reciprocating cylinder 7, upstroke velocity can be retarded automatically hydraulically by setting the size of the inlet port/s 17, of the cylinder 7, as restrictors.

With reference to all Figures 1 to 10;

As there is no requirement for an additional submerged vertical orientation urging float at depth, the pump is far more economical to manufacture. Fully submerged floats at depth are very expensive to manufacture due to sub surface pressures, especially as subsurface depths increase. It is claimed the above invention described and shown in Figures 1, to 10, is different, because not only does the device pressurise a chamber 9, in the reciprocating cylinder 7, on the working down stroke of the reciprocating cylinder 7, the invention requires no further submerged buoyancy specifically to urge the device in to a substantially vertical orientation other than the partially submerged surface float 10, or 10a, or 10b, or 10c orlOd.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6;

The device is deployed in a body of water 21, where it is powered on the charging upstroke by passing swells or waves lifting a buoyant surface float 10, then in the following trough is powered by gravity in the form of ballast 22, which may be in a container 5, attached towards the reciprocating cylinders 7, base, the device pressurises fluid for a requirement.

advantage.

The advantage of not using a fully submerged float at depth to upright the device means the device can be built much more economically. A sub surface float at increasing depths is a very expensive item to fabricate to withstand the surrounding water body 21, pressure’s, this device requires No fully submerged float at increasing depths to urge the device into a substantially vertical orientation.

The advantage of the ballast 22, being located at the exterior of the cylinder 7, towards the base of the cylinder 7, does not limit the ballast 22, quantity in the same way as internally ballasting a reciprocating piston rod, due to the limited weight capacity in the internal volume available of a reciprocating piston rod accepting a maximum solid ballast weight, for example steel. To extend a piston rod to locate more ballast in it’s base would be undesirable because it would require the pump to be built to a greater length than possibly depth of water would allow in near shore deployments.

Another advantage is the current invention is stable in the body of water due to a low centre of gravity because all the ballast 22, can be attached towards the lower end of the reciprocating cylinder 7, rather than at a much higher position at the upper end of a reciprocating piston rod, such as attaching the ballast just below the wave float due to the restricted volume of ballasting internally a reciprocating piston rod and the necessity to keep the piston rods outer lower surfaces clear for sliding movement within the cylinder.

Another advantage is the ballast 22, could be added incrementally, for example aggregate or metal chain, could be added externally to the cylinder 7, after deployment of the device at the deployment site, this enables a much lighter device to leave final assembly and arrive at the deployment site than a device that has been ballasted during assembly, therefore a cost saving on lifting equipment and the size of deployment barge required.

Another advantage of absence of the ballast 22, whilst being transported on the water, means the device can be towed much more easily in the water and would be more stable floating horizontally on the surface of the water utilising a reusable air vessel deployment tool to support the device’s base whilst towing, whereupon at the deployment site the air vessel tool buoyancy could be controlled allowing the base of the device to submerge until the device is attached to the water bed 1, and the buoyant float 10, and cylinder 7, are in the self supporting near vertical orientation to accept incremental ballasting externally to cylinder 7.

Another advantage of being able to add additional ballast 22, positioned externally to the cylinder 7, allows the potential of a much greater pressure being delivered from the pumping device.

The Advantage of extensions 16, allows a standard specification mass produced device to be deployed at varied depths of the body of water 21.

The Advantage of the cylinder 7, projecting beyond the buoyant float 10, as shown in the second embodiment in Figure 4, is that the device can be deployed in shallower near shore locations to make use of near shore waves and swell but maintain long strokes of the device.

The Advantage of an alternative inflatable pneumatic buoyant float instead of using a rigid floatlO, is that a pneumatic buoyant float 10, can be in a deflated state for transportation, saving transport cost and increasing the quantity of entire pumps which can be fitted in to one shipping container.

Another important advantage is that the Invention could provide stored potential energy in the form of stored water in a reservoir at a high head, or as a contained pressurised gas.

Claims

1.

A wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump comprising at least one partially submerged buoyant float floating at the surface of a body of water, the float supporting and attached to an externally ballasted reciprocating cylinder, the reciprocating cylinder supported by the buoyant float in a substantially vertical orientation, the reciprocating cylinder submerged or partially projecting above the body of water and the buoyant surface float, the reciprocating cylinder sliding up and down over an elongate member guided by at least two bearings encompassing the substantially vertically orientated elongate member, the elongate member anchored to the water bed by a multidirectional coupling which allows upper end lateral compliance but vertical stability of the elongate member, the elongate member has a non reciprocating vertically stable pressure piston located at its upper end, the reciprocating ballasted cylinders pressure chamber is charged with fluid on the upstroke utilising at least one inlet manifold, at least one inlet port, at least one inlet valve, the reciprocating ballasted cylinders pressure chamber is pressurised on the working down stroke pressurising fluid to exit through at least one outlet valve and at least one rigid and or one flexible conduit, the elongate portion of the elongate member has a maximum outer diameter of less than 90% of the cylinders bore diameter.

2.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the down stroke of the reciprocating cylinder is the working pressure stroke.

3.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1 and 2, wherein part of the reciprocating cylinder and bore may project above the wave float and surface of the water.

4.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1 and 3, wherein the pressure piston within the bore may periodically be in a position above the wave float and surface of the water.

5.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2 and 3, wherein pressurised fluid may be ejected from the pressure chamber via at least one valve.

6.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1 and 4, wherein pressurised fluid may be ejected through the pressure piston via at least one valve.

7.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,4, and 6, wherein the working stroke pressure chamber is above the pressure piston.

8.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claim 1, wherein pressurised fluid may pass through the elongate member which may have at least one valve.

9.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claim 1, wherein pressurised fluid may pass through at least one extension which may have at least one valve.

10.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2,3 and 5, wherein the reciprocating cylinders velocity retardation on the upstroke can be automatically controlled hydraulically by restricting the inlet ports of the cylinder.

11.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2, 3, 5 and 10, wherein ballast can be incrementally added externally to the cylinder.

12.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2,3, 4, 5,6,

7,10 and 11, wherein increasing the ballast attached externally to the cylinder has potential to increase the pressure of the pump.

13.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2,3, 5,10,

11 and 12, wherein the ballast mounted externally lower down the cylinder gives greater stability to the device.

14.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 8,

10,11, 12, and 13, wherein the elongate portion of the elongate member has an outer diameter of less than 90% of the internal diameter of the bore of the reciprocating cylinder.

15.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2,3,4, 5,6,

7,10,11,12,13, and 14, wherein the pressure piston can be accessible through the pressure chamber top capping plate for servicing at the lowest position of the pressure cylinder.

16.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2,3,4,6,7,

10,11,12,13,14, and 15, wherein the pressure piston forms a serviceable end stop in conjunction with the cylinder.

17.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1, 8,9, and 14, wherein the elongate member may be attached at its lower end to an extension or to more than one extension.

18.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2,4, 6,7, 12, and 15, wherein one or more rigid and or flexible conduits convey the pressurised fluid from the pressure chamber.

19.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1, 8,9, and 17, wherein part of the elongate member or part of the elongate member extensions may be constructed from multiple tubes or multiple rods or a combination of both.

20.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,3, and 4, wherein the buoyant float may be a conically shaped float.

21.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,3,4, and 20, wherein the buoyant float may be a horizontal hydrofoil shaped float.

22.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,3,4,20, and 21, wherein the buoyant float may be a vertical hydrofoil shaped float.

23.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1,2,3,4,20,

21,22, wherein the buoyant float may be a spherically shaped float.

24.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of claims 1, 3,4, 20,21, and 22,23, wherein the buoyant float could be an inflatable component and could also be deflated as required.

25.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of any preceding claims wherein the elongate member enters into the base of the reciprocating cylinder which may project above the buoyant surface float the cylinder being in substantially vertical orientation.

26.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of any preceding claims wherein the tidal variation is accommodated in an ebbing tide by the gradually descending cylinder, whilst continuing to reciprocate it encompasses a greater length of the elongate member whilst continuing pumping fluid, the tidal variation is accommodated in a flood tide by the gradually ascending cylinder, whilst continuing to reciprocate it encompasses a lesser length of the elongate member whilst continuing pumping fluid.

27.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of any preceding claims wherein the buoyant surface float together with the ballasted reciprocating cylinder together with the elongate member attached to the multi directional coupling jointly urge the entire energy converter fluid pump to a substantially vertical orientation.

28.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of any preceding claims as herein described for the pumping of a fluid utilising wave or swell and gravity renewable energy referenced by the accompanying drawings Figures 1, to 10.

28.

The wave or swell and gravity powered energy converter fluid pump of any preceding claims wherein the afore said energy converter and or any of its components may consist of composites and or flexible airtight fabric and or aggregates and or concrete and or metals and or ceramic and or zinc and or plastics and or polyethylene and or timber and or rubber and or synthetics and or graphene and or any combination of the aforesaid.