IES86159Y1 - A module to generate electricity from water waves - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present invention relates to an electricity generating module-device. In particular, the invention has a square base footprint measuring 30 metres by 30 metres with a side elevation of 3 metres high on all sides. It is made of standard range shipbuilding grade steel plate. The structure is anchored to the ground beneath the water. The said structure is a sealed box fabrication filled with air in which a moving water-weighted weight and power wheel rotate on a centre shaft. The module utilizes the energy produced by waves of longer lengths i.e. 50 — 100 metres. The advantage of the module is that no fossil fuels are used as the total energy produced results from the constant and predictable supply of wave motion. There are no carbon dioxide emissions from the device. The module’s optimum environment is ideally in 40 — 60 metres of water, 5 — 10 kilometres from the shore and accessing large wave swells. Inside the pod a centrifugal wheel continuously rotates due to constant wave motion. The power wheel is linked into one generator on the power wheel. The power wheel feeds the generator.

Description

A module to generate electricity from water waves.

Field of invention The present invention relates to the generation of electricity. In particular the invention relates to harnessing energy.

Background to the invention A wave power module is a device for harnessing the sea’s energy and converting that energy into electricity. Wave power or wave energy comes from the waves in the ocean. The rolling motion of the waves is harnessed to generate electricity.

Turning waves into watts might seem far fetched but harnessing power from the ocean is a very recent and new development. In time this method will gradually join the ranks of wind and solar as a source of renewable energy. The idea is to harness the undulating action of waves to generate usable energy. One popular existing version of a module orwave energy converter is the Pelamis Machine. It floats along the surface of the water anchored down on one end. These wave energy generators were the first ever developed and put to use. Multiple Pelamis machines combined created “wave farms" for generating off shore electricity. The module is designed to be highly resistant to the forces of the open ocean and would be a very resilient renewable energy source. This module converts the wave motion to electricity by powering electrical generators.

Summary of the Invention The module is a structure that floats on the surface of the water.

This structure size is 30m x30m x 3m high. The structure is hollow, filled with air. It is made of steel plate. The walls are reinforced with a steel lattice frame support. Inside the module contains a revolving weight coupled to electric fixed magnet generators. It would be positioned in the sea wherever there are waves of long duration and of suitable wave lengths, e.g. 100m in length. .

The structure contains a centre vertical shaft, which is supported on either end by a tapered roller bearing. .”‘:‘-“.°°'.‘-’i" 386159 A singular circular railway track runs on an outer circle, which is fixed in position by support beams. The support beams are connected at the top and bottom to the steel lattice structure.

The lateral beams of the weight carriage are connected to the central shalt. The opposite ends of the lateral beams are connected to the weight carriage.

The weight carriage consists of a ferro concrete container weighing 30 tonnes, half of that weight consisting of water. The weight carriage is stabilised by steel wheels that grip either side of the railway track.

There is a cogged drive-wheel connected to the central vertical shaft, which in turn drives cogged wheels on fixed magnet generators.

During suitable wave conditions this weight would rotate in a complete revolution around the central vertical shaft. The liquid weight content will facilitate the smooth rotation of the weight carriage.

Brief description of the Drawings Figure 1/3 is a cut-away side elevation Figure 2/3 is a cut-away plan Figure 3/3 is a part section-weight carriage Scale 120:1 Detailed Description of the Drawings the outer structure steel plate steel lattice the weight carriage lateral beams. central shaft . steel wheels 7. railway track 8 cogged drive wheel generator cogged drive wheels . generators 11. central shaft tapered roller bearings 12. ferro-concrete container 13. rail support beams 14. ballast water . top of structure 16. bottom of structure Referring now to the drawing Fig 1, this comprises a cut —away at the central shaft .which shows the outer structure steel plate 1. The outer steel plate 1 is reinforced by a-steel lattice 2. A central shaft 5 runs from the top 15 in the centre of the structure which is supported in tapered roller bearings 11 at either end at top 15 and bottom 16 of the structure. Two lateral beams 4 extend. from the central shaft 5 to the weight carriage 3. The lateral beams 4 are permanently fixed to the central shaft 5. The ferro concrete weight container 12 is supported by the weight carriage 3. The steel wheels 6 on the weight carriage 3 are gripping either side of the railway track 7, which adds stability to the weight carriage 3 whilst in motion. The ballast water14 in the ferro weight container 12 will increase the inertia of the ferro weight container 12 at the top and at the bottom of each cycle allowing for a smooth rotation of the weight carriage 3.

The cogged drive wheel 8 rotates with the central shaft 5 which in turn drives the generators 10 using the generator cogged drive wheels 9 which are attached to generators 10.

Referring now to the drawing Fig 2 showing the lateral beams 4 and the weight carriage 3 which will move clockwise or anti clockwise around railway track 7.

Referring now to the drawing Fig 3 showing rail support beams 13 attached to the steel lattice 2. This drawing shows the position of the ferro concrete weight container 12 and 4. the ballast water 14. Steel wheels 6 are attached to the weight carriage 3. The steel wheels 6 run on the rail track 7. The details show section of lateral beam 4.

Claims (1)

Claims:

1. A device to generate electricity utilising the power in a water wave comprising a weight which rotates on a centrifugal shaft in a continuous smooth motion cycle via a power wheel which is connected to fixed magnetic generators housed within a floating steel box. The device according to Claim 1 where the weight moves about a fixed circular rail track. The device according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the weight comprises a ferro—concrete carriage part filled with water. The device according to claim 3 where water comprises half the weight of the carriage. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a cogged drive connected to the central vertical shaft of the weight mechanism drives cogged wheels on the fixed magnetic generators to generate electricity.