JP2009240011A - Power generation device and luminous buoy - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power generation device which can efficiently generate power by utilizing the force and the vibration of a wave. <P>SOLUTION: The power generation device has a base body 10 which is oscillated by utilizing the force and the vibration of the wave, and a power generation module arranged on the base body 10. The power generation module comprises: a rollable spherical body 22; a spherical body guide member 21 which constitutes a rolling passage of the spherical body 22; a piezoelectric element 23 arranged in a position where the rolling spherical body 22 collides with the piezoelectric element; an oscillation member 26 whose opposing face to the base body 10 forms an arc shape, and which supports the spherical body guide member 21 so as to be oscillatory on the base body 10; and a weight 27 which is arranged on the arc-shaped internal face of the oscillating body 26, and rolls in the lowest position of the internal face. In this device, the spherical body guide member 21 is inclined at an angle larger than an inclination angle of the base body 10 when the base body 10 is inclined by the force and the vibration of the wave. Accordingly, the spherical body 22 guided by the spherical body guide member 21 vigorously collides with the piezoelectric element 23, and the piezoelectric element 23 is largely deformed, thus generating large electric energy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generation device that generates power using wave power and vibration, and a light-emitting buoy including the power generation device, and achieves efficient power generation using wave power and vibration.

In recent years, due to concerns about global warming, interest in power generation that does not use fossil fuels has increased. Wave power generation is one of them, but at present, it is in the development stage and has not been fully utilized. Therefore, social understanding and recognition of wave power generation is not necessarily high.
Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique in which a sphere is made to collide with a piezoelectric element by utilizing wave shaking, and a buoy illuminant is illuminated with electrical energy generated from the piezoelectric element at this time.
The method of generating electricity by causing a sphere to collide with the piezoelectric element has a simple configuration and can be realized at low cost.
JP 2002-369555 A

The amount of charge generated when an impact is applied to the piezoelectric element depends on the magnitude of deformation of the piezoelectric element. Therefore, in the wave power generation of a system that gives an impact to the piezoelectric element, an important issue is how to apply a large impact to the piezoelectric element and how much the piezoelectric element is deformed.
The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and provides a power generation device that can efficiently generate power using wave force, vehicle vibration, and the like, and a light-emitting buoy using the power generation device. The purpose is to provide.

The power generation device of the present invention is a power generation device having a base body that sways using wave force or vibration, and a power generation module disposed on the base body, wherein the power generation module includes a rollable sphere, A spherical guide member constituting the rolling path of the spherical body, a piezoelectric element disposed at a position where the rolling spherical body collides, and an opposing surface to the base form an arc shape, and the spherical guide member is A swing member that is swingably supported on a base, and a weight that is disposed on an arcuate inner surface of the swing member and rolls to the lowest position of the inner surface.
In this apparatus, when the base body is tilted by waves or vibrations, the spherical guide member is tilted to be larger than the tilt angle of the base body. Therefore, the sphere guided by this sphere guide member collides with the piezoelectric element vigorously, and the piezoelectric element is greatly deformed.

In the power generator of the present invention, it is desirable that the swing member is a semi-cylindrical member.
In this apparatus, the semi-cylindrical swing member swings efficiently on the base.

In the power generation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the number of the spheres rolling on one rolling path of the sphere guide member is plural.
By increasing the number of spheres, the impact applied to the piezoelectric element can be increased.

In the power generation device of the present invention, a plurality of the power generation modules can be arranged on the base body in different directions.
As described above, when a plurality of power generation modules having different directions are attached to the base body, power generation is performed by any one of the power generation modules regardless of the wave traveling direction or the vibration direction.

In the power generation apparatus of the present invention, the power generation module may be supported by the base so that the direction of the power generation module can be freely changed.
Thus, by providing the degree of freedom with respect to the direction of the power generation module, the power generation module can always automatically face the wave traveling direction and the vibration direction.

The light-emitting buoy according to the present invention is a light-emitting buoy having a base body that is shaken by the force of a wave, a power generation module disposed on the base body, and a light-emitting body that emits light when energized. A movable sphere, a sphere guide member constituting a rolling path of the sphere, a piezoelectric element disposed at a position where the rolling sphere collides, and a surface facing the base form an arc shape, A oscillating member that slidably supports a spherical guide member on the base; and a weight that is disposed on an arcuate inner surface of the oscillating member and rolls to the lowest position of the inner surface. However, it emits light with electric energy generated from the piezoelectric element collided with the sphere.
This light emitting buoy can efficiently emit light by utilizing the force of waves.

The power generation device of the present invention can apply a large impact force to the piezoelectric element by utilizing wave force or vibration, and can greatly deform the piezoelectric element, and can generate large electric energy from the piezoelectric element.
In addition, the light emitting buoy of the present invention can emit high-luminance light using this power generator.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described using an apparatus (light emitting buoy) created for a learning material.
1 is a diagram showing the overall shape of this device (light emitting buoy), FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a diagram of this device viewed from the back, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a power generation module, 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the state of the power generation module when the base body is tilted, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing an electric circuit of this apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device (light emitting buoy) includes a base 10 made of a low foam resin, a cover 11 made of a transparent acrylic resin, and a plurality of pieces arranged on the base 10 in different directions. It has the power generation module 20 and a plurality of sets of light emitting diodes 40 that constitute one set of two. As will be described later, the light emitting diodes 40 are connected in parallel to form a set of two.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a metal plate 13 is attached to the back side of the base 10 of the apparatus, and a magnet 14 is attracted to the metal plate 13. The metal plate 13 and the magnet 14 serve as a weight for balancing the device and float on the sea, so that the device can swing in any direction according to the waves without rolling over.

As shown in FIG. 4A (plan view) and FIG. 4B (side view), the power generation module 20 can roll to the pipe 21 made of acrylic resin that constitutes a spherical guide member. A plurality of steel balls 22 housed in the pipe, piezoelectric elements 23 arranged at both ends of the pipe 21, a substrate 21 supporting the pipe 21 and the piezoelectric element 23, and a half of the large-diameter pipe. A semi-cylindrical body 26, a frame 25 to which the semi-cylindrical body 26 is attached, and a weight 27 made of a brass round bar that can freely rotate and move inside the semi-cylindrical body 26 are provided. The light emitting diode 40 is supported on the substrate 24 of the power generation module 20 in a state of being electrically connected to the piezoelectric element 23.
The power generation module 20 fixes a pipe 21 containing a plurality of steel balls 22 on a substrate 24, fixes a piezoelectric element 23 at a position on the substrate 24 that closes the opening of the pipe 21, and A semi-cylindrical body 26 containing a weight 27 is attached, and the frame 25 is fixed to the back surface of the substrate 24.

Further, a stopper plate 29 for restricting the swing of the power generation module 20 is provided on the base 10 side. The stopper plate 29 has a stopper 28 that limits the rotational movement range of the semi-cylindrical body 26 of the power generation module 20. The power generation module 20 can freely swing on the stopper plate 29 until the semi-cylindrical body 26 abuts against the stopper 28.
The stopper plate 29 is provided with a position restricting member for preventing the power generation module 20 from shifting in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical body 26, but is omitted in the drawing.

7A and 7B, the piezoelectric element 23 has a bimorph structure in which two piezoelectric ceramics 231 and 232 are bonded together. When the polarization directions of the two piezoelectric ceramics 231 and 232 are opposite, the intermediate electrode of the two piezoelectric ceramics 231 and 232 is used as one electrode as shown in FIG. The outer electrodes 231 and 232 are connected, and the electromotive force generated in the piezoelectric element 23 is taken out as the other electrode. In addition, in the bimorph where the polarization directions of the two piezoelectric ceramics 231 and 232 are the same, as shown in FIG. 7B, the outer electrode of the piezoelectric ceramic 231 is used as one electrode and the outer electrode of the piezoelectric ceramic 232 is used as the other electrode. As an electrode, the electromotive force generated in the piezoelectric element 23 is taken out.
As shown in FIG. 7, the two light emitting diodes 40 having different polarities are connected in parallel and connected to the bimorph of the piezoelectric element 23. In this way, one light emitting diode emits light when the impacted bimorph bends in one direction, and the other light emitting diode emits light when bent in the other direction due to the reaction. Such alternate light emission by the light emitting diode 40 continues until the vibration of the bimorph due to impact is attenuated.

In this apparatus, the weight 27 of the power generation module 20 receives gravity and always moves to the lowest position on the inner surface of the semi-cylindrical body 26. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the base body 10 receives a wave and tilts to the right side, the right portion of the semi-cylindrical body 26 is lower than the current weight 27 position, so the weight 27 is moved to the right side. The semi-cylindrical body 26 rotates to the right. As a result, the pipe 21 is inclined further than the inclination angle of the base body 10, and the steel ball 22 rolling inside the pipe 21 collides with the piezoelectric element 23 at a high speed. Due to this collision, the piezoelectric element 23 is greatly deformed to generate large electric energy. Therefore, the light emitting diode 40 emits light with high luminance.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the same applies to the case where the substrate 10 receives a wave and tilts to the left.

In this way, in this apparatus, since the vibration of the wave is amplified and reaches the pipe 21, the pipe 21 is greatly inclined even when the wave is small, and therefore, large electric energy can be always taken out from the piezoelectric element 23.
The light emitting buoy including the power generation module 20 can make the light emitting diode 40 emit light brightly even when the wave is quiet.

Moreover, in this apparatus, since the several steel ball 22 is accommodated in the pipe 21, the impact force which acts on the piezoelectric element 23 can be strengthened.
Moreover, in this apparatus, since the several power generation module 20 from which direction was different is attached to the base | substrate 10, it is possible to generate electric power from any power generation module 20 regardless of the wave traveling direction.

  Here, the light emitting diode 40 is caused to emit light directly by the electric energy of the power generation module 20, but as shown in FIG. 8, the electric energy of the power generation module 20 is transferred to the electric double layer capacitor 50 via a rectifier. The electrical energy stored and stored in the electric double layer capacitor 50 may be supplied to a load such as the light emitting diode 40 when the switch 51 is turned on. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-7491 discloses an example in which the switch 51 is closed when the time set by the timer circuit is reached, and the electric energy stored in the capacitor 50 is used at once to emit a large amount of light. However, such a configuration can also be applied to the present invention.

Here, a bimorph is used as the piezoelectric element 23, but a unimorph made of a single piezoelectric ceramic may be used.
Further, here, the swing member is constituted by the semi-cylindrical body 26. However, if the outer surface on the base 10 side is an arc shape and the inner surface that accommodates the weight 27 is an arc shape, it is used as the swing member. be able to.
Here, in order to increase the impact force exerted on the piezoelectric element 23, a plurality of steel balls 22 are accommodated in the pipe 21, but one steel ball 22 may be provided.
Although the case where power generation is performed using wave force has been described here, the apparatus of the present invention can also generate power using vibrations of automobiles and railway vehicles, vibrations of facility machines, and the like.

Next, as another embodiment, an apparatus (light emitting buoy) configured to freely change the direction of the power generation module with respect to the base will be described.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of this apparatus, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the power generation module in this apparatus, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a model of the power generation module created for teaching materials, and FIG. 12 is this apparatus. It is a figure which shows the bearing tool used by.
In this apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, the power generation module 20 having a plurality of pipes 21 is accommodated in the cover 11 and swings on the stopper plate 29. The power generation module 20, the stopper plate 29, and the relationship between them, as shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, is that there is one power generation module 20 accommodated in the cover 11, and the power generation module. Except for the fact that 20 has a plurality of pipes 21, the configuration is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 4.
The biggest difference from FIGS. 1 and 4 is that the stopper plate 29 is rotatably fixed to the base 10 via the bearing tool 12 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the bearing device 12 includes two metal plates having a ring-shaped bulge and steel balls accommodated in the ring-shaped bulge. It is configured to be able to rotate. Therefore, by fixing one of the metal plates to the stopper plate 29 and fixing the other of the metal plates to the base body 10, the stopper plate 29 can rotate with respect to the base body 10.
In this apparatus, when the base body 10 receives a wave and tilts, and the pipe 21 tilts accordingly, the steel balls 22 in the pipe 21 are concentrated on one side of the pipe 21. At this time, if the position of the steel ball 22 is not the lowest position, the power generation module 20 rotates with respect to the base body 10 so that the steel ball 22 comes to the lowest position due to the weight of the steel ball 22. In other words, the power generation module 20 always automatically turns the traveling direction of the wave so that it is most inclined when the wave comes.
In this way, if the degree of freedom of the direction is given to the power generation module 20, the power generation module 20 automatically changes the direction in the wave traveling direction due to the weight of the steel ball 22. Therefore, power generation by the power generation module 20 becomes possible regardless of the traveling direction of the waves. In particular, in this apparatus, since the steel balls 22 are accommodated in each of the plurality of pipes 21 arranged in parallel, the total weight of the steel balls 22 is heavy, and therefore, the ability to follow waves is high.
The degree of freedom of the direction of the power generation module 20 can also be obtained by using the swing member 26 of the power generation module 20 as a hemisphere and the weight 27 as a sphere. In this case, it is not necessary to rotate the stopper plate 29.

Here, an apparatus for learning materials is shown as an embodiment of the present invention. It is easy to manufacture actual devices by appropriately changing the materials, shapes, and fixing methods of these devices.
In addition, these devices are also effective as teaching materials for giving children and students interest and interest in wave power generation.
In addition, although the case where power generation is performed using wave force has been described here, as with the device of FIG. 1, as a device that generates power using vibrations of automobiles and railway vehicles, vibrations of equipment machinery, and the like. Can also be used.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be widely used as a wave power generation apparatus that generates power using wave power in a sea, a lake, a river, or the like, and as a light emitting buoy that emits light using wave power. .
Further, it can be widely used as a device for generating electric power using vibrations of various vehicles, vibrations of equipment machines, and the like.
Further, the apparatus of the present invention can be widely used at educational sites and the like as a suitable teaching material for raising interest such as wave power generation.

The figure which shows the whole shape of the wave power generator (light emitting buoy) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Plan view of the wave power generator (light emitting buoy) of FIG. The figure which shows the back side of the wave power generator (light emitting buoy) of FIG. The top view (a) and side view (b) of the power generation module which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the state inclined rightward of the electric power generation module of FIG. The figure which shows the state inclined leftward of the electric power generation module of FIG. The figure which shows the circuit structure of the wave power generator (light-emitting buoy) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the other circuit structure of the wave power generator (light emitting buoy) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The top view of the wave power generator (light emitting buoy) which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The top view (a) and side view (b) of the power generation module which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the model of the electric power generation module of FIG. The figure which shows the bearing tool used with the apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Base body 11 Cover 12 Bearing 13 Metal plate 14 Magnet 20 Power generation module 21 Pipe 22 Steel ball 23 Piezoelectric element 24 Substrate 25 Frame 26 Semi-cylindrical body 27 Weight 28 Stopper 29 Stopper plate 40 Light emitting diode 50 Electric double layer capacitor 51 Switch 231 Piezoelectric Ceramic 232 Piezoelectric ceramic

Claims (6)

A power generation device having a base body that is shaken by wave force or vibration, and a power generation module disposed on the base body,
The power generation module is
A rollable sphere,
A sphere guide member constituting the rolling path of the sphere,
A piezoelectric element disposed at a position where the rolling sphere collides;
A swinging member that faces the base body in an arc shape and supports the spherical guide member so as to swing freely on the base body;
A weight disposed on the arcuate inner surface of the swing member and rolling to the lowest position of the inner surface;
A power generation device comprising:   2. The power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the swing member is a semi-cylindrical member.   3. The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the spheres rolling on one of the rolling paths of the sphere guide member are provided.   4. The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the power generation modules are arranged on the base body in different directions. 5.   4. The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the power generation module is supported by the base so that the direction of the power generation module can be freely changed. A light-emitting buoy having a base body that is shaken by the force of a wave, a power generation module disposed on the base body, and a light-emitting body that emits light when energized;
The power generation module is
A rollable sphere,
A sphere guide member constituting the rolling path of the sphere,
A piezoelectric element disposed at a position where the rolling sphere collides;
A swinging member that faces the base body in an arc shape and supports the spherical guide member so as to swing freely on the base body;
A weight disposed on the arcuate inner surface of the swing member and rolling to the lowest position of the inner surface;
A light emitting buoy characterized in that the light emitter emits light with electric energy generated from the piezoelectric element collided with the sphere.