JPS6215754B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a wave power generation device, and more particularly to an energy collection float array for extracting energy as hydraulic power from the movement of waves whose wavelength and wave height vary, and a wave power generation device including the float array. The use of the potential energy of waves to lift floats is well known in the art of power generation. Various attempts have been made in the field of mechanical coupling of devices for harnessing wave energy. U.S. Patent Nos. 562317 and 632139;
No. 694242, No. 738996, No. 886883, No. 917411
No. 986629. These prior art techniques relied on mechanical connections between fixed floats to take advantage of the rocking, lifting, lowering, and longitudinal motion of the waves. The power generation devices described in these patents were all mechanically complex and had extremely low efficiency. While the prior art described above relied on the potential energy of waves to provide motive power, some prior art power generation devices utilized the kinetic energy of waves. See US Pat. No. 1,072,272. Most conventional wave power generation devices utilize (1) the kinetic energy of waves with devices such as impellers, or (2) the potential energy of waves with a single float or a combination of floats. However, there have been few devices that utilize both kinetic and potential energy. As far as wave power generation devices that utilize the uplifting force, or potential energy, of waves are concerned, the prior art is based on a single float (U.S. Pat. No. 1,202,742, U.S. Pat.
(see U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,746,613, 1,953,285, 1,966,2047) or connected floats of the same size (U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,925,742, 1,867,780)
No. 1688032, No. 1567470, No. 1408094). Many conventional wave power generation devices have extremely complicated mechanisms. See US Patent Nos. 1,528,165, 1,169,356, and 1,818,066. Conventional wave power generation devices transmit the motion of the float directly and linearly to a shaft or piston by mechanical or hydraulic means. For this reason, conventional wave power generation devices have had to be strong and heavy in order to withstand the incoming wave energy over a wide spectrum (variable range). For example, a wave power generation system installed off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, consists of cylindrical floats 6 feet (approximately 1.8 meters) in diameter and 4 feet (approximately 1.2 meters) high, each weighing approximately 3,100 yen.
lb (approximately 1,406 kilograms), and each float is lifted two feet (approximately 0.6 meters) by the waves 11 times per minute. The float drives a horizontal shaft with a chain and ratchet wheel, producing a force of 11 horsepower. Stationarity is maintained by a flywheel. inefficiency,
All conventional wave power generation devices failed due to the initial cost and complexity of the mechanism (``Power'')
(January 17, 1911 issue). (For wave power generation devices with almost the same mechanism, see ``Mechanical Engineering.''
(September 1927, p. 995), Smith states: ) The prior art teaches that modern wave power systems do not differ significantly in operation from wave power systems created at the beginning of this century. See US Pat. No. 3,879,950. This patent was granted to Kiichi Yamada on April 29, 1975 for a wave power generation device used in conjunction with an offshore nuclear power plant. This advanced wave power generator has a plurality of identically sized floats whose motion is transmitted linearly to a series of air pistons. However, this float was unable to utilize wave energy efficiently. Waves range in height from less than 1 foot (approximately 30.5 centimeters) to more than 50 feet (approximately 15.2 meters), and have wavelengths of 5 feet (approximately 15.2 meters).
They range in height from 1.5 meters (1.5 meters) to over 1,000 feet (approximately 305 meters). In order to extract enough energy from waves of any size, the float and its energy extraction mechanism must be able to reasonably handle the maximum wave height. It has been found that linked floats of a certain size respond most efficiently to waves of a particular wavelength.
Therefore, in order to extract enough energy from waves of varying size, a wave power generation device must be able to swing multiple floats of different lengths so that it can respond to a wide range of different wavelengths as efficiently as possible. It is desirable that they be connected. In this way, any of the floats in the long array will respond resonantly to the optimal wavelength, and the array as a whole can capture wave energy with sufficient efficiency. In addition, the float in the wave power generation device must be able to effectively extract power from both high and low waves. However, in conventional wave power generation devices, the float is basically raised and lowered in the vertical direction by waves, and the linear up and down motion is transmitted to the piston shaft and rack in the same direction, causing the fluid cylinder and rotation. It was configured to extract power from the mechanism. In such devices, which rely only on the vertical and linear movement of the float, the power extracted is linearly proportional to the amount of vertical movement of the float, so if the vertical movement is small, only a small amount of power is obtained, and the wave height is quite large. If this happens, the power transmission mechanism will not be able to follow the full range of wave motion, and there is a risk of damage.A type of wave motor in which the float basically only moves up and down is not able to adequately capture the energy of waves whose wavelength and wave height vary over a wide range. It was generally inefficient to extract the In the present invention, a series of floats oscillates in a non-linear manner in response to variations in various wavelengths and wave heights, and as the oscillation angle of the floats increases, wave energy is extracted more efficiently than in linear proportion. The basic objective is to provide a float array for wave energy collection. Next, in order to more efficiently extract energy from the movement of waves whose wavelength and wave height fluctuate, the present invention specifically arranges floats of different sizes to enable resonant oscillation over a wide range. The purpose of this project is to provide a float array that uses water to pump liquid and collect wave energy as hydraulic power. The present invention further provides a novel wave energy collection float that rotates a turbine generator using hydraulic power that is pumped through V-shaped swinging between a large number of pairs of floats aligned in the direction of wave propagation and accumulated at a high place. The purpose is to provide a wave power generation device that can be used in rows. Ultimately, the present invention has an excellent configuration that uses a plurality of float arrays as a means for extracting wave energy, which can be easily made large so that large amounts of power can be supplied at low cost, and does not require advanced technology to maintain. The purpose is to provide a wave power generation device. The closest prior art to the present invention is U.S. Pat.
No. 1757166, which describes a device and method for harnessing the energy of waves. However, this prior art also teaches the use of a plurality of unconnected floats of the same size. All of the prior art investigated by the inventors connect a plurality of floats, preferably of different lengths, approximately in the direction of wave propagation so that energy can be efficiently extracted from waves of varying size. It does not teach the effect of oscillating rows and connecting these floats in a non-linear manner with a pump mechanism for pumping working fluid. The present invention is basically an array of floats for energy collection for extracting energy as hydraulic power from the motion of waves whose wavelength and wave height fluctuate, which comprises: (A) a float at an end moored to a fixed object; It consists of a plurality of floats connected linearly in the same direction as the wave propagation from the float at the end, and each of these floats is a three-dimensional rigid body with a density that allows it to float in response to the wave motion. (B) At least one row of floats floating in one layer on the water with a contour of (B) A pair of floats that are adjacent to each other in the front and back are oscillated relative to each other in a V-shape up and down in response to wave motion. (C) A direct connection mechanism using a horizontal pivot that connects the ends of each adjacent float in the vertical direction approximately in the center thereof; It consists of a hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism that is pressure-moved by changes in the horizontal distance between specific points of the front and rear floats as it oscillates, and increases the amount of work taken out in a non-linear manner as the angle of oscillation increases, and the energy of the waves is disturbed. Moored away from shore where it can be lost to currents. In order to efficiently swing the float array according to the various wavelengths or wave heights of the waves, the length of each float increases regularly by a certain magnification as it goes backwards in the direction in which the waves approach. It is desirable that the Further, the overall width of the float array is generally constant, and as you move toward the rear, the float width is doubled in places, and conversely, the number of floats in parallel is reduced. In one embodiment of the row of floats arranged in this manner, all the floats other than the frontmost float have a prism surface with an upward and downward slope in front, and the ridgeline of this prism surface is a substantially horizontal surface. The front and rear floats are pivoted to each other at this portion, which is parallel to and close to the vertical center of the rear surface of the float located immediately in front of the float. The hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism has an elastic tube, and this tube is close to at least one of the prism surfaces, and when the front and rear float pairs swing in a V-shape due to wave motion, the tubes move into the float pairs. It is sandwiched between tubes to change its cross section, and cooperates with a check valve in the pumping mechanism to intermittently pump the working fluid inside the tube. This hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism is installed in series in the float row, and in order to accumulate the energy extracted from the wave motion for use as hydraulic power, the hydraulic fluid piping is connected to an accumulator at a higher location via a switching valve or the like. There is. As mentioned above, waves on the sea vary greatly in their wavelength and wave height, but in order to efficiently extract energy, the float array of the present invention estimates the wavelength in advance within a possible moderate range in the setting area and stores the energy. A float with a length that is approximately half the minimum wavelength from which energy should be extracted is placed at the forefront facing the direction of the approaching waves, and a float whose length is approximately half the maximum wavelength from which energy should be extracted is placed at the forefront. It is preferable that the plurality of floats arranged at the rearmost position and the plurality of floats arranged between these floats have their lengths gradually increased toward the rear. By constructing the float array of the present invention in this manner, it typically has a considerable length as a whole. It is also possible to consider such a basic float row as one unit, and to arrange this unit widely in the left and right direction, that is, in the horizontal direction, depending on the scale of energy collection. The float array of the present invention can rise and fall freely as a whole in response to fluctuations in wave height, and is equipped with a large number of floats of at least different lengths.
The wave energy that is reflected without being absorbed by one float and still propagates through the waves is collected at least in part by multiple adjacent floats, making it possible to utilize the wave energy to its fullest extent. becomes. Furthermore, the present invention is equipped with the above-mentioned wave energy collection float array moored to a predetermined fixed object, and the hydraulic power pumped by the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism is stored in an accumulator at a high place, and the hydraulic power is used to collect the wave energy. It includes a wave power generation device that operates a turbine generator. In addition, in the float array of the present invention, the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism is replaced with the above-mentioned elastic tube, and at least one piston cylinder is linked to each float, and the non-linear relative rocking between the two floats is prevented. An engagement member can also be provided between the floats to move the piston rod accordingly. Due to the above configuration, the present invention has many excellent effects as described below. These effects will become clearer from the examples described below. (a) A float row consists of an end float moored to a fixed object, and a plurality of floats connected in a straight line with horizontal pivots in the same direction as the wave propagation from the end float. , these floats are composed of at least one row of floats floating in one layer on the water, each having a density that allows it to float in response to wave motion and a three-dimensional rigid outline, and the above-mentioned It has a simple structure that allows infinite rows of floats of any size to be formed by connecting floats in a straight line. In addition, the adjacent ends of the floats in each float group are directly connected by a horizontal pivot at approximately the center, and are continuous in the direction of wave movement, so the floats mutually form a V-shape according to the wave motion. It is possible to perform non-linear oscillations almost freely, and can sufficiently absorb the energy of waves. In addition, since only the float located at the end is moored to a fixed object, more freedom is given to the swinging of such a float, and in addition to the wave energy due to normal wave motion, it is also moored to a fixed object. The energy caused by the vertical movement of the entire sea surface can be distributed and absorbed by each hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism without providing any new separate mechanism. (b) The hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism, which extracts wave energy as hydraulic power, is pressurized by horizontal distance fluctuations between specific points between the front and rear floats due to V-shaped swinging of adjacent float pairs, and Since the horizontal distance between specific points rapidly decreases as the swing angle increases, the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism of the present invention does not utilize the V-shaped swing of the float to perform the pressure motion. The pumping stroke increases rapidly, and the pumping amount can be rapidly increased compared to conventional float rows that utilize displacement in the height direction between floats, making it more efficient. Furthermore, in a configuration that utilizes pressure motion due to horizontal distance changes between specific points of the front and rear floats, even if the floats form an inverted V shape, that is, swing in opposite directions, the approaching motion will occur in the same direction. Therefore, such oscillation can be extracted as energy by the same hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism. In the conventional configuration that utilizes the displacement of the floats in the height direction, it is impossible to extract the swinging motion in the opposite direction as energy unless a separate mechanism is provided. Here, the concept of rapidly increasing
If a relative oscillation of 5° between two floats pumps, for example, an amount of 2 units, then the
An oscillation of 10 degrees pumps a quantity of 5 units, and a relative oscillation of the same float of 15 degrees means a non-linear progressive state such that a quantity of 16 units is pumped. (c) If an elastic tube is used in the pumping mechanism and the tube is repeatedly pressed by V-shaped swinging of a pair of adjacent floats, the pumping action can be easily performed. Also, unlike the floating of a float that is limited in the vertical direction, in V-shaped swinging, when the wave height is large, the wavelength is also large. There is much less risk of damage to other pump structures. (d) A row of floats in which the floats lined up in front and behind each other are gradually made larger toward the rear, responds more efficiently to waves whose wavelengths and wave heights vary over a wide range, and extracts sufficient energy from them. That is,
If any of the floats in the long array responds resonantly to its optimum wavelength, at least some of the wave energy that continues to propagate through the wave will be reflected rather than absorbed by a single float. This is because the energy of the waves is collected by a plurality of adjacent floats, and the energy of the waves is maximally utilized. (E) The float array of the present invention is moored to a predetermined fixed object, and the hydraulic fluid pumped by the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism is accumulated in an accumulator at a high place, and the turbine generator is operated by the hydraulic power. The wave power generation device to be operated has the unique effects of the float row and hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism described above, and can be easily increased in size by extending such a float row in the front, rear, left and right directions, and Float arrays have a simple structure and do not require advanced technology for maintenance because they are on top, and can obtain large amounts of electricity from natural energy. Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ideal wave. wave 1
0 is wave high point 12 and wave bottom point (hereinafter referred to as trough) 1
It has 4. The distance between two wave crests or troughs is the wavelength, and the wave height or amplitude is defined as the difference in height between the wave crest and the trough. The total energy of a wave is a function of wavelength and wave height. The total energy of a wave (unit: horsepower/feet) is expressed by the following equation: Total energy =. 0329×H ² ×L [1-4.935 (H ² /L ² )] Here, H and L are the wave height and wavelength, respectively (unit:
feet). This is according to the USN (U.S. Navy) Albert D'Abreu School (Bulletin of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Vol. 13, page 438). The British Admiralty's Meteorological Directory classifies waves as follows:

[Table] The wavelength of waves in the North Atlantic Ocean is typically 160 to 320 feet (about 48.7 to 97.5 meters), but can reach 500 to 600 feet (about 152 to 183 meters). Speed is 25-35 knots. Waves with wavelengths of 1,000 feet (approximately 305 meters) and speeds of up to 50 knots can be seen in the South Pacific. Below, wave heights range from 5 to 15 feet (approximately
1.5-4.6 meters), wavelength 100-300 feet (approx.
The present invention will be explained using an example of medium-sized waves (30.5 to 91.4 meters). This is because such waves are average waves off the North Atlantic coast of the United States. Figure 2 is a graph showing the energy of waves with wave heights of 5 to 15 feet (approximately 1.5 to 4.6 meters) and wavelengths of 100 to 300 feet (approximately 30.5 to 91.4 meters). This graph shows the total energy of the wave as horsepower/
It was created using the value of the total wave energy determined by the above formula so that it can be expressed in feet and then expressed in megawatts per mile. (The total energy of 1 horsepower/foot is 3.94
Megawatts per mile (equivalent to approximately 2.45 Megawatts per kilometer). For comparison, the maximum output of America's largest nuclear power plant is approximately 1,000 megawatts. Below, we will express the total energy value in megawatts/mile. “Modern Research on Wind and Waves” (Modern Physics, Vol. 8, March 1967, No. 171-
(p. 183) and R.A.R. Tritzker, Bores, Breaks, Waves, and Wakes: An Introduction to the Study of Waves on Water (1965). Figure 3 shows the first float 32 and the second float 3.
4, a row 30 having a third float 36 and a fourth float 38 (only a portion shown). Column 3
0 is connected by a penstock 40 to an accumulator generator section 42 . The first float 32 is made of hollow watertight material having a buoyancy chamber 44 . The displacement of the first float 32 with respect to the water level 46 is determined by the size of the buoyancy chamber 44 according to the known laws of hydrostatics. (See R. L. Ducati, Hydraulics (McGraw-Hill 1937)) The first float 32 may be of any shape, but in the preferred embodiment the flat rear plate 48 is attached to the second float 34. Close to the front section 50. Both left and right ends of the rear plate 48 of the first float 32 are connected to the front portion 50 of the second float 34 by a hinge.
Prism surfaces 52 and 54 are formed on the lower and upper sides of the front portion 50 of the second float 34, respectively. Hydraulic fluid inlet pipe 56 is connected to lower pump tube 60 via one-way valve 58 . The lower pump tube 60 is connected to the front portion 50 of the second float 34.
It is sandwiched between the lower prism surface 52 of the first float 32 and the flat rear plate 48 of the first float 32. Similarly, the upper pump tube 62 is connected to the upper prismatic surface 54 of the second float 34 and the flat rear plate 48 of the first float 32.
It's sandwiched between. The upper pump tube 62 is connected to an accumulator water pressure feed pipe 66 via a one-way valve 64.
It is connected to the. The second float 34, the third float 36, and the fourth float 38 are the first float 3
2. It is approximately 26% longer than the second float 34 and the third float 36, respectively. All of the floats in this embodiment, except for the first float 32, have upper and lower prismatic surfaces and a back plate that cooperate with the pump tube. Furthermore, all the floats are connected by simple hinges, and the structure of this hinge will be explained in detail below. The second float 34 has a buoyancy chamber 68 and a flat rear plate 7.
has 0. The upper pump tube 72 and the lower pump tube 74 are installed between the upper prism surface of the third float 36 and the rear plate 70, and between the lower prism surface of the third float and the rear plate 70, respectively. . The lower pump tube 74 and the upper pump tube 72 are one-way valves 76 and 78, respectively.
It is connected to the hydraulic supply pipe 56 and the accumulator hydraulic pipe 66 so that fluid can be sent therethrough. The upper and lower hydraulic pump tubes sandwiched between the rows of floats are all connected to a hydraulic supply pipe and an accumulator hydraulic pipe through one-way valves. First and second hydraulic accumulators 82, 86 are connected to three-way valve 80 by pipes 84, 88, respectively. A first hydraulic accumulator is connected to a turbine entry 90 by a pipe 92 and a discharge valve 9
It has 4. The second hydraulic accumulator is connected to the turbine entry 90 by a pipe 96 and has a discharge valve 9
It has 8. The turbine lead-in portion 90 is provided at the high-pressure side lead-in end of the turbine generator 100 . The hydraulic fluid outlet 102 is connected to the turbine generator 10
It is on the low pressure side of 0. The float shown in Figure 3 in construction is made of watertight and rigid material. The prototype wave generator would have floats made of wood, while larger prototypes would have floats made of concrete. The upper and lower pump tubes and all hydraulic connection tubing are applied by the hydraulic power collecting float of the present invention.
Any hydraulic tubing that can withstand pressures of 100-200 PSI (approximately 7-14 Kg/cm ² ) may be used. The float and all fittings for connecting it are made of corrosion-resistant materials. In operation, water or other convenient working fluid is supplied to the respective lower pump tubes 60, 74 by means of drop-in pipes 56 and one-way valves 58, 76, etc.
etc. will be sent to. The relative motion of the float exerts a compressive force on the pump tube, so that the pump tube acts as a hydraulic pump. The one-way valve is arranged in line to prevent fluid from flowing backwards when the relative motion of the float is reversed. As the float's relative momentum increases, the float's oscillation about the pivot connection with other floats increases, so that the flat back plate of the leading float is forced to move against the upper or lower prismatic surface of the trailing float. may be almost parallel. When the rear plate and one of the prism surfaces become parallel in this way,
The cross section of the pump tube sandwiched between them is most compressively deformed. The initial small relative movement between the front and rear floats causes the pump tube to pump up only a relatively small amount of hydraulic fluid, but as the relative movement of the floats increases, a large amount of hydraulic fluid is rapidly or progressively pumped up. It can be fried. If the waves have sufficient amplitude to further increase the relative motion of the floats, the rear plate of the float and the upper or lower prismatic surfaces of the trailing float front will repeatedly become nearly parallel, so that A large amount of hydraulic fluid is pumped up rapidly or progressively. Under calm weather conditions, small waves receive little resistance from the energy collection float array 30, and can effectively generate relative motion of the floats. Since the hydraulic fluid is pumped up by this relative motion, energy can be effectively absorbed even from the fluid with a small amplitude. In inclement weather, large wave heights are available at all times, so a great deal of relative motion occurs between pairs of floats in a row. However, waves with large wave heights usually have long wavelengths, so unlike the stroke of a float that floats only in the vertical direction varies greatly depending on the wave height, there is a natural limit to the V-shaped angle that adjacent floats can form. The pump tubes will not be damaged and the rows can effectively absorb more energy from higher waves. The hydraulic fluid inlet three-way valve 80 is selectively directed to the first or second accumulator 82,86. By averaging fluctuations in the hydraulic pressure sent from the float row,
The function of the hydraulic accumulator is to apply a stable operating pressure to the turbine generator 100. Since there are two hydraulic accumulators and they are connected in parallel, maintenance of one of the accumulators can be carried out without interrupting the supply of hydraulic power to the turbine generator 100. The float should be 1.26 times or 26% longer than the preceding float. Because 1.26 is almost 2
Since the cube root of , the length of every second float doubles, and the row can easily be expanded to the desired size by doubling the width of the third float. When the working fluid rotates the turbine generator to generate electricity, it is returned to the lead-in pipe 56, thus forming a closed system. The invention may also be used to pump water to elevated reservoirs. The water in the reservoir runs a turbine generator to generate electricity. FIG. 4 shows a portion of the structure shown in FIG. Floats 32, 34, 36 are hinges 20
Adjacent float 3 by 0,202,204
4, 36, and 38, respectively. FIG. 4 also shows a row of floats, with floats 32, 108, 110, and 112 forming the front row, hinged at their respective left and right ends, such as the second row of floats 34 at the ends. 200
connected by. Upper pump tube 6
2 and 72 are provided between the floats. When the waves hit the floats in the front row, causing relative movement of the floats and pumping the hydraulic fluid, part of the energy of the waves is absorbed. The residual energy of this wave is sent to the larger rear float.
Some of this energy is reflected back and causes the smaller float to swing again, drawing more hydraulic fluid. Some of the remaining energy sent to the rear is absorbed by generating relative motion in the second row of floats 34, etc., so that hydraulic fluid is also pumped up there. Some of the sent energy is reflected again to the front floats 34 and the like and the floats in the front row, and acts to pump up more hydraulic fluid. Float arrays act as wave traps, or collectors that capture wave energy, and are far superior to any prior art means of extracting hydraulic energy from wave motion. Thus, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is capable of converting approximately 80% of the energy of the waves hitting the array of floats forming the wave power generation device into hydraulic energy. FIG. 5 is a view taken from line 5--5 in FIG. 4.
Hinge pivots 206, 207 are provided to allow the front of float 38 to be attached to rear hinge 204 of float 36. The lower prismatic surface 208 and the upper prismatic surface 210 at the front of the float 38 are shown in the upper pump tube 2.
12 and the lower pump tube 214. Upper and lower pump tubes are at end 2
16 and each at another end 218 to a one-way valve. FIG. 6 shows the operating condition of the upper and lower pump tubes. The row 30 causes relative movement while rocking in response to the liquid 602. That is, when the float 32 rides on the crest of a wave, it rises, but when it falls into a trough, the float 34 descends. Therefore, the rear plate 48 becomes substantially parallel to the upper prism surface 54 of the float 34. As the pump tube is compressed, hydraulic fluid is forced through valve 64 and into hydraulic feed line 66. Even if the float 34 descends, the next float 36 is larger in size and therefore only rises a little. Wave 602 effectively floats 34,3
It is almost large enough to work with 6. As the floats move relative to each other, the rear plate 70 of the float 34
forces the lower pump tube 74 against the front lower prism surface of the float 36. By the time the wave hits the float 38, most of its energy has been absorbed by the preceding row of floats. However, the wave lifted the float 36 slightly, and the rear plate of the float 36 was lifted up by the float 38.
When approaching the upper prismatic surface 210, the upper hydraulic pump tube 212 deforms slightly and pumps a small amount of hydraulic fluid through the check valve. Therefore, hydraulic energy can be extracted efficiently even from waves with small amplitude. FIG. 7 illustrates another example of non-linearly connected pairs of floats forming an energy collection array according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, upper and lower pins 703 and 705 are attached to the side of the float 701 near the rear plate. A single acting hydraulic cylinder 709 is attached to the side surface of the float 707, and this cylinder 709 is connected to a suction valve 711 and a discharge valve 713. Valve 711 is connected at its suction end to a source of hydraulic working fluid and valve 713 is connected at its discharge end to a hydraulic accumulator as taught in FIG. The single-acting hydraulic cylinder 709 has a piston rod 7 fixed to a fan-shaped plate 717.
It has 15. When the float 701 swings relative to the float 707 as shown in FIG.
The upper pin 703 or the lower pin 705 engages the front edge of the fan-shaped plate 717 and pushes the piston rod 715, so that the hydraulic cylinder 709 pumps the hydraulic fluid. The reason why a single-acting cylinder is used instead of a double-acting cylinder is that the former applies pressure on both sides of the cylinder and must have a shaft seal, which increases manufacturing costs.
Because the shaft is exposed to corrosive seawater spray,
This is because maintenance is time-consuming. When the float 701 swings slightly, the piston rod 715 also moves slightly. The amount of movement of the piston rod per relative movement of the floats is directly related to the cosine of the angle formed by the two floats. As the relative motion of the float increases, the actuation of the piston rod increases rapidly. That is, the hydraulic piston operates non-linearly in response to the relative motion of the two floats. As the angular change between the two sets of floats increases, the working distance of the piston rod also increases, so waves with large wave heights increase the relative motion and impart more energy. This device is an alternative to the pump tube described above. Such devices are suitable for some applications of the present invention. The present invention is thus capable of performing pumping by various forms of non-linear coupling means. FIG. 8 shows the apparatus of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7 in a state where it is floating on a calm sea surface. By this alternative means of non-linearly extracting energy from the array of floats, the single acting hydraulic cylinder pumps hydraulic fluid regardless of the direction of relative motion of the two floats. This system is much more economical than the system in which two hydraulic cylinders are used, each cylinder operating in only one direction during the relative movement of the float to lift liquid. The turbine 100 shown in FIG. 3 is a Pelton turbine. This type of turbine is characterized by being able to maintain a constant synchronous rotational speed per minute as long as the pressure remains constant. The water flow rate can be varied simply by changing the dimensions of the nozzle orifice. The dimensions of the orifice may be adjusted by the pressure within the accumulator. The system is equipped with ^a servo loop to accurately maintain a constant pressure (eg, 100 PSI). This is effective in making the hydraulic system independent from the electrical system, and prevents water power shortages in the event of a power outage. A generator is a kind of AC/DC converter, with a DC commutator at one end and an AC stop ring at the other end. Generators of this type are known in the electronics art and are shown schematically for purposes of explanation in connection with the present invention. The generator's direct current supplies electricity to a bank of batteries that act as ballasts. The revolutions per minute of the generator is regulated by varying the mechanical load that the generator applies to the turbine. This is accomplished by controlling the field current of the generator with a tachometer that indicates the revolutions per minute of the turbine generator. As the rotational speed of the turbine increases, the tachometer increases the strength of the generator's magnetic field, which increases the DC output voltage and the load on the turbine, allowing it to generate synchronous alternating current every minute. Reduce the rotation speed to an appropriate value. This servo control loop is completely independent of the amount of hydraulic energy arriving. The alternating current from the generator is supplied to the shore power grid via a variable transformer. This creates the final servo control loop. Variable transformers vary the amount of power delivered to the shore power grid. This rate is controlled by the battery's puncture status. When the battery is charged, the AC output to the power grid is at its maximum. In this way, the usable electricity generated at the power plant is sent to the land power grid via the shore. The main reasons that hinder the commercial operation of wave power generation equipment are 2.
There is one. One is that manufacturing costs are high, and the other is that
One is that the power generation efficiency is extremely low, making it impossible to efficiently increase the size of the generator to increase output. The present invention is achieved by providing a wave power generation device that can be made arbitrarily large in size by regulating a plurality of basic units that serve as wave traps in order to increase the efficiency of the entire collection train, Technological shortcomings will be resolved. Furthermore, the present invention can efficiently convert approximately 80% of the energy of waves entering the float into hydraulic power, whereas conventional floats can convert only approximately 30% at most. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a typical row of floats floating on the sea in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This row becomes the unit of the power generator. Float row 903 has a plurality of floats. The float group 913 in the first row has four floats. The size of the case float is both vertical and horizontal.
It is 100 feet (approximately 30.5 meters) and 20 feet (approximately 6.1 meters) high. Unless otherwise specified, the float height in this example is 20 feet (approximately 6.1 meters). 1st row float group 9
The four floats No. 13 are swingably connected at their rear ends to the front end of the second row float group 915. The second row of floats 915 consists of four floats, each of which measures 126 feet (approximately 38.4 meters) long and 100 feet (approximately 30.5 meters) wide.
meters). As described in connection with FIG. 4, the four floats of the second row float group 915 are swingably connected to the floats of the third row float group 917. The float group 917 in the third row has two floats, and the size of each float is 156 feet (about 47.5 meters) long and 200 feet (about 61 meters) wide. 3
Each float in the float group 917 in the row is connected to two of the four floats in the float group 915 in the second row, and the float group in the fourth row has two floats at the rear end. It is swingably connected to the front end of 919. Each float in the fourth row of floats 919 is 200 feet (approximately 61 meters) in length and width. Such a float array is a good example of how the preferred embodiment of the present invention can be easily scaled up to create large wave power generation devices. The floats of the first row float group 913, the second row float group 915, the third row float group 917, and the fourth row float group 919 are formed like the rows described when explaining FIG. There is. 4
The two floats in the float group 919 in the row are the float group 919 in the fourth row and the float group 92 in the fifth row.
It can be regarded as the first row of floats in a long row including the floats of the first and sixth rows of float groups 923 and the seventh row of floats 925. If a larger float is required, the floats in the seventh row of floats 925 can be connected to an even larger float.
In this way, the size can be increased in any way. Conversely, if it is desired to generate electricity using smaller waves, the floats in the first row of float groups 913 may be connected to smaller floats at their front ends. The fourth row float group 919 has two floats that are 200 feet long (approximately 61 meters) and 200 feet wide (approximately 61 meters), and the rear end is 252 feet long (approximately 76.8 meters) and 200 feet wide It is swingably connected to the floats of the fifth row of floats 921, which has two floats each having a length of about 61 meters. The two floats of the float group 921 in the fifth row are swung by the only float of the float group 923 in the sixth row, which is 312 feet (approximately 95.1 meters) long and 400 feet (approximately 122 meters) wide at the rear end. movably connected.
The floats in the float group 923 in the 6th row are the last floats in the row, and the floats in the float group 925 in the 7th row, which are both 400 feet (about 122 meters) vertically and horizontally, can swing at the rear end. is connected to. A turbine generator housing 931 is provided on the upper surface of the float group 925 in the seventh row, and power is transmitted from this housing 931 via a power line 933. At the rear end of the seventh row of floats 925, wires 90 are connected to two remotely operated winches 911 and 912 fixed to the seabed below the row.
It is moored via 7,908. The sea level is illustrated by dotted line 901. In this way, the float row is long and narrow. In actual use, the floats are pivotally connected to each other with a plurality of rows laterally adjacent to each other. The rows are all moored at their rear ends by winches, making them very stable and oriented in the direction of the waves. A sea anchor 929 is connected to a wire 927 at the front end of the float at the front of the row.
It is attached by. The purpose of the sea anchor is to ensure that the front end of the row is directly exposed to the wind. All of the floats in this example are connected to the non-linear water pressure pump mechanism as described above.
Any non-linear coupling means may be utilized to operably connect the array of floats to their respective hydraulic pumps. The array shown in Figure 9 can generate electricity very efficiently using waves with wavelengths between 100 and 400 feet. The turbine generator is installed inside a housing 931 on the float row 925 at the rear of the row to minimize output loss due to friction of water inside the penstock. Float 925 is considerably wider than a football field, making it easy to install a turbine generator on top. The purpose of winches 911 and 912 is to prepare the wire for the ebb and flow of the tide and to keep the float from being washed away even in heavy storms. Float row 903 in FIG. 9 has a width of approximately 400 feet (approximately 122 meters) and an overall length of approximately 1500 feet (approximately 457 meters). The height of the float in this example is 20 feet (approximately 6.1 meters). The float, which spans 10 miles (approximately 16 kilometers) and captures waves, requires 132 rows of units. Such a row would consist of 528 floats each 100 feet long and 128 feet long.
528 floats each measuring 100 feet (approx. 264 floats, 252 feet long (approximately 76.8
264 floats measuring 200 feet (approx. 61 meters) wide, 132 floats measuring 316 feet (approx. Requires 132 floats. Using a large number of identical floats can significantly reduce float manufacturing costs. A power generation system consisting of 132 horizontal units in the row shown in Figure 9 would require 264 subsea winches and 132 turbine generators. If a typical North Atlantic wave with a wave height of 5 to 15 feet (approximately 1.5 to 4.6 meters) and a wavelength of 100 to 300 feet (approximately 30.5 to 91.4 meters) hits the unit in the row shown in Figure 9, the wave will be 23.86. Generates megawatts of electricity. Of this, 19 megawatts will be converted into usable hydropower by the float.
If there is a 50% loss in the float and turbine generator 931, 9.5 megawatts of power will be lost on the way to the shore power grid via power line 933. A power generation unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention captures wave travel up to 10 miles wide. The waves were average size for waves in the North Atlantic (12 feet high (approximately 3.7 meters);
The wavelength is 200 feet (approximately 61 meters). The total energy of the waves entering the row of floats is 315 megawatts per mile (approximately 156 megawatts per kilometer), and the energy entering the entire 10-mile wide row is 3150 megawatts. Of this, 80%, or 2,520 megawatts, will be extracted as hydropower by a series of floats. The efficiency of the generator on the float is
At a very low 50%, 1260 MW would be generated. This exceeds the maximum output of the largest nuclear reactor currently in the United States. Utilities with large generation facilities collect a fee of 1.85 cents per kilowatt hour from the heavy industry industry. (Heuston Lighting)
and Power Company, December 1975). And as power companies are forced to use higher-priced fuels such as coal and uranium, charges are expected to rise even further in the next few years. Under the current pricing system, 1,200 megawatts costs $22,200 per hour. Although the power generation capacity of power plants will increase in the future, the current average
1260 megawatts, which will become the standard in a year's time. If such a generator were operated 23 hours a day, 360 days a year, it would produce the equivalent of $1.838 million in electricity per year. To produce this same amount of power would require a line of floats 52,800 feet (about 16,093 meters) long. This column can be manufactured for $10,000 per foot in length and has a total length of approximately
It costs $500 million. This is less than the cost of building a nuclear power plant of approximately the same output. The basic cost per kilowatt of the generator according to the invention is approximately
(The current construction cost of a nuclear power plant is about $900/kilowatt). The generator according to the present invention is inexpensive in that it does not require any fuel cost and can be used for more than 40 years. Also, the environmental impact is not as severe as that of regular or nuclear power plants. The use of rows of such floats creates a 10-mile-long (approximately 16 kilometers) long strip of calm water, which also serves as a floating breakwater.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a wave model. Second
The figure is a graph showing the total energy of waves with constant wave height and wavelength. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of part of a row of floats according to the invention with a hydraulic accumulator and a generator. 4 is a schematic plan view of the row of floats shown in FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIG. 4, showing the structure of the water pressure pump. FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the mutual relationship between a part of the row of floats shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and a hydraulic pump. FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example of the water pressure pump in relation to two floats.
FIG. 8 is a similar side view of the hydraulic pump shown in FIG. 7 in a calm wave condition; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a row of floats forming a unit of a power generation system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 30,903...Float column, 32,34,3
6,38,701,707,913,925...
Float, 52, 54... Prism surface, 40, 5
6, 66...Hydraulic piping, 58, 64, 76, 78
... Valve, 60, 62, 72, 74 ... Elastic pump tube, 82, 86 ... Accumulator, 10
0...Turbine generator, 709...Single acting cylinder, 715...Piston rod, 717...Sector plate.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An array of floats for energy collection for extracting energy as hydraulic power from the movement of waves whose wavelength and wave height fluctuate, which comprises: (A) a float at the end moored to a fixed object; It consists of a plurality of floats connected in a straight line in the same direction as the wave propagation from the float at the end, and each of these floats is a three-dimensional rigid body with a density that allows it to float in response to the wave motion. (B) At least one row of floats having a contour and floating in one layer on the water; (B) A group of floats arranged so that adjacent pairs of floats are oscillated non-linearly relative to each other in a V-shape up and down in response to wave motion. (C) A direct connection mechanism using a horizontal pivot that connects the ends of each float adjacent to each other in the vertical direction at approximately the center of the floats; A wave energy collection system comprising a hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism that is pressure-moved by the horizontal distance change between specific points of the front and rear floats due to the movement, and that non-linearly increases the amount of work extracted as the swing angle increases. Expropriation float column. 2. Said floats are of various sizes, the rear end of each float being connected in sequence to the front end of a float of larger size, and the entire row of floats being arranged with the float of the smallest size facing approximately in the direction of incoming waves. 2. The row of floats according to claim 1, wherein the rear end of the largest float located at the frontmost position is moored to the fixed object. 3. In order for the group of floats to swing efficiently according to various wavelengths of waves, as the length of the float goes backwards, it becomes shorter than the length of the immediately preceding float ^.
The float array according to claim 2, which is regularly enlarged by a factor equal to √ (where i and n are integers greater than 1). 4. Claim 3, wherein the planar shape of the float with the minimum dimension is a square, and the magnification is ^3√2 .
Float column as described in section. 5. The entire width of the float row is constant, an even number of small width floats are arranged in parallel in the front row, and the float width is doubled in some places toward the rear, and the number of parallel floats is halved. The float string according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 4. 6 All of the floats other than the frontmost float have a prism surface with vertical slopes on the front surface, and the ridgeline of this prism surface is substantially parallel to the horizontal surface, and the rear surface of the float located just in front of it has a prism surface with slopes on the top and bottom. The front and rear floats are pivotally connected to each other in this part near the center in the vertical direction, and the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism has an elastic tube, and this tube is close to at least one of the prism surfaces, and the front and rear floats are connected to each other. When each float pair swings in a V-shape due to wave motion, the tube is sandwiched between the float pairs and changes its cross section, and in cooperation with the check valve in the pumping mechanism, the hydraulic fluid in the tube is pumped intermittently. 2. A float array according to claim 2, which is configured to do so. 7 At least two of the floats before and after
is linked to at least one piston cylinder as the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism, and the piston cylinder is operatively connected to an engaging member that moves the piston rod in response to non-linear relative rocking between the two floats. Float arrays according to claim 2, which are connected together. 8. The piston cylinder is a single-acting cylinder fixed to the side surface of one float in the front-rear direction, and the piston rod has a fan-shaped plate fixed almost vertically to the outer end, and an upper part protruding from the side surface of the other float. 8. The float array according to claim 7, wherein the pin and the lower pin engage with the arcuate edge of the fan-shaped plate to operate the cylinder and pump hydraulic fluid in response to relative rocking of the two front and rear floats. 9 The length of the float in its smallest dimension is approximately 50 to 100 feet (approximately 15.2 to 30.5 meters) and the length of the float in its largest dimension is approximately 200 to 400 feet (approximately 61 to 30 meters).
122 meters). 10 An array of energy collection floats for extracting energy as hydraulic power from movements that vary in wavelength and wave height, in which a plurality of floats of various sizes float in one layer on the water, and each float reacts to wave motion. A float with a density that can oscillate in response to the waves, a three-dimensional rigid outline, and a length approximately half of the minimum wavelength from which energy should be extracted is placed at the forefront, facing approximately in the direction in which the waves are approaching. Similarly, a float with a length approximately half the maximum wavelength is placed at the rear and this float is moored to a fixed object, and the floats placed in the middle become longer as they go rearward. A horizontal structure in which the adjacent ends of the front and rear floats are connected at approximately the center in the vertical direction so that each pair of adjacent floats can swing relative to each other in a V-shape up and down according to the wave motion. A hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism that is directly connected by a pivot connection mechanism, and is provided between each pair of adjacent floats, and is pressurized by horizontal distance fluctuations between specific points of the front and rear floats due to vertical V-shaped relative rocking. A wave energy collection system is characterized in that the hydraulic fluid piping is connected to an accumulator at a higher place via a predetermined valve in order to store the energy extracted from the waves for use as hydraulic power. Expropriation float column. 11 All of the floats other than the frontmost float have a prism surface with vertical slopes on the front surface, and the ridgeline of this prism surface is substantially parallel to the horizontal surface, and the rear surface of the float located just in front of it has a prism surface with slopes on the top and bottom. The front and rear floats are pivotally connected to each other in this part near the center in the vertical direction, and the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism has an elastic tube, and this tube is close to at least one of the prism surfaces, and the front and rear floats are connected to each other. When each float pair swings in a V-shape due to wave motion, the tube is sandwiched between the float pairs and changes its cross section, and in cooperation with the check valve in the pumping mechanism, the hydraulic fluid in the tube is pumped intermittently. 11. A float array as claimed in claim 10, configured to do so. 12 In order for the float row to be able to swing efficiently in response to various wavelengths of waves, the length of the floats increases as the length of the floats goes toward the rear, the length of the floats immediately before the floats increases.
^3. The float array according to claim 11, which is regularly enlarged by a factor approximately equal to √2. 13 The float row consists of a large number of floats of different lengths arranged in the front and rear directions, and an appropriate number of floats of the same length arranged in parallel in the left and right directions, so that the floats are reflected without being absorbed by a single float. 12. The float array according to claim 11, wherein the wave energy transmitted through the waves is collected by a plurality of adjacent floats and utilized to the fullest. 14 A wave power generation device that extracts energy as hydraulic power from the movement of waves whose wavelength and wave height fluctuate and uses that hydraulic power to generate electricity, which includes: (A) a float at the end moored to a fixed object; It consists of a plurality of floats connected in a straight line in the same direction as the wave propagation, and each of these floats has a density that allows it to float according to the wave motion and has a three-dimensional rigid body outline. (B) At least one row of floats floating in one layer on the water; (B) A pair of adjacent floats are moved back and forth so as to non-linearly swing relative to each other in a V-shape up and down in response to wave motion. (C) A direct connection mechanism using a horizontal pivot that connects the ends of adjacent floats at approximately the center in the vertical direction; The float array for collecting wave energy is equipped with a hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism that is pressure-moved by horizontal distance fluctuations between specific points of the front and rear floats and greatly increases the amount of work taken out as the swing angle increases, A wave power generation device characterized in that hydraulic power pumped by a hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism is accumulated in an accumulator at a high place, and a turbine generator is operated by the hydraulic power. 15 Said floats are of various sizes, the rear end of each float being connected in sequence to the front end of a float of larger size, and the entire row of floats having the smallest size float oriented approximately in the direction of the incoming wave. 15. The wave power generation device according to claim 14, wherein the rear end of the largest-sized float located at the frontmost position is moored to the fixed object. 16 In order for the group of floats to be able to swing efficiently in response to various wavelengths of waves, the length of the floats increases as the length of the floats goes towards the rear, the length of the floats immediately before the floats increases.
The wave power generation device according to claim 15, wherein the wave power generation device is regularly enlarged by a factor equal to ⁿ √ (where i and n are integers greater than 1). 17. The wave power generation device according to claim 16, wherein the minimum dimension of the float is square in plan, and the magnification is ^3√2 . 18 All of the floats other than the frontmost float have a prism surface with vertical slopes on the front surface, and the ridge line of this prism surface is substantially parallel to the horizontal surface, and the rear surface of the float located just in front of it has a prism surface with slopes on the top and bottom. The front and rear floats are pivotally connected to each other in this part near the center in the vertical direction, and the hydraulic fluid pumping mechanism has an elastic tube, and this tube is close to at least one of the prism surfaces, and the front and rear floats are connected to each other. When each float pair swings in a V-shape due to wave motion, the tube is sandwiched between the float pairs and changes its cross section, and in cooperation with the check valve in the pumping mechanism, the hydraulic fluid in the tube is pumped intermittently. The wave power generation device according to claim 15, which is configured to. 19 At least two floats at the front and rear of the plurality of floats serve as the hydraulic fluid pressure feeding mechanism.
Claim 15, wherein the piston cylinder is operatively connected to an engagement member that moves the piston rod in response to non-linear relative rocking between the two floats. The wave power generation device described in . 20 The piston cylinder is a single-acting cylinder fixed to the side surface of one float in the front-rear direction,
The piston rod has a fan-shaped plate fixed almost vertically to its outer end, and the upper and lower pins protruding from the side of the other float engage with the arcuate edges of the fan-shaped plate, and the two floats, front and rear, are The wave power generation device according to claim 19, wherein the cylinder is actuated in accordance with the rocking motion to forcefully feed the hydraulic fluid. 21 The length of the float at its smallest dimension is approximately 50 to 100 feet (approximately 15.2 to 30.5 meters) and the length of the float at its largest dimension is approximately 200 to 400 feet (approximately 61 meters).
~122 meters). 22. The wave power generation device according to claim 15, wherein the turbine generator is installed on a maximum size float.