JPS6321835B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a shore-fixed type wave energy conversion device for converting the energy of waves generated in the sea or the like into air energy and extracting power, heat, etc.

A conventional device of this type is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a breakwater or quay, 2 is the seabed (water depth of about 10m to 20m), and 3 is a solid main chamber firmly fixed to the breakwater or quay 1 and the seabed 2 (for example, 10m wide and 5m to 6m deep). It has a water inlet 4 at the lower part on the wave receiving side for letting seawater in and out, and a vent 5 at the top part for letting air in and out. Reference numeral 6 denotes an air duct having one end connected to the vent 5 of the main chamber 3 and having a flow passage cross-sectional area much narrower (for example, 50:1) than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the main chamber 3, and the other end is connected to the atmosphere. It is open inside. 7 is an air turbine installed in the air duct 6;
is a generator connected to an air turbine 7.

Next, the operation will be explained. When the waves 9 rush onto the front surface of the main chamber 3, seawater flows into the main chamber 3 from the water inlet 4, causing the sea level 10 inside the main chamber 3 to rise, and conversely, when the waves 9 recede, the water inlet 4
Since the seawater in the main chamber 3 flows out and the sea level 10 in the main chamber 3 falls, the sea level 10 in the main chamber 3 is displaced up and down each time a wave 9 rises and recedes. Due to this displacement of sea level 10, sea level 10
Since the air in the space inside the upper main chamber 3 is repeatedly compressed and expanded, an air flow is generated in the air duct 6. This air flow drives an air turbine 7 within the air duct 6, so that a generator 8 connected to the air turbine 7 generates electricity. At this time, the air flow in the air duct 6 is a reciprocating flow, so when using a normal air turbine, it is necessary to provide a rectifying mechanism so that the air flow in the turbine section is unidirectional. However, if a special air turbine is used that always rotates in the same direction even during reciprocating air flow, a flow straightening mechanism is unnecessary. Therefore, in the following details, in order to simplify the explanation, a case will be described in which a special air turbine that does not require a rectifying mechanism is used.

Since the conventional wave energy conversion device is configured as described above, if a wave with an abnormally high wave height (hereinafter referred to as a large wave) reaches this device and the highest sea level in the main chamber 3 rises abnormally, The air velocity in the air duct 6 increases significantly, causing the rotation of the air turbine 7 and the generator 8 to become abnormally high, which may even lead to damage to the air turbine 7 and the generator 8.
Also, there were drawbacks such as seawater entering the generator 8.

The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional device described above, in which a sub-chamber having an upper opening and a lower opening is fixed to the upper part of the wave-receiving side of the main chamber, and the upper opening is located at the other end of the air duct. By connecting the lower opening to the main chamber and locating it above the water inlet of the main chamber so that it is sealed by water only during waves of abnormal wave height, the air flow path is sealed during large waves. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly safe wave energy conversion device that can prevent an excessive increase in the air flow rate in an air duct.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a subchamber smaller than the main chamber 3 that is firmly fixed to the upper part of the wave receiving side of the main chamber 3.
A lower opening 12 is provided above the water inlet 4 of the main chamber 3 and is not immersed in seawater at normal wave height, and an upper opening is connected to the other end of the air duct 6. 14. In addition, the wave-receiving front surface of the sub-chamber 11 is inclined in the direction of wave propagation in order to weaken the wave force applied to the sub-chamber 11 when a large wave is received, and a large number of wave-dissipating protrusions 13 are added to the inclined surface. It has been done.

Next, the operation will be explained. When waves of a normal wave height surge, the lower opening 12 of the auxiliary chamber 11 does not come into contact with seawater, so air enters and exits through the lower opening 12, and the device operates in the same manner as the conventional device described above. Next, when large waves come in waves 15, 16, 17, the sea level directly below the subchamber 11 becomes 18, 1, just like the sea level in the main chamber 3.
It goes up like 9, 20. At this time, when the sea level reaches position 19, the lower opening 12 of the secondary chamber 11 is closed, so the flow rate of air flowing into the air duct 6 from the main chamber 3 is restricted, and therefore the air flow rate passing through the air turbine 7 does not increase excessively and the air turbine 7 does not reach overspeed.
Furthermore, even when the sea level inside the main chamber 3 falls due to receding large waves, the flow rate of air flowing into the main chamber 3 from the air duct 6 is restricted while the lower opening 12 of the sub-chamber 11 is closed by seawater. Therefore, over-rotation of the air turbine 7 does not occur. In this way, when the lower opening 12 of the sub chamber 11 is closed by seawater during a large wave, an air chamber is formed in the air duct 6 and in the upper part of both chambers 3 and 11, so that the air turbine 7 and power generation There is no chance that Aircraft 8 will be submerged in seawater.

In addition, during large waves, seawater runs up the slope of the subchamber 11 to which the wave-dissipating protrusion 13 is added, consuming a considerable portion of the wave energy during that time, so that excessive wave energy does not reach the main chamber 3. Furthermore, the force of the waves applied to the device is also reduced, making the device safer.

In the above embodiment, the front surface of the subchamber 11 on the wave receiving side is inclined toward the direction of wave propagation, but it may be provided vertically, and the wave-dissipating protrusion 13 on the inclined surface is not necessarily provided. do not have. Furthermore, the reason why the auxiliary chamber 11 is made smaller than the main chamber 3 is because the auxiliary chamber 11 is completely unnecessary in normal times and is used very rarely, so it is economical.

As described above, the present invention fixes a sub chamber having an upper opening and a lower opening to the upper part of the wave receiving side of the main chamber, and the upper opening is connected to the other end of the air duct, and the lower opening is the water inlet of the main chamber. This structure is located above the water so that it is sealed by water only during waves of abnormal wave height, which can cause damage to the air turbine and generator due to overspeeding, and damage to the air turbine and generator due to water intrusion. This has the effect of preventing failures and providing a wave energy conversion device that is highly safe and reliable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical side view showing a conventional device, and FIG. 2 is a vertical side view showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention.
Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts. 1 is a breakwater or quay, 2 is a seabed, 3 is a main chamber, 4 is a water inlet, 5 is a vent, 6 is an air duct, 7 is an air turbine, 8 is a generator, 9 is a wave,
10 is the sea surface, 11 is the subchamber, 12 is the lower opening, 13 is the wave-dissipating protrusion, 14 is the upper opening, 15,1
6 and 17 are large waves, and 18, 19, and 20 are the sea surface directly below the subchamber 11.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A main chamber having a water inlet at the lower part of the wave receiving side and a vent at the upper part, an air duct whose one end is connected to the vent of the main chamber, and a main chamber provided in the air duct. a wave energy converter comprising an air turbine having an upper opening and a lower opening, the air turbine being driven by an air flow generated within the air duct due to fluctuations in water level within the main chamber; A secondary chamber having a sub-chamber is fixed to the upper part of the wave receiving side of the main chamber, and its upper opening is connected to the other end side of the air duct, and its lower opening is located above the water inlet of the main chamber to prevent abnormal wave height. A wave energy conversion device characterized in that it is sealed by water only when there are waves. 2. The wave energy conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary chamber is smaller than the main chamber. 3. The wave energy conversion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wave-receiving side front surface of the sub-chamber is inclined toward the wave traveling direction. 4. The wave energy conversion device according to claim 3, wherein a large number of wave-dissipating protrusions are provided on the inclined surface of the front surface of the wave receiving side of the sub-chamber.