JPS6343581B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a shore-fixed wave energy conversion device for converting ocean wave energy into air energy and extracting power, heat, and the like.

A conventional device of this type is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a breakwater or quay, 2 is a chamber firmly fixed to this breakwater 1,
Underwater opening 1 for introducing air energy
3a and an upper opening 13b through which air in the chamber interior space 9 enters and exits. Reference numeral 3 denotes a duct connected to the opening 13b for guiding the air, and houses an air turbine 4 and a generator 5 inside, and at the end 6 of the duct, the inside of the chamber and the space inside the duct are opened to the atmosphere. . 10 is duct 3
A frame 7 for fixing to the breakwater 1 is on the seabed.

Next, the operation will be explained. When waves 8 advance into the chamber 2 one after another in the direction of arrow A, and the sea surface repeats vertical movement in the direction of arrow D just before the chamber 2, the force of the waves passes through the opening 13a and flows into the seawater inside the chamber. As a result, the water surface inside the chamber vibrates between the highest position 11 and the lowest position 12 in the direction of arrow B. Along with this, the air in the chamber interior space 9 is compressed and expanded, so the upper opening 13b
Through the duct 3 connected to the arrow C at its tip 6
Atmospheric movement occurs in the direction of . The turbine 4 connected to the generator 5 due to the airflow in the duct at this time
rotates to generate electricity. In this case, the air flow in the duct is a reciprocating flow, so it is common to install a rectifier valve in the duct so that the flow is unidirectional in the turbine section, but even in the reciprocating air flow, it is always unidirectional. If a special turbine is used that rotates at

Conventional wave energy conversion devices are configured as described above, so when an abnormally large wave reaches the conversion device, the highest position of the water surface inside the chamber rises significantly, which increases the air flow rate passing through the turbine. However, the turbine and generator overspeed to the point of damage. In addition, the air pressure inside the chamber may become high enough to cause damage to the chamber.
Furthermore, there were other drawbacks such as seawater intrusion into the turbine and generator sections.

This invention was made in order to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional ones as described above, and includes a sub-chamber in the front part (wave receiving side) of the chamber that can absorb a part of the wave energy only during abnormally large waves. The object of the present invention is to provide a wave energy conversion device that prevents the energy of abnormally large waves from directly reaching the chamber (main chamber).

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2, 16 is a sub-chamber attached to the front part of the main chamber 2, the front outer wall of which is tilted to soften the wave force applied to the sub-chamber 16 when it receives a large wave. Further, a large number of wave-dissipating protrusions 17 are provided on its surface. Reference numeral 19 denotes an upper opening provided in the sub-chamber 16, through which air in the sub-chamber enters and exits. In addition, this sub-chamber is provided at a height that does not come into contact with seawater in the case of waves of normal wave height. The rest of the structure is the same as that of the conventional one shown in FIG. 1, so the explanation will be omitted.

Next, its operation will be explained. When there are waves of normal wave height, the subchamber 16 does not come in contact with seawater at all and does not perform any operation. However, when an abnormally large wave like 15 in the figure advances, the lower part of the subchamber does not move. Immersed in seawater, the water surface in the sub-chamber moves up and down in the same way as the water surface in the main chamber 2, and the sub-chamber internal space 18
The air is repeatedly compressed and expanded, and the opening 19
An air flow in the direction of arrow E occurs at . In this process, the wave energy of the abnormally large wave that has progressed is partially consumed, and the wave energy of the abnormally large wave is also consumed as the abnormally large wave runs up the outer front part of the subchamber having the wave-dissipating protrusion 17. Partly consumed. Therefore, the wave energy of the abnormally large wave that enters the main chamber 2 is considerably weakened, and the highest water level 14 in the main chamber at the time of this large wave does not become abnormally high. Intrusion of seawater into the chamber 2 and abnormal pressure increase of the air inside the chamber 2 can be prevented.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the opening 19, which is the escape port for the air in the subchamber 16, is connected to the subchamber 1.
6, the opening 20 may be provided at the front of the subchamber as shown in FIG. in this case,
The air flows in the direction of arrow F and consumes a considerable portion of the wave energy of the abnormally large wave. Particularly when this air flows outward, a high-speed air stream is blown onto the advancing waves, so the above energy consumption is effectively carried out. In addition, if a movable lid 21 that opens at a predetermined air pressure is provided at the upper part of the subchamber, excessive pressure rise of the air 18 in the subchamber can be prevented.

Further, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front part of the subchamber is inclined, but it may be made perpendicular to the horizontal plane. However, in this case, the wave force applied to the front part of the subchamber is greater than when it is tilted.
Further, although a generator is used in these examples, other power converters such as a pump may be used instead.

As described above, according to the present invention, a sub-chamber is attached to the front part of the main chamber at a position where it operates only when an abnormally large wave occurs, and a part of the wave energy of the abnormally large wave is consumed by this sub-chamber and its outer surface. This structure prevents damage to the turbine and generator due to overspeeding due to an increase in the airflow velocity passing through the turbine, damage to the chamber due to an excessive rise in air pressure in the main chamber, and damage to the turbine and generator due to seawater intrusion into the turbine and generator. Since malfunction of the generator can be prevented, there is an effect that a wave energy conversion device with high safety and reliability can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a conventional wave energy conversion device, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing another embodiment of the present invention. be. In the figure, 1 is a breakwater or quay, 2 is a chamber (main chamber), 3 is a duct, 4 is an air turbine, 5 is a generator, 16 is a sub-chamber, 17 is a wave-dissipating projection, 19 is an upper opening of the sub-chamber, 20 is a front opening of the subchamber, and 21 is a movable lid.
In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a wave energy conversion device that converts wave energy into air energy and extracts power using a chamber fixed to a breakwater or quay, etc., the wave receiving side of the chamber is provided with a wave of a normal wave height. A wave force characterized by having a sub-chamber located at a position that does not operate in the case of waves but only operates in the case of large waves of abnormal wave height, and the sub-chamber consumes a considerable portion of the wave energy of the large waves. Energy conversion device. 2. The wave energy conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the subchamber is sloped. 3. The wave energy conversion device according to claim 2, wherein a wave-dissipating protrusion is provided on the outer wall of the subchamber. 4. The wave energy conversion device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an opening is provided in the upper part of the subchamber. 5. The wave energy conversion device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening is provided in the outer wall of the subchamber. 6. The wave energy conversion device according to claim 5, wherein a movable lid is provided on the upper part of the subchamber.