JPS6365825B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a wave energy absorption and conversion device,
In particular, it converts the energy contained in ocean waves into compressed air and stores it, which can be used for power generation, etc.

(Prior Art) In recent years, from the viewpoint of developing and securing energy resources, there has been a call for the use of natural energy, and in addition to wind power, wave power has also been considered for use, and research and development is being conducted on its application to, for example, power generation.

Waves also occur in rivers and lakes, but because their energy content is low, waves in the ocean are generally used.

Currently, wave power utilization equipment that is being researched and developed for practical use includes power generation equipment, which consists of a flat-bottom boat-shaped station anchored in the ocean, with an air chamber formed at the bottom of the station. The idea is to compress and expand the air by the action of waves to create an airflow, and use this airflow to directly drive an air turbine generator.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the case of the above-mentioned ship-type power generation station according to the prior art, it is necessary to anchor it on the ocean, and therefore power transmission must be carried out by laying a submarine cable. This is inconvenient, and the use of wave power in this case utilizes the difference in potential energy of seawater between high waves and low waves, so in order to increase usage efficiency, it is necessary to install a power generation station in an area with rough waves. The problem is that there are restrictions on

(Means and actions for solving the problem) Although it depends on the slope shape of the seabed, in general, the difference in height of waves increases as the wave approaches the coast.

Therefore, the present invention is basically to be installed in a coastal area, thereby solving the problems related to power transmission and the problems related to restrictions on installation locations all at once.

The waves that hit the coast can be extremely calm or extremely strong, like high waves, and the tide level can also change significantly over time. Therefore, as a device that absorbs the energy of waves and converts it into other usable energy in coastal areas where there are many changes, it must first be able to respond to changes in the tide level. , secondly, in the case of calm waves, it can be enhanced to increase utilization efficiency, and thirdly, measures to protect the equipment in the case of excessive waves such as high waves are taken. There are challenges.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems and problems can be solved by providing a float that is vertically guided and moves up and down depending on the tide level, a piston-cylinder device that is attached to the float and is operated by waves, and a piston-cylinder device that is attached to the float and is operated by waves. An air accumulator that accumulates compressed air generated by the operation of a cylinder device, an energy generator that is connected to the air accumulator and uses the compressed air from the air accumulator as a driving source, and is installed on the seabed. and a diffuser pipe connected to the air accumulator, and the piston-cylinder device is provided with a wave energy reinforcement absorbing member, and the wave energy is removed from the air accumulator in the event of high seas. The problem is solved by a wave energy absorption and conversion device characterized in that a part of the compressed air is sent to the air diffuser and the air bubbles suppress high waves.

In the device according to the present invention, the wave energy enhancing/absorbing member is a waveform converting member that changes a sinusoidal wave into a triangular wave, and includes a first guiding path having a steep upward inclination and a first guiding path having a relatively gentle upward inclination. a second guideway having a substantially gutter-like cross section; and a third guideway having a steep upward slope, tapered tubular, and having a free end communicating with the cylinder of the piston-cylinder device. It is advantageous to do so.

In the device of the present invention, the energy generating device connected to the air accumulator can be an air turbine generator.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the device of the present invention, waves are changed from a gentle sine waveform to a triangular waveform, and the energy is concentrated and enhanced, and then acts on the piston-cylinder device,
Stored in an air accumulator in the form of compressed air,
The compressed air stored in this air accumulator is sent to an energy generating device, such as a power generator with an air turbine, and converted into usable energy.On the other hand, in times of high seas, etc., the compressed air is stored in the air accumulator. A portion of the compressed air is released into the sea through a diffuser pipe laid on the seabed, and the resulting air bubbles suppress and dissipate high waves.Furthermore, the piston-cylinder device is attached to the float, so that it can react to changes in the tide level. It has the effect of being able to operate stably at all times, effectively absorbing the energy of waves and converting it into usable energy, regardless of the type of waves or tide level. .

According to the device according to the present invention, compressed air is released from the diffuser pipe during high waves to suppress and dissipate high waves, but this has the added benefit of protecting the device equipment exposed to waves and improving durability. It brings about the following effects.

(Example) Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a wave energy absorption/conversion device 10 according to the present invention is installed in a coastal area, using a quay wall if necessary. This device 10
A station 12 is placed on the base 1 formed on the seabed SB.
It is supported by pillars 16 erected at 4.

An air accumulator 18 is arranged above the station 12, and this air accumulator 18 supplies compressed air to the generator ₂ via a valve V1.
0 air turbine (not shown) to drive it, and if necessary, compressed air is sent to the diffuser pipes P ₁ , P ₂ , through the main valve V ₂ and auxiliary valves V ₃ , V ₄ .
P ₃ is sent to eject air bubbles into the sea. These air diffusers are laid on the seabed and have a well-known effect, which is to weaken wave energy.In the present invention, air bubbles are ejected during high waves to suppress or dissipate these high waves, thereby protecting the entire facility. It fulfills its role. In this embodiment, the diffuser pipe consists of three pipes in total: two pipes P ₁ and P ₂ connected via valve V ₃ and one pipe P ₃ connected via valve V ₄ . It should be noted that the number of installed pipes and the type of aeration are arbitrary. However, in order to reasonably suppress high waves, these diffuser pipes should be installed at the station 12 as shown in the diagram.
It is preferable to arrange it in the longitudinal direction of and parallel to this.

Beneath the station 12, as is particularly clearly shown in FIG. ing. This wave energy enhancement absorption member 24 is
It has a special shape as will be described later in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4, and constitutes the most important component of the device of the present invention, and is a component that is protected by waves that rush toward it. It plays a role of concentrating and intensifying the energy that is present and applying it to the piston 223 of the piston-cylinder device 22. A pipe 225 provided at the upper part of the cylinder 221 of the piston-cylinder device 22 is an intake pipe with a check valve.
7 is an exhaust pipe with a check valve, through which air compressed within the cylinder is sent to the air accumulator 18 via piping 26 when the piston rises due to the action of approaching waves (the state shown in Fig. 2). On the other hand, when the wave recedes, seawater flows out from inside the device 24, so the inside of the cylinder 221 at the bottom of the piston 223 becomes a negative pressure state, and the piston 22
3 is suctioned down, and in conjunction with this, air flows into the cylinder 221 from the intake pipe 225.

In the piping 26, a pipe 261 provided in the longitudinal direction of the station 12 is a common pipe commonly connected to a plurality of piston-cylinder devices 22 (see Fig. 1). The compressed air generated by the operation of the piston-cylinder device 22 is sent to the air accumulator 18. A check valve V ₅ (FIG. 1) is provided on the air accumulator 18 side of the piping 26 to prevent compressed air from flowing back from the air accumulator 18 to the piping 26.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the wave energy enhancing and absorbing member 24 moves up and down according to the tide level, and is always positioned at an appropriate height level with respect to the waves. . According to this embodiment, the cylinder 221 of the piston-cylinder arrangement 22, on which this element 24 is attached, is attached via an attachment element 30 to a bearing element 28, which has a float 281 in its lower part;
8 is a guide tube 3 adjacent to the station support column 16;
It is inserted into the guide tube 2 and is configured to move up and down within the guide tube depending on the tide level. However, a guide member for the support member 28 (not shown, which can also be a plurality of support rings provided in the vertical direction) is directly attached to the station support column 16, thereby controlling the arrangement of the guide tube 32. can also be omitted.
Wave energy enhancement absorption member 2 caused by tidal level changes
In order to further smooth the vertical movement of the member 24, guide members may be provided at both edges in the width direction of the member 24. This guide member can be configured as an auxiliary column 34 connecting the station 12 and the base 14, as shown in FIG. 2 (see also FIG. 3).

Next, the shape and structure of the wave energy enhancement/absorption member 24 will be explained.

The side profile of this member 24 is as shown in FIG. There is. 3rd and 4th
As shown in the figure, the planar shape and the cross-sectional shape of each part, this member 24 has a substantially paddle-like shape in the plane, and its free end has a gutter-like shape (FIG. 4A). The bottom is curved upward (Figure 2)
It forms a first guideway 241 that can receive waves having a sinusoidal waveform, and the middle part has a gutter shape that is deeper than the first guideway 241 (Fig. 4B). The upward slope of the bottom surface is smaller than that of the first taxiway 241 (FIG. 2).
2. To prevent the dissipation of waves (seawater) guided by 1.
The distal end is tubular (FIG. 4C), tapered, and sharply upward (FIG. 2), forming a third guideway 245. ing. This third taxiway 245
As mentioned above, the seawater has a tapered shape and rises rapidly, so the seawater that rushes inside encounters severe resistance and increases the wave height, forming a so-called triangular wave shape, and the piston 223 of the piston-cylinder device 22.
It acts on In other words, the member 24 changes the waveform of the waves from a gentle sinusoidal waveform to a rough triangular waveform, concentrates the energy of the waves, and then applies this impactively to the piston 223. As a result, it plays the role of creating high-pressure air and sending it to the air accumulator 18.
Therefore, even if the waves guided to the first guiding path 241 are gentle, the wave energy absorption and conversion device 10 according to the present invention operates effectively.

Wave energy augmentation and absorption member 24 is attached to bearing member 28 via piston-cylinder arrangement 22 and attachment member 30, as described in connection with FIG.
1, and the member 24 is configured to move up and down according to the tide level. However, if the wave force received by the member 24 is excessive, the member 24 itself will float due to the rising force of this wave which is converted into a triangular wave by the member 24. As a result, the wave force will cause the piston of the piston-cylinder device 22 to rise. The force exerted on 221 may be weakened.

This inconvenience can be overcome by blocking this upward movement when the member 24 rises rapidly, and one example of a mechanism for this purpose is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 281 is a float having two concentrically arranged float elements 281A and 281B, the central float element 281A being a tube member, 282
It is attached to the lower end of the support member 28 via. A fastener 281C is erected at the upper end of the outer float element 281B, and the plate member 281C is attached to the fastener 281C.
1D is pivoted. One end of the plate member is pivotally supported by the tube member 282, and a brake shoe 281E is attached to the other end. The buoyancy of the central float element 281A is set to be smaller than the buoyancy of the outer float element 281B,
Therefore, normally, the state shown in FIG. 5 is exhibited, and when the wave energy enhancing/absorbing member 24 moves up and down, the entire float 281 moves up and down in response. However, if the member 24 rises rapidly, the support member 29, the pipe member 2
82, the central float element 281A rapidly rises, and its rising speed exceeds the rising speed due to the buoyancy of the outer float elements, so that the plate member 281D rotates, and the brake attached to the free end of the plate member 281D rotates. The shoe 281E comes into contact with the inner surface of the guide tube 32, thereby preventing the float 281 from rising, and by extension the wave energy enhancing and absorbing member 24 from rising.

In addition, the waves were too rough, like high waves.
If this is expected to cause damage to the equipment, as explained in connection with FIG _. High waves can be suppressed by ejecting air bubbles through at least one of _P2 and _P3 , and therefore the device according to the present invention can be installed anywhere on the coast without having to choose a specific location. Furthermore, if necessary, the basic structure on which the apparatus of the present invention is installed, that is, the station 12, its foundation 14, and the station support column 16 can be constructed in the bay to also serve as a breakwater.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing one embodiment of the wave energy absorption and conversion device according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the main parts of the device shown in the figure,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the wave energy absorption enhancing member, and FIG. 4 is a partially emphasized cross-sectional view of each part of the wave energy absorption enhancing member shown in FIG. 3. Drawings 4A and 4B
and Figure 4C are A-A and B-B in Figure 3, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing an example of a float configuration. 10...Wave energy absorption and conversion device, 12...
...Station, 16... (Station) Support, 18... Air accumulator, 20... Power generator, 22... Piston-cylinder device, 24...
...Wave energy absorption enhancing member, 241, 24
3,245...1st to 3rd taxiway, 28...Support member, 281...Float, _P1 , _P2 , _P3 ...Diffuser pipe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A float that is guided in the vertical direction and moves up and down according to the tide level; a piston-cylinder device that is attached to the float and is operated by waves;
an air accumulator that stores compressed air generated by the operation of the piston-cylinder device; an energy generator that is connected to the air accumulator and uses the compressed air from the air accumulator as a driving source; It is equipped with an air diffuser installed on the seabed and connected to the air accumulator, and the piston-cylinder device is provided with a wave energy reinforcement absorption member, and the air atomizer is installed on the seabed and connected to the air accumulator. A wave energy absorption/conversion device characterized in that a portion of the compressed air is sent from the humulator to the air diffuser and the air bubbles suppress high waves. 2. The wave energy enhancement/absorption member is a waveform converting member that converts a sinusoidal wave into a triangular wave, and has a first guideway with a steep upward slope and a cross section that is almost a gutter with a relatively gentle upward slope. characterized by comprising a second guideway in the form of a groove and a third guideway having a steep upward slope, the third guideway being tapered and tubular, the free end of which communicates with the cylinder of the piston-cylinder device. A wave energy absorption and conversion device according to claim 1. 3. The wave energy absorption and conversion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the energy generating device connected to the air accumulator is an air turbine generator.