WO2011042915A2

WO2011042915A2 - Shoal anchoring marine-wave power absorption and delivery apparatus and the method

Info

Publication number: WO2011042915A2
Application number: PCT/IN2010/000083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shriram Gopal Kanitkar
Original assignee: Enviro Abrasion Resistant Engineers Pvt. Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-10-07
Filing date: 2010-02-11
Publication date: 2011-04-14
Also published as: WO2011042915A3

Abstract

The device is an installation in the shallow ocean or deep sea, which continuously generates electricity using wave power. The installation includes, a swivel anchor, a rope drive holding power absorber assembly including a float and balance weight. The float, by interaction with ocean wave travels in elliptical orbit. The motion between float and balance weight is translated in unidirectional rotary motion using rope drive, power take-off roller and mono-directional output gearbox. Power Delivery Assembly situated on top of the power absorber generates, stores and delivers electricity, to installations on shore. This stand alone, unitary, portable apparatus provides electricity to installations along the sea shore or to the grid. Cost of electricity generated by this apparatus is comparable with conventionally produced electricity and much cheaper than solar or wind generated electricity.

Description

"SHOAL ANCHORING MARINE- WAVE POWER ABSORPTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS AND THE METHOD"

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to shoal anchoring, Marine-wave power absorption and delivery apparatus and the method. It more particularly relates to an installation of an apparatus, which absorbs the kinetic and potential energy of an aquatic wave and delivers the same in the form of electric or hydraulic energy, when installed in the ocean.

BACKGROUND ART

Out of various forms of non conventional, renewable energy resources available on Earth, energy stored in the aquatic waves generated in large body of water is considered as one of the promising source of energy supply to cater to the needs of humankind in the future. The aquatic waves are generated mainly due to the wind blowing are the surface of a water body. During the interaction of wind and water surface, the energy stored in wind is transferred to water surface creating waves. Thus the energy stored in a wave is mainly concentrated near the water surface, in the form of the, momentum of water particle spinning in a circular path. The waves so generated turns towards the shore, where it ultimately breaks and disposes of the entire energy stored in it.

The various wave power extraction devices are design to extract this wave power while it travels along the device at a point or during a period of infraction or by obstructing the wave travel by the device. Some of the advantages in harnessing wave power are a) it is continuous b) it is non- polluting c) it has higher energy density than solar and wind power. Some of the challenges it poses are a) Large variation in energy density b) corrosive atmosphere c) high cost of installation and maintenance.

The prior art world over and including India is replete with attempts to convert the wave energy in to some useful form of energy by employing various methods and placing the apparatus mainly in deep sea or near shore or on the shore. None of the apparatuses and methods of he prior art are commercially successful and gainfully utilized till date, may be mainly due to the complexity of design, high installation and maintenance costs and ability to withstand extreme energy levels during rough weather conditions. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a shallow water, anchorable installation which converts the kinetic and potential energy stored in a marine wave in to some other useful form of energy like electricity, hydraulic, mechanical etc. at all different marine environments. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sea wave energy conversion system, with lowest possible cost, suitable to any shoreline topography, which by virtue of its modular design in simple to install, maintain and remove to another place if necessary.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of the gearbox converting the bidirectional rotary motion in to unidirectional rotary motion, enhancing the energy output and reduction in cost and provision of a float and the radar combination to capture the wave energy on and just below the surface of water.

Further object of the present invention is the provision of differential movement balance weight system attached to the float causing relative differential movement between float and balance weight generating mechanical energy, enabling the apparatus to be anchored in a shoal.

One more object of the present invention is the provision of auto aligning system, which automatically orients the apparatus towards the direction of wave travel positioning it to receive maximum energy of a wave front.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a unitary self- supporting, small sized system to the end user, through which electricity can be directly supplied to individual households, hotels, small industries which are located on seashore, at economically viable and affordable price.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Fig No.l presented, illustrates a schematic diagram of the typical installation of Shoal Anchored Marine-wave Power Absorption and Delivery Apparatus with respect to a Sea Shore (100), a Sea Bed of general topography (105) having highest water at highest of High Tide Level (110) and Lowest water level at Lowest of Low Tide Level (115). The Marine-waves carrying energy travel shoreward at certain interval continuously. The apparatus is installed by securing the swivel anchor (125) on sea bed (105) so as the plurality of Rope Drive (142) faces the Direction of Incoming Wave Travel (120) first, followed by the wave power absorber assembly (130).

The wave power absorber assembly (130) remains partially submerged in water, throughout the variation in water level from high-tide level (110) to Low Tide Level (115) and vice versa due to the Balance Weight (140) suspended at the bottom of the wave power absorber assembly (130). When the water is at its maximum level (110) the distance between the bottom of wave power absorber assembly (130) and the balance weight (140) is smallest (138). The electric power delivery assembly (135) is located on top of the wave power absorber assembly (130), which prevents its interaction with saline water.

Fig No.2 depicts the schematic diagram of the same installation as in Fig No.1 with water level reduced to the minimum at lowest of Low Tide Level (115). The wave power absorber assembly (130) is partially submerged in water as per earlier illustration. The distance between the balance weight (140) and bottom of the wave power absorption assembly (130) is largest distance (139) this change in the distance of balance weight (140) from wave power absorber assembly from maximum (139) to minimum (138) enables the wave power absorber assembly to store energy received from a typical marine-wave. As the incident marine-wave interacts with the float (127), the forces exerted, cause the float (127) to rise upwards and travel shore-wards causing the power take-off roller (128) to rotate and the balance weight (140) to move closer to the float due to the rope drive (142) one end of which is fixed at the swivel anchor (125) on the sea bed (105), the other end being tide to the balance weight (140) after passing over the float (127) and around the power take-off roller(128). As the incident wave passes over the apparatus, the float (127) comes to its original position due to the pull of balance weight (140). The balance weight (140) also returns to its original position away from float (127) and in the process cause the reverse rotation of the power take-off rotor (128). Every forward and reverse rotation of the power takeoff rotor (128) transfers energy to electric power delivery assembly (135), where it is conditioned, processed and delivered to network wiring (137).

During the entire cycle of high tide to low tide and back to high tide lasting about twelve hours, the average water level of the ocean near the shore keeps on chaining in the limits of highest of high tide level (110) and lowest of low tide level (115). The ocean waves carrying energy override the ocean surface and hence are known as surface waves. The rope drive (142) and balance weight (140) configuration connected between the float (127) and swivel anchor (125) facilitate the wave power absorber assembly (130) to stay put along the surface and in operation during the entire tide cycle by receiving the activating force from ocean waves and restraining reaction force from the swivel anchor (125). During the interaction of ocean wave, half of the force received is utilized in driving the power take-off rotor (128) for generation electricity and the remaining force is utilized in lifting the balance weight (140) towards the float (127). When the ocean power wave passes over, the lifted balance weight pulls the wave power absorber assembly (130) along with itself to original position driving once again the power take-off roller (128) in opposite direction to generate electricity. Thus during the interaction of each successive ocean power wave, the wave power absorber assembly (130) absorbs the wave energy and delivers it in two installments to the power take-off roller (128) for electricity generation.

A novel safety function is embebed in the present invention by the design of shape and size of the float (127). During storm or extra high sea conditions the waves rise above the highest of the high tide level (110). Under such circumstances additional volume of the float (127) gets submerged in water generating enough buoyancy to lift the swivel anchor, making the entire apparatus a floating body which automatically gets pushed toward the shore and settles itself at a safe height to prevent damage.

Fig No.3 shows the details of the swivel anchor (125) and its embodiments including anchor weight (123), swiveling link (124) and swivel mast (122). The anchor weight (123) rests on seabed (105) and provides restraining reaction force to the power absorber assembly (130). The swivel mast (122) floating under water close to the anchor weight (123) is connected to it through a swivel link (124), which allows the swivel mast to move in horizontal as well as vertical plane along the axes passing through swivel link (124). The movement of the swivel mast (122) is restricted to predesigned degree by two guy ropes (126) attached at the ends of anchor weight (123) and swivel mast (122). This constrained movement of the swivel mast (122) enables the wave power absorber assembly (130) to orient itself along the direction If incoming wave travel (120). One end of plurality of rope drives (142) is tide down to the swivel mast (122).

Fig No.4 schematically illustrates the construction, arrangement of embodiments and assembly in side view of the wave power absorber assembly (130). The frame work of the assembly encloses the float (127) which is the main element of wave power absorption process. On the shoreward side of the float (127) is a radar (131) which keeps the assembly (130) oriented to the direction of incoming wave travel. A balance weight (140) is suspended with help of set of pulleys (141) in array and rope drive (142) below the bottom of the assembly (130). The balance weight (140) keeps moving towards or away from the assembly (130) in upward or downward directions to the distance (138,139) depending upon the height of water from seabed (105). The framework of the assembly (130) also supports the electric power delivery assembly (135) an idle roller (129) and power take-off roller (128) which carry around them the rope drive (142). Due to buoyancy of float (127) and the thrust imposed by wave, the assembly (130) moves upwards and shoreward collecting energy from wave, causing rotation of the power take-off roller (128). Thus rotational power is transferred to electric power delivery assembly (135) via belt drive attached to power take-off roller (128).

Fig 5 explains schematically the structure, arrangement of embodiments and assembly in front view of the Electric Power Delivery Assembly (135), including mono-directional output gearbox (132), the electricity alternator (133) the battery bank (134) , the electronic inverting and converting control unit (136) and the electric power distribution network wiring (137). The ocean waves though occur continuously, they have a certain time gap between two occurrences. This phenomena makes the power supply from waves in the form of pulses, whereas the requirement of energy flow is continuous and analog for all practical purpose. As such, the pulsating energy supply of the waves has to be averaged out by providing momentary energy storages or accumulators. The suspended balance weight (140) performs this function in the present invention. This arrangement makes the power supply to power take-off roller (128) with double frequency at half amplitude and for longer time. But this arrangement also includes the reversal of rotational direction of the power take-off roller (128). This alternately reversing rotational power is transmitted from power take-off roller (128) via pulley belt drive to mono-directional output gearbox (132). This novel design used in this gearbox enables it to receive the rotational power input, in both clockwise as well as anticlockwise direction mamtaining the output in single direction of rotation either clockwise or anticlockwise as per design requirement. This mono-directional output is supplied to electricity alternator (130) which generates electricity which is processed and conditioned in the electronic inverting and converting control unit and stored in the battery bank (134) for onward distribution on the shore through the electric power distribution network (137).

Thus the present invention 'Shoal Anchoring Marine-wave Power Absorption and Delivery Apparatus' can be mounted in shallow water near the shore of any type and topography, it remains in operation continuously from high-tide to low-tide and vice versa, generating electricity from ocean wave power. Further it is capable of protecting itself during high sea, rough sea and stormy conditions from damage.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. The Shoal Anchoring Marine-wave Power Absorption and Delivery Apparatus and the Method,

a) comprising of Wave Power Absorber Assembly (130) placed in a water body to interact with aquatic power waves to absorb the wave power, an electric power delivery assembly (135) located on top of the wave power absorption assembly (130) to generate, store and deliver the electricity, a plurality of Rope Drive (142) one end of which is tide to the swivel anchor (125) located on sea bed (105), the other end of which, after passing around the power take-off roller (128), idle roller (129) and array of pulleys (141), is tide to the suspended Balance Weight (140) below wave power Absorber Assembly;

b) having the swivel anchor (125) with swiveling mast (122), swiveling link (124) and anchor weight (123) tide together by Guy ropes (126);

c) having Power take-off roller (128), idle roller (129) and array of pulleys (141), forrning part of the rope drive (142), the aerodynamically shaped balance weight (140) suspended below the wave power absorber assembly (130) by the rope drive (142);

d) having a float (127) which provides necessary buoyancy force when placed in water, the radar (131) which aligns the wave power assembly to the Direction of mcoming Wave Travel (120);

e) having Electric Power Delivery Assembly (135) which generates, conditions, stores and delivers electricity generated by wave power, the mono-directional output gearbox (132) which converts bi-directional rotary input to mono-direction rotary output, the alternator (133), the electricity storage Battery Bank (134). The Electronic Inverting and Converting Control Unit (136) and the Electric Power Distribution Network Wiring (137).

2. The Shoal Anchoring Marine-wave Power Absorption and Delivery Apparatus and the Method, as herein described and with reference to accompanying drawings.