WO2012134342A1

WO2012134342A1 - Device and method for generating electrical energy from wave energy

Info

Publication number: WO2012134342A1
Application number: PCT/RU2012/000150
Authority: WO
Inventors: Олег Геннадьевич ДМИТРИЕВ; Евгений Григорьевич ТАБОТА
Original assignee: Закрытое Акционерное Общество "Кд Технолоджи"
Priority date: 2011-03-31
Filing date: 2012-03-02
Publication date: 2012-10-04

Abstract

The device comprises a structure assembled from a plurality of floats. Each pair of adjacent floats is connected by means of a connecting link, each of said links being formed so as to allow the relative vertical movement of each pair of adjacent floats under the effect of wave energy. At least one means for producing and recovering pneumatic energy resulting from resistance to the relative vertical movement is fixed to each float, is connected to a corresponding connecting link and is in the form of a first pneumatic apparatus capable of producing a plurality of discrete elements of the energy of a compressed air medium. A means for collecting the discrete elements is provided, said means being capable of compensating for oscillations of said discrete elements of the energy of the compressed air medium, producing a set pressure of the compressed air medium, forming a shock-absorbing pneumatic spring and forming a uniform flow of compressed air medium. There is a second pneumatic apparatus capable of expanding the uniform flow of compressed air medium and forming a uniform flow of pneumatic energy, and a means for converting the recovered pneumatic energy into electrical energy.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC ENERGY

FROM ENERGY WAVES

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to the field of conversion and storage of non-traditionally renewable clean energy sources for the production of electric energy, and more particularly, to a device for producing electric energy from the wave energy of the water surface and the method implemented therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device for the production of electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the water surface and the method implemented therein (US 5,359,229 A) are known.

This device contains many associated means for converting energy, each of which has a support mechanism fixed in a fixed position relative to the surface of the aquatic environment. A block system is fixed on each support mechanism, a float is fixed with the possibility of sliding, and a corresponding drive shaft is fixed with the possibility of rotation. In this case, there is a counterbalance, a cable system and a mechanism for transmitting downward movement for rotation of the drive shaft in a certain direction in response to the lowering of each float. The specified motion transmission mechanism comprises a hollow housing rotatably attached to the drive shaft and having a compartment for the float cable and a compartment for the counterweight cable and a cylindrical drum with ratchet placed in the hollow housing and mounted on the drive shaft. Moreover, the device has a means of transmitting rotation from the specified housing of the mechanism for transmitting the movement caused by lowering the float to the ratchet drum and means for converting the rotation of the drive shaft (extracted mechanical resistance energy) into electrical energy.

The method implemented in this device is that they extract the mechanical energy of resistance to the vertical movement of each float, obtained from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, limited by the area of the group of floats. After that, the extracted mechanical resistance energy is converted into torque of the corresponding drive shaft connected to the specified group of floats. Specified torque the moment is summed up on a single drive shaft of the device and converted to the total torque that is transmitted to the drive shaft by means for converting the extracted mechanical resistance energy obtained from the wave motion energy of the surface of the aqueous medium and transmitting this energy to the drive shaft of an electric generator to generate electrical energy.

The described device has a complex design and has a high material consumption, in which each float has a significant mass and size. In this regard, the described device allows you to extract the mechanical energy of resistance from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium having a wave height of at least one meter.

This is because many energy-carrying waves have different heights. In this case, for a wave having a certain height, there are optimal mass and dimensions of the float, allowing to extract maximum energy from it. Based on the design features of the described device, its floats have significant mass and overall dimensions that allow you to extract the energy of waves having a height of more than one meter, since less energy-saturated waves (having a wave height of less than one meter) are broken into floats and their energy is dissipated into the surrounding Wednesday

In addition, the process of extracting mechanical resistance energy described in this patent is accompanied by random impacts when each float transfers torque to the drive shaft of the means for converting the extracted mechanical resistance energy. Moreover, due to the lack of synchronization between the indicated random strokes, not all floats manage to transfer the resistance energy emitted by them to the corresponding drive shaft. This leads to instability of the extracted mechanical energy, which reduces the power of the generated electrical energy.

In addition, this reduces the efficiency of using the area of wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, since part of the mechanical resistance energy is dissipated into the environment.

In this case, the lack of connection between the extracted mechanical energy of each float and the torque of the corresponding drive shaft is a source of “chaos”, which does not allow for stable rotation of the drive shaft of an electric generator. This reduces the quality of the generated electrical energy.

A device for producing electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium and the method implemented therein are described in US Pat. No. 6,476,551 B1. In accordance with this patent, the company "Pelamis" (Great Britain) industrially manufactures devices for the production of electric energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aqueous medium of the model "Pelamis P-750" wave energy converter "(www.pelamiswave.com).

In these documents, it is described that electrical energy is generated in the process of overcoming the periodically changing resistance, which is formed during the continuous transformation of the multi-link chain of long cylindrical floats, during the movement of which hydraulic energy is extracted as resistance energy.

The described device comprises a plurality of connected floats that form an articulated structure in which each pair of adjacent floats is connected using a connecting link configured to provide relative rotational movement of these neighboring floats under the action of the wave motion of the surface of the aqueous medium. Moreover, each said connecting link comprises means for resisting the relative rotational movement of said adjacent floats, means for extracting the power generated by this resistance, and means for converting the extracted power into electrical energy. In addition, the device includes a mechanism for forming a rotation angle of the vertical plane with the possibility of relative rotation of each connecting link away from the horizontal axis, as well as a mechanism for limiting the deviation provided on each of these floats, adapted for applying periodically varying restrictions to the orbital reciprocating in the vertical direction to the relative movement of every three pairs of neighboring floats as a reaction to the existing sea waves.

The method of extracting power from the wave motion of the surface of the water contains the following steps: using the described device, applying an angle of inclination of rotation to at least several connecting links in an articulated structure so that the angle of relative rotation is at least several the connecting links is at an angle of inclination relative to the horizontal; and applying a varying constraint to the relative rotation of each pair of adjacent floats to control the dynamic response of the structure to the action of the waves, the limitation periodically changing in accordance with the magnitude of the waves.

The described device forms an open chain-shaped structure having an anchor system for attachment to the bottom of a reservoir. Each float has an elongated cylindrical shape and a length substantially equal to a predetermined distance between the crests of two waves of the water surface used to produce electrical energy.

Each connecting link is an articulated coupling having two radial bearings of rotation located between the floats. The couplings are designed in such a way that they provide relative rotational motion simultaneously in each pair of adjacent floats. The longitudinal axis of the floats form a broken zigzag spatial line, which is combined with the direction of the wave front of the specified water surface. Each hinged clutch is capable of providing relative rotational movement of two adjacent floats under the action of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, but does not have the ability to change the distance between the floats in the horizontal plane and to change the position of the neighboring floats relative to each other in the vertical plane.

The specified set of means of resistance to relative rotational displacement is placed in these articulated couplings and is configured to extract hydraulic resistance energy to the specified relative rotational displacement. This set of resistance means is a set of high-pressure hydrostatic accumulators characterizing the energy density of a liquid medium and used as hydrostatic sources of previously accumulated hydraulic energy.

The device also contains many groups of energy conversion means, each of which is located in the corresponding float. Each energy conversion means is a hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic cylinder with a piston and an engine used as hydrodynamic source of allocated hydrodynamic energy. In this case, the energy flux density (i.e. power) of the liquid medium in each hydraulic cylinder is random, since it is based on random power factors of the wave motion.

The magnitude of the reciprocating movement of the piston in each hydraulic cylinder corresponds to the magnitude of the reciprocating movement of each float relative to the corresponding axis. The amount of hydrodynamic energy released for each unit of time in each float is determined by the total value of the energy flux density of the specified liquid medium, which corresponds to the total length of the indicated reciprocating movements of all the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders in each specified group of energy conversion means.

In a hydraulic motor, the extracted resistance energy is converted into torque energy with a specific rotational speed of a drive shaft connected to a drive shaft of an electric generator for generating electric energy.

This device uses an incompressible liquid medium, which simultaneously performs the function of a resistance means to provide resistance to the relative rotational movement of each pair of floats and the function of a hydraulic multiplier when transmitting the energy of the specified torque to the drive shaft of a hydraulic motor connected to the drive shaft of an electric generator. The specified function of the hydraulic multiplier is carried out by moving the liquid medium in a closed circuit in a limited closed volume. Using the specified motion of the liquid medium, the drive shaft of the hydraulic motor is driven in one-way rotation.

However, due to the fact that in the process of performing the specified function of the hydraulic multiplier, a torque is transmitted having an unstable value caused by an unstable value of the released resistance energy due to the unstable external influence of the wave motion of the surface of the aqueous medium on the drive shaft of the hydraulic motor, unstable values torque and frequency of rotation. This is caused by the occurrence of a hydraulic multiplier in the liquid medium. ultra-high "peak" pressure changes. In this regard, the process of extracting hydraulic energy is accompanied by ultrahigh dynamic loads on these articulated couplings, which reduces their reliability. In addition, ultra-high dynamic loads significantly reduce the quality of the generated electrical energy.

All of the above leads to instability of the extracted hydraulic energy, which reduces the power of the generated electrical energy.

In addition, this reduces the efficiency of using the area of wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, since part of the released resistance energy is dissipated into the environment.

The instability of the extracted hydraulic energy leads to the instability of the produced electric energy, which necessitates an additional step, which consists in the preliminary accumulation and stabilization of the generated electric energy for its subsequent sale to the consumer, which significantly increases the cost of generating electric energy.

In addition, the elongated chain-shaped shape of the device leads to the need to adjust the angle between the longitudinal axis of the floats and the direction of the wave front of the aquatic environment, which reduces the actual useful surface area of the wave water surface that the device occupies, since it requires reservation of the surface area of the aquatic environment to carry out this adjustment.

Thus, the aforementioned method and device do not allow the production of high-quality electric energy, while the amount of electric energy produced is not a constant value, but is random in nature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The basis of the present invention is the task to create a device for the production of electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the water surface with such design features and the method implemented in it with such techniques that would reduce the material consumption of the device and at minimal cost to extract resistance energy from the wave energy of the water surface environment, including, including a wave height of 0, 4 meters or more, to increase the efficiency of using the area of wave motion surface of the aquatic environment, increase the power and stability of the produced electric energy and significantly improve the quality of the produced electric energy.

This problem is solved by creating a device for generating electrical energy from the wave motion energy of the surface of an aqueous medium containing a plurality of floats forming an articulated structure in which each pair of adjacent floats is connected using a connecting link configured to provide relative movement of these neighboring floats under the action of wave energy the movement of the surface of the aquatic environment, many means for the formation and extraction of resistance energy specified from wearable movement, connected to a plurality of said connecting links, and means for converting the extracted energy into electrical energy, wherein, according to the invention, each of said plurality of connecting links is configured to allow relative vertical movement of each pair of adjacent floats under the influence of the wave energy of the water surface medium, on each float is fixed at least one of the specified set of means for the formation and extraction resistance energy, which is the first pneumatic device configured to form a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, the device comprising means for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, in communication with each first pneumatic device, configured to equalize the vibrations of said many discrete elements of energy of compressed air, creating a given pressure of compressed air with food, education amortization air spring and forming a uniform flow of compressed air, as well as a second pneumatic device configured to sequentially expand the uniform flow of compressed air and generate a uniform flow of pneumatic energy, coupled with said means for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air and with said means for converting the extracted energy into electrical energy.

The proposed device allows you to extract pneumatic energy as resistance energy, which is used to produce electrical energy. The extraction of pneumatic energy makes it possible to use the spring properties of the air in order to convert the chaotic energy of the movement of the surface of the water medium into uniform electrical energy, which makes it possible to significantly improve the quality of the produced electric energy.

In addition, the use of the air as a working fluid significantly reduces the material consumption of the device and simplifies its design, in which each float is small in size, which is determined only by the size and weight of the pneumatic device, since the air does not increase the size or weight of the device.

Such design features make it possible to extract pneumatic energy from the energy of wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium having a wave height of 0.4 meters or more, which can significantly increase the efficiency of using the area of wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium.

In addition, the use of the indicated pneumatic energy ensures the stability of the generated electric energy and ensures the stability of its multi-megawatt power (of the order of 0, 1 - 100 MW) due to the creation of a shock-absorbing air spring, which ensures the formation of uniform vibrations of the compressed air, the creation of a uniform flow of pneumatic energy and direct the transmission of this energy to the drive shaft of an electric generator to produce electrical energy. This eliminates the need for an additional stage, which consists in the preliminary accumulation and stabilization of the generated electric energy for its subsequent sale to the consumer. All this allows, at minimal cost, to improve the quality of the produced electric energy and increase its power. In addition, the indicated structural embodiment of the proposed device allows the use of devices already available in the industry as individual components of the proposed device, as well as its production of individual components in mass production, which significantly minimizes the material costs of manufacturing the proposed device and significantly reduces its payback time .

It is advisable that each said first pneumatic device be a volume-enclosed pneumatic compressor having means for introducing an air medium, a cavity for accommodating the air medium, compressing it and forming a plurality of discrete energy elements of a compressed air medium and means for outputting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air Wednesday.

This, with the simple design of the first pneumatic device, provides compression and air supply under pressure.

It is desirable that said means for introducing an air medium and said means for outputting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air medium of each said compressor comprise respective first and second one-way check valves located in the casing of said compressor.

The presence of these check valves ensures the stability of the proposed device, which ensures stable pneumatic energy and, accordingly, stable electrical energy.

Advantageously, said means for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air is a sealed reservoir adapted to accumulate compressed air and having means for introducing a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air in communication with each said means for withdrawing them from said plurality of means for the formation and extraction of resistance energy, and means for outputting a uniform flow of compressed air, communicated with the second pneumatic a fixture.

The presence of the specified reservoir, having a simple structural design, makes it possible to use the elastic, spring properties of the air in order to convert chaotic energy of movement the surface of the aqueous medium into uniform pneumatic energy, which makes it possible to significantly improve the quality of the produced electrical energy.

It is possible that said means for introducing a plurality of discrete elements of energy of compressed air of said reservoir contain at least one channel in communication with the cavity of said reservoir, and means for outputting a uniform flow of compressed air of said reservoir contains a pressure reducing valve placed in the housing of said reservoir.

The specified design provides amortization of the chaotic pulsation of many discrete energy elements of compressed air coming from many compressors through the input means. In this case, when new portions of discrete energy elements of compressed air enter the reservoir, due to such a property of air as compressibility, the density and pressure of the air in the closed volume of the reservoir increases. Moreover, due to such a property of air as elasticity, uniformly, smoothly, without jumps, the pressure increases proportionally from each individual element throughout the entire closed volume of the tank, smoothing and damping every impulse from each individual element. As a result, a constant pressure of compressed air without surges is present at the inlet of the pressure reducing valve.

It is advantageous for at least one channel of said reservoir to communicate with said second non-return valve of each said compressor by means of a flexible, sealed connecting means adapted to transmit compressed air. At the same time, it is convenient that each said flexible sealed connecting means is a flexible hose made of an elastic polymer material.

This provides a simple constructive implementation of the proposed device and reduces its material consumption.

Preferably, said second pneumatic device is a pneumatic engine having a drive shaft configured to rotate under the action of a uniform flow of pneumatic energy of compressed air, while the means for converting the extracted energy to electrical energy has a drive shaft connected to the drive shaft of the air motor. Such a structural embodiment of the second pneumatic device is designed to convert the energy of compressed air into mechanical work and provides stable electrical energy.

It is advisable that each of the specified pneumatic compressor was connected to the corresponding specified connecting link through a swivel.

This allows each compressor to receive the energy of the torque of the corresponding connecting link without intermediate links.

To ensure the stability of the vertical displacements of the floats, it is desirable that each said connecting link be made with the possibility of plane-parallel displacements in the vertical plane and simultaneous reciprocating movements around the axis of rotation of the corresponding articulated joints.

In order to increase the surface area of the aquatic environment from which electrical energy is generated, it is advantageous for each said connecting link to be able to change the distance between said adjacent floats in a horizontal plane.

To facilitate the vertical movement of adjacent floats, it is useful that each said connecting link is configured to change its length with relative vertical movement of the respective two indicated adjacent floats without changing the distance between these floats in the horizontal plane.

To facilitate the vertical movement of adjacent floats and to increase the surface area of the aquatic environment from which electrical energy is generated, it is preferable that each said connecting link be a telescopic connecting rod that has a sliding housing containing two end links and a central link.

To enable the use of compressed air to change the distance between the floats, it is convenient that in each specified sliding housing with the possibility of reciprocating longitudinal movement towards each other, two pistons are placed, each of which has a corresponding rod, while inside the specified central The end surfaces of these pistons form a central sealed chamber, and the side surfaces of two of these rods form two corresponding rod cavities, said sealed chamber and said rod cavities communicating via a pressure reducing valve with said means for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air.

To reduce shock loads and ensure the stability of the device, it is advisable that the opposite ends of these rods are placed inside the corresponding specified extreme links with the possibility of restricting the longitudinal movement of these pistons with the specified rods by means of a spring placed inside each specified extreme link.

To ensure vertical movement of adjacent floats and to simplify the design, it is desirable that a pin be attached to each free end of each specified extreme link, while it is favorable that the corresponding pin be integral with the corresponding extreme link, in addition, it is useful that each the trunnion was adapted to accommodate the corresponding articulation.

In order to reduce shock loads and stabilize the operation of the device, it is possible that between the indicated extreme links and the specified central link damping rings are installed.

To ensure the stability of the plurality of first pneumatic devices, it is useful that each float from the specified plurality of floats has a shape that ensures its stability.

In order to extract resistance energy from the wave motion energy of the surface of an aqueous medium, including a wave height of less than one meter, and to increase the efficiency of using the area of wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium, it is preferable that each float from said plurality of floats be made in the form of a tablet.

To increase the area of the collected energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, it is possible that the specified set of floats was articulated in the form of a network. In order to exclude the dependence of the amount of extracted energy on the direction of action of the wave front, it is possible for the indicated set of floats to be articulated in a closed circuit.

To reduce the material consumption of the device, it is preferable that said floats, said connecting links, structural components of said first and second pneumatic devices are made of polymer materials.

The problem is also solved by the creation of a method of producing electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, which consists in using a device containing many floats forming an articulated structure, which is located on the surface of the aquatic environment and in which each pair of adjacent floats is connected using a connecting link, providing the possibility of relative movement of each pair of neighboring floats under the action of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the water medium with the formation of resistance energy to the indicated relative displacement of each pair of adjacent floats, on each of which at least one means for generating and extracting the specified resistance energy is attached, which is connected to the corresponding connecting link and with the help of which the specified resistance energy is extracted, which transmit to the conversion means and produce electrical energy, while, according to the invention, as the specified resistance energy obtained from the ene gii wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, extract the pneumatic energy, the formation of which is carried out using the following steps: as a relative displacement under the influence of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment provide relative vertical movement of each pair of adjacent floats, using a variety of means for the formation and extraction of this energy resistance compresses the air and creates many discrete energy elements of compressed air that fed into a closed cavity of a sealed tank, in which their vibrations are equalized, create a predetermined pressure of the compressed air medium and form a shock-absorbing air spring, from which a uniform flow of compressed air is formed, which is subsequently expanded and creates a uniform pneumatic flow energy obtained from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment from which electrical energy is generated.

The proposed method allows you to extract the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment in the form of pneumatic energy, which is used to produce electrical energy. These steps, used to extract pneumatic energy, provide the creation of a shock-absorbing air spring, which makes it possible to use the spring properties of the air in order to convert the chaotic energy of movement of the surface of the water medium into uniform electrical energy.

It is advisable to create the specified target pressure of the compressed air in the specified closed cavity of the sealed tank in the range from slightly more than 1 atmosphere to 5 atmospheres.

This creates a pressure differential between the closed cavity and the environment, which ensures that the air flows from the area with higher pressure to the area with lower pressure through the air motor, causing the air to do the job.

For the rational use of the area of the wave surface of the aquatic environment, it is desirable to increase the amount of electric energy produced by increasing the number of these floats without changing the area of the specified articulated structure.

The proposed method for the production of electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment is as follows

The proposed method consists in the use of a device containing many floats forming an articulated structure (floating system), which is located on the surface of the aquatic environment.

The placement of the floating system is carried out using the following steps:

- articulating a plurality of adjacent floats using a plurality of articulated connecting links,

- fix compressors on the floats,

- tightly connect the cavity of all compressors,

- place this floating system on the surface of the aquatic environment. These steps can be carried out by any known methods and using any known equipment designed for similar purposes. Moreover, in various embodiments of the present invention, these steps are carried out in different sequences and in different places.

For example, a variant of the present invention is possible in which the floating system contains a small number of floats. In this case, first, on the shore, a plurality of adjacent floats is articulated using a plurality of articulated mechanical connecting links, then the compressor cavities are sealed through check valves using flexible sealed connecting means into a single closed cavity filled with air. And they place the assembled floating system on the surface of the aquatic environment.

In another embodiment of the present invention, in which the system contains a large number of floats, this system is created directly on the surface of the aquatic environment.

For example, floats are delivered to the surface of the aquatic environment using appropriate floating means, then many adjacent floats are articulated with a plurality of articulated mechanical connectors, then the compressor cavities are hermetically connected through check valves using flexible sealed connecting devices.

The described sequence of actions is not the only possible one, since the main thing is not the sequence of these steps, but the creation of the indicated floating system on the surface of the aquatic environment, a more detailed structural implementation of which will be described below in the description of the best embodiment of the proposed device for the production of electrical energy from wave energy surface of the aquatic environment.

In all embodiments, each pair of adjacent floats is connected using a connecting link, providing the possibility of relative vertical movement of each pair of neighboring floats under the action of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aqueous medium.

Under the action of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, that is, under the influence of “incident” and “runaway” waves provide a relative vertical movement of adjacent floats, during which pneumatic resistance energy is generated to the specified relative vertical movement.

Moreover, there are many means of extracting the specified pneumatic energy, adapted to generate pneumatic resistance energy to the specified relative vertical movement and to extract the specified pneumatic energy obtained from the wave energy of the surface of the aquatic environment. At least one means of extracting said pneumatic energy is fixed on each float, connected to a corresponding connecting link, and said pneumatic resistance energy is extracted. They transfer this energy to a conversion means and produce electrical energy.

Thus, pneumatic energy is extracted as the indicated resistance energy obtained from the wave motion energy of the surface of the aqueous medium, the formation of which is carried out using the following steps: as a relative displacement under the action of the wave motion energy of the surface of the water medium, a relative vertical movement of each pair of adjacent floats is provided, using a variety of means for extracting the specified resistance energy compresses the air and creates many dis the compressed energy elements of the compressed air, which are fed into the closed cavity of the sealed tank, in which their vibrations are balanced, create the specified pressure of the compressed air medium and form a shock-absorbing air spring, from which a uniform flow of compressed air is formed, which is sequentially expanded and creates a uniform flow of pneumatic energy obtained from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment from which electrical energy is generated.

The creation of a cushioning air spring in the enclosed cavity makes it possible to use the spring properties of the air in order to convert the chaotic energy of the movement of the surface of the water medium first into uniform pneumatic energy, and then into uniform electric energy.

By the phrase "cushioning air spring" we mean the closed volume in which the elastic air element used is used. for shock and shock absorption, vibration isolation, creation of predetermined initial forces, accumulation of pneumatic energy.

Each cushioning air spring has a maximum allowable load, upon reaching which the specified spring becomes stressed and to eliminate its destruction begins to give off excess pneumatic energy.

In the proposed method, the shock-absorbing air spring perceives many instantaneous impacts of external forces (discrete energy elements of compressed air), which carry out the work of elastic deformation of the material of the shock-absorbing air spring to bring it into a stressed state.

Upon reaching the specified pressure in the specified closed cavity, the shock-absorbing air spring damps the instantaneous energy of each impact of external forces, that is, it suppresses the external vibrations of the pneumatic system from each discrete energy element and releases the received discrete energy of compressed air from each discrete element in a uniform flow, while maintaining pressure at a given level .

As the specified predetermined pressure, the pressure of the compressed air medium is used in the range from slightly more than 1 atmosphere to 5 atmospheres.

This creates a pressure differential between the closed cavity and the environment, which allows the air to flow from the area with higher pressure to the area with lower pressure through the air motor, causing the air to do the job.

At a pressure equal to 1 atmosphere, there will be no pressure difference between the pressure in the closed cavity and the ambient pressure, as a result of which there will be no overflow of the air from the area with high pressure to the area with lower pressure. At a pressure of less than 1 atmosphere, such a pressure differential will be created between the pressure in the closed cavity and the ambient pressure, which will ensure that the air flows from the area with higher pressure to the area with lower pressure through the air motor, causing the shaft of the air motor to rotate in the direction opposite to the specified direction, which can cause damage to the air motor. A pressure of more than 5 atmospheres significantly increases the load on the device, which can lead to its breakdown.

By increasing the number of these floats without changing the area of the specified articulated structure, the amount of electric energy produced is increased.

In more detail, the proposed method will be described below in the description of the operation of the proposed device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, we provide below specific examples of the implementation of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts the proposed device for the production of electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium, made according to the invention, a General view, isometry with gaps;

FIG. 2 - place A in FIG. 1, zoomed in;

FIG. 3 (a, c) - compressor made according to the invention, in two positions, longitudinal section;

FIG. 4 (a, c) is a turbine expander made according to the invention, a cross section of a front view and a longitudinal section of a side view;

FIG. 5 - telescopic connecting rod made according to the invention, isometry, longitudinal section;

FIG. 6 is a variant of the proposed device made according to the invention, in which many floats are pivotally connected in the form of a network, top view;

FIG. 7 is a variant of the proposed device made according to the invention, in which many floats are pivotally connected in the form of a closed circuit, top view.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The proposed device for the production of electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium comprises an articulated structure 1 (Fig. 1) formed from a plurality of floats 2. In an articulated structure 1, each pair of adjacent floats 2 is connected using the corresponding connecting link 3, configured to provide relative vertical movement of these adjacent floats 2 under the action of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aqueous medium.

The proposed device also contains many means 4 for the formation and extraction of resistance energy, configured to generate pneumatic resistance energy to a specified relative displacement, corresponding to the wave energy of the surface of the aquatic environment, and to extract said pneumatic energy. At the same time, at least one means 4 is formed on each float 2 for the formation and extraction of resistance energy, which is connected to the corresponding of these connecting links 3.

The proposed device comprises means 5 for converting the extracted pneumatic energy into electrical energy.

Each of these many means 4 for the formation and extraction of energy is the first pneumatic device 6, configured to form many discrete energy elements of compressed air.

In FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which the articulated structure 1 of the device of the invention comprises four floats 2, each of which is made in the form of a tablet.

Neighboring floats 2 are connected using four articulated mechanical connecting means 3 so that the three floats 2 form a triangular shape, which is connected to a separate fourth float 2.

For this, on each of the three indicated floats 2, two first pneumatic devices 6 are rigidly fixed, and on the specified fourth float 2 one first pneumatic device 6 is rigidly fixed. And on each first pneumatic device 6, the corresponding end of the corresponding connecting means 3 is fixed.

That is, as a rule, on each float 2 is fixed such a number of first pneumatic devices 6, which corresponds to the number of neighboring floats 2. Moreover, the device comprises means 7 for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, and a second pneumatic device 8.

A means 7 for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air is communicated with each first pneumatic device 6 and is configured to generate a uniform flow of compressed air.

The second pneumatic device 8 is configured to sequentially expand the flow of compressed air and the formation of a uniform flow of pneumatic energy obtained from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aqueous medium. The second pneumatic device 8 is in communication with said means 7 for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air and with said means 5 for converting the extracted pneumatic energy into electrical energy.

Each first pneumatic device 6 may be any known device designed to form a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air.

For example, each first pneumatic device 6 may be a volume-enclosed pneumatic compressor 9 (Fig. 2) or a rotary compressor (not shown).

As a volumetric-closed compressor, for example, a piston compressor 9 can be used (Fig. 3 a, b, to facilitate understanding in figure 3 there is no hatching of the shaft, rod and piston) having means 10 for introducing an air medium, cavity 1 1 for the placement of the air medium, its compression and the formation of many discrete energy elements of compressed air and means 12 for outputting many discrete energy elements of compressed air.

This type of compressor is an energy machine for compressing and supplying air under pressure. Compressors of this type are widely used in various fields of economy, they are diverse in design, layouts and layouts.

The specified means 10 for entering the air environment and the specified tool 12 for outputting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air each the specified compressor 9 contain the corresponding first and second one-way check valves 13, 14 located in the housing of the specified compressor 9. These valves 13, 14 are configured for a given pressure, that is, open and close when the corresponding pressure in the cavity 1 1 of the compressor 9 is reached.

In the cavity 1 1 of the compressor 9, a rod 16 with a piston 17 is fixed on the drive shaft 15 having an elbow 15a, the reciprocating movement of which is provided by this drive shaft 15 with an elbow 15 a. At the end of the drive shaft 15 protruding from the compressor housing 9, the ends of the corresponding connecting links 3 are fixed (Fig. 2). These ends of the connecting links 3 can be secured using swivel joints 18. That is, each specified pneumatic compressor 9 can be connected to the corresponding specified connecting link 3 by means of a swivel joint 18.

For this, at the respective ends of each connecting link 3 there are first and second cylindrical trunnions 19, in each of which a corresponding hinge joint 18 is fixed. As a hinge joint 18, any known swivel joint intended for similar purposes, for example, a freewheel ( not shown in the drawing).

Each connecting link 3 can have any known construction, made with the possibility of changing the distance between the corresponding first and second cylindrical pins 19 with the relative vertical movement of each pair of adjacent floats 2.

To increase the area of the articulated structure 1, each connecting link 3 is configured to change its length, which allows, if necessary, to change the length of each connecting link 3 to change the distance between adjacent floats 2 in the horizontal plane.

Moreover, each specified connecting link 3 is made with the possibility of plane-parallel movements in the vertical plane and simultaneous reciprocating movements around the axis of rotation of the corresponding articulated joints 18.

In addition, each specified connecting link 3 is designed so that two swivel joints 18 located at the ends of each mechanical connecting link 3 are independently oppositely directional reciprocating relative vertical movements together with the corresponding adjacent floats 2.

Moreover, each specified connecting link 3 is configured to change its length with relative vertical movement of the respective two indicated adjacent floats 2 without changing the distance between these floats 2 in the horizontal plane.

The first non-return valve 13 (Fig. 3 a, c), designed to enter the air into the cavity 1 1 of the compressor 9, is configured to suck in the air from the environment when the piston 17 of the compressor 9 moves in a direction that increases the volume of its cavity 1 1 ( as shown in Fig. Over). As a result, rarefaction (pressure reduction) occurs in the cavity 1 1 and the air rushes from the surrounding space into this cavity 1 1.

After the specified cavity 1 1 will be filled with air, the piston 17 will take its lowest position and the pressure in the cavity 1 1 will become equal to the ambient pressure. As a result, the first non-return valve 13 closes and closes the cavity 1 1 of the compressor 9. The further rotation of the shaft 15 will allow the piston 17 of the compressor 9 to move upward in the direction decreasing the volume of the closed cavity 1 1 using the elbow 15a and the rod 16. As a result, the pressure in the closed cavity 1 1 will increase and compress the air with the formation of a discrete element having the energy of a compressed air. That is, the kinetic energy of the movement of the piston 17 will transfer into the potential energy of the compressed air. Compressed air will press on the walls of the cavity 1 1 and on the second check valve 14, designed to output discrete energy elements of the compressed air.

The second check valve 14 is configured so that when the pressure in the closed cavity 11 becomes equal to the set pressure at which the outlet (second) check valve 14 (for example, 3 atmospheres) is set, this second check valve 14 will open (as shown in Fig. 3 c), as a result of which the compressed discrete element under the action of the piston 17 will be pushed through this check valve 14 into the specified means 7 to collect many discrete energy elements of the compressed air. This means 7 (FIG. 1) for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air is a sealed reservoir 20 adapted to accumulate compressed air. The reservoir 20 has a means 21 for inputting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, communicated with each of these means 12 for outputting from a plurality of resistance energy extraction means 4, a closed cavity (not shown in the drawing) and means 22 for outputting a uniform flow of compressed air the medium in communication with the second pneumatic device 8. The reservoir 20 is made with the possibility of balancing the fluctuations of the specified set of discrete energy elements of compressed air, creating cavity-mentioned predetermined pressure of the compressed air, the formation therein amortization air spring and forming a uniform flow leaving the compressed air environment.

By the phrase “shock-absorbing air spring” we mean a closed volume in which an elastic air element is used, used to absorb shock and shock, vibration isolation, create predetermined initial forces, and accumulate pneumatic energy.

Said means 21 for introducing a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air into said reservoir 20 comprises at least one channel 23 communicated with a closed cavity of said reservoir 20. Moreover, means 22 for outputting a uniform flow of compressed air from said reservoir 20 comprises pressure reducing valve 24 located in the housing 25 of the specified tank 20, for example, in its upper part. The pressure reducing valve 24 is an automatically acting pneumatic valve designed to maintain a constant pressure level at the outlet of the specified reservoir 20. The resistance of the pressure reducing valve 24 at each moment of time is proportional to the difference between the variable pressure at the inlet to the tank 20 and the constant (reduced) pressure at the outlet from reservoir 20. At least one channel 23 for introducing a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air into said reservoir 20 is in communication with said second non-return valve 14 of each said compressor 9 by means of flexible sealed connecting means 26 adapted to transmit compressed air.

The design of the sealed connecting means 26 may be any suitable for similar purposes. For example, each of these flexible sealed connecting means 26 is a flexible hose made of an elastic polymer material, for example, polyamide (polyurethane or polyethylene), hermetically connected to the channel 23 for introducing many discrete energy elements of compressed air into the specified tank 20.

The channel 23 for introducing a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air into the specified tank 20 can be made of any known design suitable for similar purposes, for example, it is a sealed duct 27 made of an elastic material, for example, (rubber and fabric).

To position said duct 27 in space on each float 2, support means 28 are provided, which comprise, for example, a mounting flange 29 and a pneumatic coupling 30 mounted on a strut 31.

As described above, said sealed reservoir 20, which is a means 7 for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, is in communication with a second pneumatic device 8 and with said means 5 for converting the extracted pneumatic energy into electrical energy.

The specified second pneumatic device 8 is a pneumatic engine 32 having a drive shaft 33, configured to rotate under the action of a uniform flow of pneumatic energy of compressed air entering through a sealed duct 27 from a pressure reducing valve 24 of the means 22 for outputting a uniform flow of compressed air from the specified tank 20 . In this case, the pneumatic engine 32 may have any known design, providing the ability to expand the uniform flow of compressed air. For example, the pneumatic engine 32 is a turbine expander 34 (Fig. 4, to facilitate understanding, the figure removes the hatching of the shaft and blades of the wheel of the turbine expander). The expander 34 has an inlet channel 35, a chamber 36, a turbine 37 containing blades 38 mounted on the drive shaft 33, and an outlet pipe 39. The channel 35 is designed to supply a uniform flow of compressed air under pressure. The chamber 36 has a cross-sectional area that gradually increases in the direction of flow of the compressed air medium and in which the air stream expands, as a result of which its speed increases and the kinetic energy increases.

We have described above that each pair of neighboring floats 2 is interconnected using a corresponding connecting link 3, configured to provide relative vertical movement of these neighboring floats 2 under the action of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aqueous medium.

Each connecting link 3 may be a telescopic connecting rod, at the ends of which means 4 for extracting energy are fixed.

This connecting rod can be made of any known construction suitable for providing the movements described above.

In this case, the telescopic connecting rod Za (Fig. 5) may have the structural embodiment described below, which is intended to facilitate independent vertical movement of adjacent floats 2 and to facilitate the possibility of changing the distance between the floats 2 in a horizontal plane.

Each telescopic connecting rod Za comprises a sliding housing 40 having two identical extreme links 41 and a central link 42. Two pistons 43 are placed in the housing 40 with the possibility of reciprocating longitudinal movement towards each other, each of which has a corresponding rod 44. End surfaces 45 of the pistons 43 form a central sealed chamber 46 inside the central link 42. Two rods 44 inside the central link 42 form two corresponding rod cavities 47. The sealed chamber 46 and the rod cavities 47 c obscheny through the electromagnetic valve 48 closed the cavity of the tank 20. The opposite ends 49 of the rods 44 are placed inside the corresponding extreme links 41 with the possibility of restricting the longitudinal movement of the pistons 43 with the rods 44 by means of a spring 50 located inside each extreme link 41. On the free ends of each extreme link 41 are mounted pins 19 for accommodating articulated joints 18. At the same time, the pins 19 can be made in one piece with the extreme links 41. To eliminate shock loads between the extreme links 41 and the central link 42, shock absorbing rings are installed and 51.

The indicated structural embodiment of each telescopic connecting rod Za makes it possible to change the distance between the parallel longitudinal axes (s) of two pins 19 in the range up to l / 3 times.

To ensure the stability of the first pneumatic devices 6 (Fig. 1, 2), each float 2 has a shape that ensures its stability.

To extract resistance energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, including, inter alia, a wave height of 0.4 meters, and increase the efficiency of using the area of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, each float 2 is made in the form of a tablet.

Moreover, many floats 2 can be interconnected with the formation of various figures. For example, to increase the surface area of the aquatic environment with which the energy of wave motion is collected, the specified set of floats 2 are pivotally connected in the form of a network 52 (Fig. 6). Moreover, to exclude the dependence of the amount of extracted energy on the direction of action of the front, the waves, the specified set of floats 2 are pivotally connected in the form of a closed circuit 53 (Fig. 7).

As described above, said sealed reservoir 20, which is a means 7 for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, is in communication with said means 5 for converting the extracted pneumatic energy into electrical energy.

In this case, the means 5 for converting the extracted energy into electrical energy is an electric generator 54, which has a drive shaft 55 connected to the drive shaft 33 of the air motor 32. An electric generator 54 for producing electric energy can be made of any known construction suitable for these purposes.

Moreover, the proposed device may have at least one anchor means (not shown in the drawing).

Said sealed tank 20, a pneumatic engine, and an electric generator 54 may be located ashore (not shown in the drawing), if the size of the water surface from which electrical energy is generated, or can be placed on one floating vessel 56, or can be placed on different floating means interconnected (not shown in the drawing).

A huge advantage of the proposed device is that its main structural components, such as floats 2, connecting links 3, structural components of these first and second pneumatic devices 6, 8 can be made of polymer materials.

For example, the floats 2 can be made of polyethylene, the connecting means 3 can be made of polyethylene and carbon, the structural components of the compressors 9 can be made of polyamides, the structural components of the air motor 32 can be made of polymeric materials containing fiberglass filler and binders based on thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers, flexible sealed connecting means 5 and duct 53 are high pressure hoses, st whose structure is reinforced with a polyester braid.

Thus, the above-described proposed device allows to extract pneumatic energy, which is used to produce electrical energy, as resistance energy. The extraction of pneumatic energy makes it possible to use the spring properties of the air in order to convert the chaotic energy of the movement of the surface of the water medium into uniform electrical energy, which makes it possible to significantly improve the quality of the produced electric energy.

In addition, the use of the air as a working fluid significantly reduces the material consumption of the device and simplifies its design, in which each float has small dimensions, which determined only by the size and weight of the pneumatic device, since the air does not increase the size or weight of the device.

In addition, the use of the indicated pneumatic energy ensures the stability of the generated electric energy and ensures the stability of its multi-megawatt power (of the order of 0, 1 - 100 MW) due to the creation of a shock-absorbing air spring, which ensures the formation of uniform vibrations of the compressed air, the creation of a uniform flow of pneumatic energy and direct transmission this energy to the drive shaft of an electric generator to produce electrical energy. This eliminates the need for an additional stage, which consists in the preliminary accumulation and stabilization of the generated electric energy for its subsequent sale to the consumer. All this allows, at minimal cost, to improve the quality of the produced electric energy and increase its power.

In addition, the indicated structural embodiment of the proposed device allows the use of devices already available in the industry as individual components of the proposed device, as well as its production of individual components in mass production, which significantly minimizes the material costs of manufacturing the proposed device and significantly reduces its payback time .

The proposed device operates as follows

Consider the operation of the proposed device, the floating part of which is located on the surface of the aquatic environment, from the wave energy of which produce electrical energy. Moreover, the articulated structure 1 of the proposed device contains four floats 2, each of which is made in the form of a tablet.

The adjacent floats 2 are connected using articulated mechanical connecting means 3 in such a way that the three floats 2 form a triangular figure, which is connected to the freestanding fourth float 2. To do this, on each of the three indicated floats 2, two first pneumatic devices 6 are rigidly fixed, each of which is a volumetric-closed pneumatic compressor 9, and one similar first pneumatic device 6 is rigidly fixed on the specified fourth float 2.

At the respective ends of each drive shaft 15 of each compressor 9, swivel joints 18 are fixed, each of which is in the form of an overrunning clutch.

The pins 19 of the corresponding telescopic connecting rods Za are fixed on each overrunning clutch, by means of which each pair of adjacent floats 2 is connected. Thus, the four indicated floats 2 are connected using four connecting means 3, each of which is a telescopic connecting rod Za. Moreover, these connecting means 3 form a system of telescopic connecting rods Za, providing:

- the possibility of relative vertical movement of adjacent floats 2;

- the ability to change the distance between the corresponding first and second trunnions 19 of each telescopic connecting rod ZA with relative vertical movement of each pair of adjacent floats 2;

- the ability to change the length of each telescopic connecting rod Za to change the distance between adjacent floats 2 in the horizontal plane;

- the possibility of plane-parallel movements in the vertical plane and simultaneous reciprocating movements around the axis of rotation of the corresponding articulated joints 18;

- the possibility of two articulated joints 18 located on the axle of each telescopic connecting rod Za, independent oppositely directed reciprocating relative vertical movements together with the corresponding adjacent floats 2;

- the ability to change the length of each telescopic connecting rod Za with relative vertical movement of the corresponding two adjacent floats 2 without changing the distance between these floats 2 in the horizontal plane.

The specified connection of the floats 2 provides a complete release of resistance energy for each reciprocating (in both directions) vertical the movement of neighboring floats 2 in the process of the direct impact of "incident" and "runaway" waves that move along the surface of the aquatic environment.

A similar assembly order of the floats 2 is carried out when assembling the floating part of the proposed device in the form of a network 52 or a closed circuit 53.

Under the action of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment with the help of many telescopic connecting rods, Za provide many simultaneous relative vertical movements of many pairs of adjacent floats 2 of the articulated structure 1, which is placed on the surface of the aquatic environment, from the wave energy of which electrical energy is generated. A plurality of simultaneous vertical movements in a plurality of pairs of adjacent floats 2 cause a corresponding plurality of reciprocating movements in a plurality of telescopic connecting rods Behind simultaneously around two axis of rotation of the corresponding articulated joints 18, as well as a plurality of reciprocating movements changing the distance between the axes of the articulated joints 18 in each such telescopic connecting rod Za (i.e. between adjacent floats 2). The drive shaft 15 with the elbow 15a of each compressor 9 is brought into unidirectional rotation using the corresponding unidirectional torque during the reciprocating movements around the two axes of the articulated joints 18 simultaneously of two telescopic connecting rods Za. Under the action of each specified torque of the shaft 15 with the elbow 15a of each compressor 9, the rod 16 with the piston 17 is moved back and forth. The piston 17 moves from the extreme upper position to the lowermost position, increasing the volume of the cavity 1 1 of the compressor 9. As a result of the indicated piston movement 17 in the cavity 1 1 there is a rarefaction of the air (pressure reduction), under the action of which the inlet check valve opens and the air from the surrounding space rushes into this cavity 11. P after the specified cavity 11 is filled with air, the piston 17 will take its lowest position and the pressure in the cavity 11 will become equal to the pressure of the environment. As a result, the first check valve 13 closes and closes the cavity 1 1 of the compressor 9, in which a single closed volume of air is formed. Further rotation of the shaft 15 will provide upward movement of the piston 17 of the compressor 9 using the elbow 15a and the rod 16 in a direction that reduces the volume of the closed cavity 11. B as a result, the pressure in the closed cavity 1 1 will increase and compress the unit closed volume of the air with the formation of a discrete element having the energy of a compressed air. That is, the kinetic energy of the movement of the piston 17 will transfer into the potential energy of the compressed air. Compressed air will press on the walls of the cavity 1 1 and on the second check valve 14, designed to output discrete energy elements of the compressed air. When the pressure in the closed cavity 1 1 becomes equal to the set pressure at which the outlet (second) check valve 14 (for example, 3 atmospheres) is tuned, this second check valve 14 will open, as a result of which the compressed discrete element under the action of the piston will be pushed through this check a valve 14 into said means 7 for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air.

Thus, each compressor 9 forms a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, and all compressors 9 form a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air. All these discrete elements through the corresponding non-return valves 14 of the compressors 9 with the help of flexible connecting means 26 and a sealed duct 27 are fed into a closed cavity of the sealed tank 20 and compress with their help the air in this cavity.

As more and more of these discrete elements enter the closed cavity of the sealed reservoir 20, a process of formation of a shock-absorbing air spring in this compressed cavity in this closed cavity. Moreover, the process of such formation occurs simultaneously with the process of releasing resistance energy simultaneously with the whole set of compressors 9.

The presence in the specified cavity of the reservoir 20 of the depreciation air spring ensures equalization of the oscillations of these discrete elements and the creation of a given pressure of the compressed air environment.

As the specified predetermined pressure, the pressure of the compressed air medium is used in the range from slightly more than 1 atmosphere to 5 atmospheres, for example, 3 atmospheres.

This creates a pressure differential between the closed cavity of the tank 20 and the environment, which ensures the tendency of the flow of air from areas with more pressure to areas with less pressure, causing the air to do the job.

The creation of a cushioning air spring in the specified closed cavity makes it possible to use the spring properties of the air in order to convert the chaotic energy of movement of the surface of the water medium into uniform pneumatic energy, which is then converted into uniform electrical energy.

Upon reaching the above specified pressure in the specified closed cavity, the shock-absorbing air spring damps the instantaneous energy of each impact of external forces, that is, it suppresses external vibrations of the pneumatic system from each new discrete energy element, and sequentially releases (pushes) out of the closed cavity through the pressure reducing valve 24 compressed air, while maintaining pressure in the specified closed cavity at a given level.

A uniform flow of compressed air using a flexible connecting means 26 is directed into the inlet channel 35 of the turbine expander 34, in the chamber 36 of which it is successively expanded, its speed is increased and kinetic energy is increased.

A uniform expanded stream of compressed air is sent to the blades 38 of the expander 34, where this stream gives off its energy and spins the turbine 37 and its drive shaft 33, creating a uniform flow of pneumatic energy, in the manner described above obtained from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium. The exhaust air is discharged through the outlet pipe 39. In this case, said shock-absorbing air spring acts as an energy source of a turbine expander 34, which produces pneumatic energy, from which electric energy is further produced.

The rotation of the drive shaft 33 of the pneumatic turbine expander 34 is used to rotate the drive shaft 9 of the electric generator 10 to generate electrical energy.

Thus, as the indicated resistance energy obtained from the wave energy of the surface of the aqueous medium, pneumatic energy is extracted, which is used to produce electrical energy.

By increasing the number of these floats 2 without changing the area of the specified articulated structure 1 increase the amount of electrical energy produced.

Example

The proposed device and method for producing electric energy from the energy of the wave surface of an aqueous medium is implemented on a body of water in a specific geographical region, in which the expediency of using the energy of wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium to produce electric energy is determined on the basis of actual statistical data on the energy parameters of the wave surface water environment.

The characteristics of these parameters are determined by the range of the wave height from 0.75 meters to 2.0 meters (with an average annual wave height of 1.5 meters), and also determined by the range of changes in the energy period of the wave from 4 seconds to 7 seconds (with the average annual energy the wave action period of 5 seconds). To produce a given (including the maximum possible) annual amount of electric energy from the surface of the water medium of a body of water having the indicated characteristics, an articulated structure 1 made according to the invention is created which contains a hexagonal closed circuit (as shown in Fig. 7), which contains two hundred seventy (270) floats and one thousand six hundred twenty (1620) compressors for the production of electrical energy having one (1) mW of power. As a result of smoothing each pulse of each discrete element of compressed air; creating a uniform flow of compressed air (in the duct behind the pressure reducing valve) having a flow rate equal to five hundred thirty eight thousand one hundred (538100) liters per minute; the formation in a closed reservoir of a depreciation air spring, the mass of compressed air of which is equal to thirteen thousand (13000) kilograms, in the proposed device, the extracted resistance energy is converted first into high-quality uniform pneumatic energy, consisting of a stream of discrete elements of energy compressed to four hundred five thousand three hundred (405300) Pascals air. Moreover, the performance of the proposed device is equal to thirty-eight thousand seven hundred fifty (38750) kilograms of air per hour. Then, using the indicated pneumatic energy, high-quality electric energy is produced with a constant (predetermined) power value equal to one (1) mW with uniform amplitude-frequency characteristics of the given parameters of the electric current.

Thus, the use of the proposed method and device for the production of electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment ensures the production of electrical energy in a wide range of nominal power (from 0.1 to 100 mW); allows the production of high-quality electric energy with uniform amplitude-frequency characteristics of the specified parameters of the electric current; to carry out the production of electric energy with constant specified values of power, to reduce the cost of production of electric energy; to carry out structural elements from light corrosion-resistant polymer materials, as a result of which significantly reduce the specific material consumption of the produced electric energy; to carry out the construction of an articulated structure (in the form of a network or closed circuits), thereby significantly increasing the number of floats in the system, thereby increasing the efficiency of using the surface area of the wave motion of the aqueous medium; to carry out the production of all structural elements of orbital dynamic systems in mass production with multiple reduced capital costs and, thereby, significantly reduce the payback period of the proposed device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be most effectively used in the creation and industrial use of environmentally friendly float wave power plants for highly efficient conversion of sea wave energy into electrical energy, which in the structure of environmentally friendly energy resources are the most promising energy carriers capable of developing the highest specificity for renewable sources.

Such float wave power plants can be used to provide energy to coastal and island settlements, to create environmentally friendly marine and coastal processing industry facilities, including using offshore platforms with developed oil wells.

It is advisable to use float wave power plants in combination with the use of farms with sea-based wind power plants having a generalized infrastructure of means for transferring generated electric energy to shore.

The market potential is huge. It is due to the fact that the energy sector to a large extent determines the level of economic development, while simultaneously having a significant (mostly negative) impact on the environment. Therefore, emerging energy problems are currently being solved in close connection with environmental problems through the use of renewable energy sources.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A device for producing electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium, comprising a plurality of floats (2) forming an articulated structure (1), in which each pair of adjacent floats (2) is connected using a connecting link (3), configured to providing relative movement of these adjacent floats (2) under the action of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment, many tools (4) for the formation and extraction of resistance energy to the specified relative the movement connected to the plurality of said connecting links (3), and the means (5) for converting the extracted energy into electrical energy, further that each of said plurality of connecting links (3) is made with the possibility of relative vertical movement of each pair of adjacent floats (2) under the action of the wave energy of the surface of the aquatic environment, at least one of the specified set of means (6) for generating and extracting energy is fixed on each float (2) resistance, which is the first pneumatic device configured to form a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, the device comprising means (7) for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air in communication with each first pneumatic device (6), made with the possibility of balancing the fluctuations of the specified set of discrete energy elements of compressed air, creating a given pressure of compressed air cf the formation of a cushioning air spring and the formation of a uniform flow of compressed air, as well as the second pneumatic device (8), configured to sequentially expand the uniform flow of compressed air and the formation of a uniform flow of pneumatic energy, communicated with the specified means (7) to collect many discrete energy elements of compressed air and with the indicated means (5) for converting the extracted energy into electrical energy.

2. The device according to claim 1, with the proviso that each of said first pneumatic devices (6) is a volume-enclosed pneumatic compressor (9) having means (10) for introducing air environment a cavity (11) for accommodating an air medium, its compression and formation of a plurality of discrete energy elements of a compressed air medium; and a means (12) for outputting a plurality of discrete energy elements of a compressed air medium.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said means (10) for introducing an air medium and said means (12) for outputting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air medium of each said compressor (9) comprise respective first and second one-way check valves (13, 14) placed in the casing of said compressor (9).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (7) for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air is a sealed reservoir (20) adapted to accumulate compressed air and having means (21) for inputting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air, communicated with each of the indicated means (12) for their output from the specified set of means (4) for the formation and extraction of resistance energy, and means (22) for outputting a uniform flow of compressed air s communication with a second pneumatic device (8).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said means (21) for introducing a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air of said reservoir (20) contains at least one channel (23) in communication with the cavity of said reservoir (20) ), and the means (22) for outputting a uniform stream of compressed air from the specified tank (20) contains a pressure reducing valve (24) located in the housing of the specified tank (20).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one channel (23) of said reservoir (20) is in communication with said second non-return valve (14) of each said compressor (9) by means of a flexible sealed connecting means (26) adapted to transmit compressed air.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that each said flexible sealed connecting means (26) is a flexible hose made of an elastic polymer material.

8. The device according to claim 1, with the proviso that said second pneumatic device (8) is a pneumatic motor (32) having a drive shaft (33) configured to rotate under the action of a uniform flow of pneumatic energy of compressed air, while the means (5) for converting the extracted energy into electrical energy has a drive shaft (55) connected to the drive shaft (33 ) air motor (32).

9. The device according to claim 2, with the proviso that each said pneumatic compressor (9) is connected to the corresponding said connecting link (3) by means of a swivel joint (18).

10. The device according to claim 9, which includes the fact that each said connecting link (3) is configured to perform plane-parallel movements in the vertical plane and simultaneous reciprocating movements around the rotation axes of the corresponding articulated compounds (18).

11. The device according to claim 10, including the fact that each said connecting link (3) is configured to change the distance between said adjacent floats (2) in a horizontal plane.

12. The device according to claim 11, which includes the fact that each said connecting link (3) is made with the possibility of changing its length with relative vertical movement of the corresponding two indicated adjacent floats (2) without changing the distance between by these floats (2) in the horizontal plane.

13. The device according to claim 12, which includes the fact that each indicated connecting link (3) is a telescopic connecting rod (3), which has a sliding housing (40) containing two extreme links (41 ) and the central link (42).

14. The device according to item 13, characterized in that in each specified sliding housing (40) with the possibility of reciprocating longitudinal movement towards one another, two pistons (43) are placed, each of which has a corresponding rod (44), while inside said central link (42) end surfaces (45) of said pistons (43) form a central sealed chamber (46), and the side surfaces of two said rods (44) form two corresponding rod cavities (47), said sealed chamber (46) and specified stocks e cavities (47) communicated through an electromagnetic valve (48) with said means for collecting a plurality of discrete energy elements of compressed air.

15. The device according to claim 14, which includes the fact that the opposite ends (49) of said rods (44) are placed inside the corresponding said extreme links (41) with the possibility of restricting the longitudinal movement of these pistons (43) with the indicated rods (44) by means of a spring (50) located inside each of the specified extreme link (41).

16. The device according to p. 15, characterized in that on each free end of each of the specified extreme link (41) fixed pin (26).

17. The device according to p. 16, characterized in that the corresponding pin (26) is made in one piece with the corresponding extreme link (41).

18. The device according to claims 12, 16, characterized in that each pin (26) is adapted to accommodate a corresponding swivel (27).

19. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that between the indicated extreme links (41) and the indicated central link (42), shock absorbing rings (51) are installed.

20. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each float (2) from the specified set of floats (2) has a shape that ensures its stability.

21. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that each float (2) from the specified set of floats (2) is made in the form of a tablet.

22. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that said plurality of floats (2) are pivotally connected in the form of a network.

23. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that said plurality of floats (2) are pivotally connected in the form of a closed circuit (21).

24. Device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that said floats (2), said connecting links (3), structural components of said first and second pneumatic devices (6, 8) are made of polymer materials.

25. A method of producing electrical energy from the energy of the wave motion of the surface of an aqueous medium, which consists in using a device containing a plurality of floats (2) forming an articulated structure (1), which is placed on the surface of the aqueous medium and in which each pair neighboring floats (2) are connected using a connecting link (3), providing the possibility of relative movement of each pair of neighboring floats (2) under the action of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the water environment with the formation of resistance energy to the specified relative movement of each pair of neighboring floats, on each of which is fixed at least one means for the formation and extraction of the specified resistance energy, which is connected to the corresponding connecting link (3) and with which the indicated resistance energy is extracted, which is transferred to the conversion means (7) and electric energy is generated, which is due to the fact that, as the indicated resistance energy obtained from the wave motion energy of the surface of the aqueous medium, the pneumatic energy, the formation of which is carried out using the following steps: as a relative displacement under the action of the energy of the wave motion of the surface of the aquatic environment provide a relative vertical movement of each pair neighboring floats (2), using a variety of means (40) to form and extract the specified resistance energy, compress the air and create many discrete energy elements of compressed air, which are fed into the closed cavity of the sealed tank (20), in which their vibrations are aligned, create a predetermined pressure of the compressed air and form a shock-absorbing air spring, from which form a uniform flow of compressed air, which is sequentially expanded and create a uniform flow of air energy obtained from the wave motion energy of the surface of the aquatic environment from which electrical energy is generated.

26. The method according to p. 25, with the exception that create the specified pressure of the compressed air in the specified closed cavity of the sealed tank (20) in the range from slightly more than 1 atmosphere to 5 atmospheres.

27. The method according to p. 25, with the fact that they increase the amount of electric energy produced by increasing the number of these floats (2) without changing the area of the specified articulated structure (1).