WO2017042817A1 - Système de génération d'électricité par énergie des vagues à l'aide d'un soufflet - Google Patents

Système de génération d'électricité par énergie des vagues à l'aide d'un soufflet Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2017042817A1
WO2017042817A1 PCT/IL2016/051004 IL2016051004W WO2017042817A1 WO 2017042817 A1 WO2017042817 A1 WO 2017042817A1 IL 2016051004 W IL2016051004 W IL 2016051004W WO 2017042817 A1 WO2017042817 A1 WO 2017042817A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
guides
bellows
rocker arm
fluid
wave
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL2016/051004
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Shemuel COHEN
Original Assignee
Cohen Shemuel
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cohen Shemuel filed Critical Cohen Shemuel
Publication of WO2017042817A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017042817A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B9/00—Water-power plants; Layout, construction or equipment, methods of, or apparatus for, making same
    • E02B9/08—Tide or wave power plants
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/1845—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom slides relative to the rem
    • F03B13/1855—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom slides relative to the rem where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression
    • F03B13/186—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom slides relative to the rem where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression the connection being of the rack-and-pinion type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/188—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is flexible or deformable
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/24—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy to produce a flow of air, e.g. to drive an air turbine
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/40—Use of a multiplicity of similar components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/91—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/95—Mounting on supporting structures or systems offshore
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electricity generating using wave energy.
  • US 2006/0179832 discloses a power generating apparatus combining tidal height energy accumulators, a selectively isolated chamber system and a venturi enhanced tidal flow energy generating device.
  • Tidal height energy accumulators are provided with first and second power generating means, allowing power to be generated on upward and downward motion of a float member.
  • the incorporation of energy accumulators within the chamber system allows the energy accumulators to be selectively isolated from tidal height changes.
  • the sequential operation of energy accumulators and chamber system enables power generation to be controlled over a period of time.
  • the structure of chamber system diverts tidal flow into the tidal flow energy generating device.
  • US Patent No. 4,174,192 discloses a tide operated pump has piston and cylinder members establishing a vertically expansible chamber, one member fixed and the other including a float that is adapted to contain ballast water.
  • Valve controlled inlet and outlet conduits enable the chamber to become expanded and charged with water as a tide rises, the water trapped therein until the tide has ebbed to a wanted extent and then released under the head established by the float.
  • the float may be flooded when in an elevated position to further increase the head and the ballast water later drained to restore normal float buoyancy if desired.
  • a series of such pumps provide a continuous flow and the pumps are interconnected in a manner permitting one or more of the pumps to expand the chamber of at least one of the pumps with its float substantially above the height established at high tide to further increase the pumping capacity of that pump.
  • US Patent No. 4,441,316 discloses a device and a method for extracting energy from waves on a liquid from the oscillations of a column of liquid in a chamber. The oscillations are caused by an oscillatory excitation force produced by the effect of the waves. The phase of the velocity of the column of liquid and the phase of the excitation force are brought substantially into phase by arresting the motion of the column of liquid, and holding the column of liquid stationary until the column of liquid can be released in phase with the excitation force.
  • US Patent No. 4,683,719 discloses man-made floating island includes platform units above the water with vertical members extending downwardly therefrom on which movable floats are mounted which move in response to wave action. Motion of the floats operates air compressors and the resulting compressed air is either converted to transmissible energy or stored in reservoirs for future use. Wave amplifiers may be disposed beneath the movable floats.
  • US Patent No. 4,279,124 discloses a tidal energy generation system having an array of submerged impellers that function approximately as generalized simple pendulums whose natural frequencies fall at regular intervals throughout that frequency band. After conversion by pumps, the extracted wave energy is conveyed via a pressure transmission subsystem to a central turbine for further conversion and subsequent storage and/or product processing within the central platform.
  • US Patent No. 4,698,969 discloses an apparatus for converting power from the wave motion of a body of water comprising a chamber with an opening for receiving waves.
  • the chamber amplifies the amplitude of the waves.
  • the wall of the chamber preferably has protuberance adjacent the opening for smoothing the flow of water through the opening.
  • a float within the chamber is connected to a pump for converting the energy of the waves into useful energy.
  • a system for generating electricity from wave energy having the features of the respective independent claims.
  • the invention is characterized by use of a rocker arm that operates in association with multiple bellows units to direct the wave energy into air chambers that store the air at high pressure for subsequent actuation of a turbine generator. So far as is known to the Applicant, use of bellows units in such manner to concentrate the air into air storage chambers has not been previously proposed. Furthermore, the rocker arm is adapted to actuate at least one of the bellows units regardless of the direction of the incoming wave or the backward wave caused by its reflection from the coast.
  • the rocker arm constitutes a moveable element that operates in association with a stationary structure supporting the bellows units to compress the air in the bellows units.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 are pictorial representations of a system according to an embodiment of the invention for generating electricity from wave energy;
  • Figs. 3 and 4 are pictorial representations showing details of a rocker arm used in the system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Figs. 5 and 6a are pictorial representations showing further details of a guide and of the rocker arm used in the system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 6b is a pictorial representation of an actuator for the bellows units
  • Fig. 7 is a pictorial representation showing details of a turbine used in the system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 8 is a pictorial plan view showing connection of the bellows units and the turbine in the system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Figs. 9 and 10 are pictorial representations showing details of auxiliary floats used in the system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 11 is a pictorial representation showing details of a force regulator for controlling the force of the waves striking the bellows units;
  • Fig. 12 is a pictorial representation showing in cross-section a bellows units coupled to a compressor in accordance with another embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 13 is a pictorial representation showing a perspective view of the bellows units and compressor shown in Fig. 12;
  • Fig. 14 shows schematically further details of the compressor shown in Fig. 12.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 are pictorial representations of a system 10 according to the invention for generating electricity from wave energy.
  • the system comprises a pair of spaced-apart guides 11 and 12, anchored to an ocean floor and extending above the water surface.
  • the guides 11 and 12 are situated about 100m from the coast, extend down to an ocean depth of about 5 meters, and extend upward about 3 meters above the water surface but there is clearly no impediment other than cost to anchoring the guides even deeper within the sea or in extending their height above the water surface.
  • a floating rocker arm 13 is disposed between the guides 11 and 12 to execute seesaw like movement in response to wave motion.
  • the rocker arm 13 comprises a main beam 14 supporting at opposite ends thereof a generally T-shaped end-piece 15 having a generally planar surface 16 and supporting at opposite ends thereof respective planar flange portions 17.
  • the outer surfaces of the main beam 14 and of the T-shaped end-pieces 15 constitute operating surfaces that are adapted to be urged under force of a wave against an actuator of a proximate bellows unit described below with reference to Fig. 7.
  • the main beam 14 is supported at its center by a float 18 of generally trapezoidal cross-section having a lower surface 19, shown in Fig.
  • a deflector 20 which supports a deflector 20 also of generally trapezoidal shape and having a pair of opposing fore and aft surfaces 21, 22 respectively.
  • the fore and aft surfaces 21 and 22 are inclined at respective angles to a forward and backward direction of wave motion so that when impacted on by a wave in either direction, the deflector 20 is urged sideways and thereby induces side to side movement of the rocker arm 13 relative to the direction of wave motion.
  • the aft surface 22 is inclined at a larger angle than the fore surface 21 to the direction of wave motion and thereby compensates for a reduction in force of the wave in the backward direction compared with the force of the wave in the forward direction.
  • transverse axial motion of the main beam 14 relative to the float 18 is prevented by a pair of end-stops 23, which thus ensure that left to right motion of the float 18 induces the main beam 14 to move in the same direction.
  • a plurality of bellows units 25 are supported by the guides 11, 12 and are disposed so that an operating surface thereof is proximate a surface of the floating rocker arm 13 so as to be capable of operation when acted upon thereby.
  • the guides 11 and 12 serve to guide or direct incoming waves on to the floating rocker arm 13, constituted by the float 18, the main beam 14 and end-pieces 15 whereby movement of the float 18 induces sideways or back and forth motion of the rocker arm 13 for actuating the bellows unit 25.
  • the guide 11 is of generally C-shaped inlet 26 and comprises outer tips having planar outer wall surfaces 27 and mutually opposing planar end surfaces 28 each supporting at least one respective bellows unit 25.
  • An internal C-shaped wall portion of the guide 11 comprises a back surface 29 and mutually opposing side surfaces 30 all supporting one or more respective bellows units 25.
  • the guides are displaced from each other by a sufficient distance to allow waves to pass between them into the C-shaped inlet 26. It will be appreciated that owing to the symmetry of the two guides 11 and 12, lateral movement of the rocker arm 13 will simultaneously actuate complementary bellows units 25 on both guides.
  • the bellows units 25 also serve as shock absorbers, thus ensuring that the high-energy impulse applied by the rocker arm 13 is translated to moderate movement of the bellows, thereby avoiding damage thereto.
  • the respective opposing outer wall surfaces 27 of the guides 11 and 12 are of a generally concave cross-section thereby forming a venturi passageway 31 between the guides.
  • the venturi passageway 31 is known per se from above-mentioned US 2006/0179832 and increases the pressure of a wave entering the venturi passageway 31.
  • the venturi passageway opens on opposite sides of the rocker arm 13, thus amplifying waves travelling from the sea, which pass through the front of the venturi passageway 31 as well as waves reflected from the coast, which pass through the rear of the venturi passageway 31. By such means, the force of the waves against the rocker arm 13 is amplified from whichever direction they strike the rocker arm 13.
  • the venturi passageway 31 enhances efficiency but is not essential.
  • Fig. 6b is a pictorial representation of an actuator 32 for the bellows units 25, comprising a panel that rides on rails on opposite sides of the bellows units 25 and overlays the complete front surface thereof.
  • Spherical sockets within the panel accommodate spherical balls 33 to a depth of two-thirds of their diameter, such that only one- third of the diameter of each ball 33 projects out from the front panel surface of the actuator 32.
  • the balls 33 When struck at an oblique angle by the arms 14-17, the balls 33 rotate within their sockets thereby reducing rubbing between the bellows 25 and the arms and reducing wear and tear on both the bellows and the arms.
  • Fig. 7 showing an enlarged view of a pair of turbine generators 34 each comprising a respective turbine 34' and generator 34" and Fig. 8 showing connection of the bellows units 25 thereto.
  • the bellows units 25 are of approximate height 6m and width 3m with a depth of 3m. Part of the bellows units 25 extends down beneath the water surface, while part projects above the water surface and are compressed by the arms 14-17 and the rocker float 18 as the result of see-saw like movement thereof caused by incoming and outgoing waves. These waves strike the arms and/or the rocking float in all directions, i.e. forward and backward, left and right and up and down thus compressing the bellows and forcing the air inside the bellows to be ejected.
  • Each bellows 25 is inflated by an internal spring (shown in Fig. 12) so as to suck in air through an inlet pipe 35 that is coupled to the bellows unit by a one-way valve (not shown).
  • the bellows are compressed as described above, whereupon the stored air is forced out under pressure through outlet pipes 36 into a pair of central air pressure chambers 37, which as shown in Fig. 8 are located within and on opposite sides of the guides 11 and 12.
  • the respective outlet pipes 36 from all of the bellows 25 in each guide are fed to one of the two central air pressure chambers 37, which store air under high pressure and from where it may subsequently be used to drive turbines 33 for generating electricity.
  • the outlet pipes 36 are coupled to the central air pressure chambers 37 via one-way valves (not shown), so that compressed air can pass into the chambers without escaping.
  • wave motion induces seesaw like movement of the rocker arm 13 thereby operating some of the bellows units 25 depending on the direction of movement of the rocker arm for transferring air from the bellows to the air pressure chambers 37 from which air under pressure may later be transferred to the turbine generators 34 for generating electricity.
  • This may be done manually by opening one-way valves 38 that allow air stored at high pressure in the chambers 37 to flow via respective pipes 39 into three reservoirs 40 for each turbine generator 34.
  • the compressed air is directed from a selected one of the reservoirs 40 via respective pipes 41 shown in Fig.
  • a controller (not shown) opens and closes the valves 38 so that each of the three reservoirs 40 is filled with high-pressure air, but only one at any given time feeds the high-pressure air to the turbine. In such manner, when the currently active reservoir 40 is empty or the pressure of the air therein is insufficient to activate the turbine, control may revert to another one of the reservoirs 40. This requires constant interchange between two of the reservoirs 40, the third being used as a reserve.
  • a pair of optional bridges 41 each spanning opposite sides of the spaced-apart guides 11 and 12 and each supporting at least one of the bellows units 25.
  • the ends of the float 18 are so shaped that when either end of the float 18 is urged upward by an incoming wave in either direction, the float actuates the bellows unit 25 proximate to the respective end.
  • Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the float and attached beams, showing the main beam 14 supporting the T-shaped end-piece 15 atop the float 18. In practice, as shown in Figs.
  • the main beam 14 extends axially through the float 18 and its central portion is cylindrical as best seen in Fig. 5 and adapted for rotation within a central bore of the float. To this end, it may be supported within bearings that ensure that the main beam 14 does not rotate during up and down motion of the float 18.
  • the main beam 14 is subjected only to transverse lateral and axial motion when waves urge the float 18 either forwards and backwards or to and from (from left to right or vice versa). In this manner, waves impinging on the T-shaped end-pieces 15 cause the main beam 14 to rotate and actuate the bellows 25 proximate thereto.
  • the float 18 is able to rotate about the axis of the main beam 14 and thereby actuate the bellows 25 located directly underneath the bridges 41.
  • the bridges 41 may also serve to provide stability to the upper portions of the guides 11 and 12 and prevent their relative displacement one from the other owing to forces applied by the float 18 when waves passing through the venturi passageway 31 strike the rocker arm 13 between the guides. It will be noted that while the guides 11 and 12 are anchored to the seabed, they are tall structures at least 5m high, and significant force is applied to their upper extremities. These forces can, over time, act to deflect the guides and the bridges 41 being fastened at opposite ends to the respective guides help to mitigate this effect.
  • auxiliary floats 45 mounted outside a boundary of the guides.
  • the auxiliary floats are responsive to wave motion for moving vertically and are configured to transduce the vertical movement to rotation of an electric generator.
  • the auxiliary float 45 supports on an upper surface 46 a four upright supports 47 having a square profile and being adapted for vertical sliding movement relative to a frame 48 fixed to an outer surface of one of the guides.
  • the auxiliary float 45 also supports in the middle of its upper surface 46 an upright rail 49 also of square profile around which the four upright supports 47 are symmetrically arranged.
  • the upright rail 49 has teeth 50 along at least part of a surface on opposite sides thereof that engage a respective gear train 51 disposed on opposite sides of the upright rail 49.
  • the respective gear trains 51 are rotatable relative to a shaft 52 of an electric generator 53, whereby vertical movement of the auxiliary float 45 induces rotation of the generator shaft 52.
  • One of the two gear trains 51 engages the teeth 50 of the upright rail 49 during upward motion thereof and the other gear train engages the teeth 50 of the upright rail 49 during downward motion thereof.
  • the two gear trains 51 rotate in mutually opposite directions whereby the shaft 52 is rotated in a constant angular direction during both up and down movement of the rail 49.
  • each float 45 is operatively coupled to a different generator 53 as explained above. By such means, each generator operates independently when the wave reaches the respective float 45 and the same sequence of operation is repeated in reverse when the wave is reflected from the coast.
  • an optional force regulator 55 comprising a frame 56 that is pivotably attached to opposite sides of each guide by support brackets 57.
  • the frame 56 is also attached by steels cables 58 to towers 59 on the guides 11 and 12 and is configured for lowering and raising into and out of a path of oncoming waves.
  • the frame 56 supports adjustable shutters 60 that can be swung opened and closed for regulating force of the waves passing therethrough prior to reaching the rocker arm 13. When the waves are not strong such that there is no need for power regulation, the frame 56 may be winched into an upward position, whereby the guides appear as shown in Fig. 2, where the frame 56 is completely out of the water and therefore has no effect.
  • the waves gain in strength it may then be lowered into a partially engaged position and the shutters 60 may be tilted in order to regulate the force of the waves passing through the frame 56 and between the venturi passageway 31 toward the rocker arm 13.
  • the frame may be slidably raised and lowered within a slotted rail supported on opposing surfaces of the guides.
  • Figs. 12 to 14 show another embodiment of the invention.
  • the bellows units 25 are supported on a back surface 29 or side surface 30 of the (reshaped guide 11.
  • a compressor 70 that is conceptually similar in operation to a bicycle pump and has a piston 71 that is actuated by the bellows unit 25 in a forward and reverse direction via an armature 72 coupled at its front end to the piston 71 and at its rear end to the bellows unit 25.
  • the compressor 70 has a fluid inlet 73 coupled via a one-way valve 74 to a fluid reservoir (not shown) and a fluid outlet 75 coupled via a one-way valve 76 either directly to the turbine or to a pressure regulator 80 shown in Fig. 14.
  • operating fluid 77 such as water or more commonly oil is pumped by the compressor 70 through the outlet 75 and replenished from the fluid reservoir in either an open or closed cycle.
  • the pressure regulator 80 includes a high pressure chamber 81 an outlet 82 of which feeds compressed operating fluid to the turbine via a normally-closed pressure release valve 83, which opens when the pressure inside the chamber 81 exceeds a preset value, typically 6 atmospheres.
  • the chamber 81 contains the operating fluid to a certain level in the chamber 81 from which it is fed to the outlet 82 via a float valve 84 operated by a float 85.
  • the chamber 81 has a first inlet 86 coupled via a normally- closed pressure -release valve 87 to the air pressure chamber 37.
  • the chamber 81 has a second inlet 88 coupled via a one-way valve 89 to the compressor 70.
  • the bellows units 25 may operate as described previously to force air at high pressure into the air pressure chamber 37. Additionally or alternatively the compressor 70 forces operating fluid at pressure into the chamber 81 via the one-way valve 89. This raises the level of the operating fluid 77 and opens the float valve 84. However, operating fluid is unable to escape from the chamber while the pressure is less than the release pressure of the pressure release valve 83. Consequently, successive pulses of pressure applied by the compressor 70 build up the pressure of the operating fluid 77 in the chamber 81. This continues until the pressure of the operating fluid 77 exceeds the release pressure of the pressure release valve 83, which then opens and ejects a pulse of operating fluid 77 at high pressure to operate the turbine. This causes the level of operating fluid 77 in the chamber 81 to fall, thereby lowering the float 85 and closing the float valve 84, thus ensuring that a minimal volume of operating fluid 77 remains inside the chamber 81.
  • the front and rear edges of the float 18 may be modified from the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that one pair of diagonally opposed edges are chamfered so as to present surfaces of enlarged area to the waves thus enhancing its effect.
  • the shape of the bellows units 25 is shown in Fig. 6a as rectangular but can be circular or any other shape. Likewise, not all the bellows units need be of the same size.
  • the manner of construction and operation of the bellows units 25 is not material to the invention it being merely required that they expand after operation by the rocker arm 13 so as to re-fill with air. This may be done using any suitable mechanism such as springs as shown or by a telescopic mechanism.
  • the bellows units 25 can pump air at high pressure to the air pressure chambers 37. When used in conjunction with the compressor 70, it can be used to cover the compressor 70 and protect it against corrosion in seawater.
  • the compressor 70 which may be formed of metal or other material, has a diameter in the order of 1 m and a length in the order of 3 m.
  • the piston 71 can be operatively coupled to the bellows unit 25 by an L-shaped armature using flexible joints so that the pistons 71 do not need to be coaxial with the bellows units.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système qui permet de générer de l'électricité en utilisant l'énergie des vagues et qui comprend une paire de guides espacés, ancrés au plancher océanique et s'étendant au-dessus de la surface de l'eau, un culbuteur flottant disposé entre les guides et une pluralité d'unités de soufflet portées par les guides et disposées de telle sorte qu'une surface de fonctionnement de celles-ci est actionnée lorsqu'elles sont sollicitées directement ou indirectement par le culbuteur flottant. Des chambres à chaque extrémité des guides possèdent des entrées de fluide respectives, alimentées par les unités de soufflet par l'intermédiaire de clapets de non-retour, et des sorties de fluide respectives menant à des turbines de génération d'électricité. Un mouvement de vague induit un mouvement de type bascule du culbuteur et fait fonctionner les unités de soufflet pour transférer l'air provenant du soufflet vers les chambres à partir desquelles un fluide à haute pression est transféré vers les turbines pour générer de l'électricité.
PCT/IL2016/051004 2015-09-10 2016-09-09 Système de génération d'électricité par énergie des vagues à l'aide d'un soufflet WO2017042817A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL241504 2015-09-10
IL241504A IL241504A (en) 2015-09-10 2015-09-10 A system for generating sea energy using blowers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017042817A1 true WO2017042817A1 (fr) 2017-03-16

Family

ID=55022988

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IL2016/051004 WO2017042817A1 (fr) 2015-09-10 2016-09-09 Système de génération d'électricité par énergie des vagues à l'aide d'un soufflet

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IL (1) IL241504A (fr)
WO (1) WO2017042817A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030218337A1 (en) * 2001-12-18 2003-11-27 Ming-Hung Lin Power generating machine with a bellows adaptable to sea waves so as to drive a generator
EP2140133A1 (fr) * 2007-04-25 2010-01-06 Single Buoy Moorings, Inc. Systèmes de générateur d'énergie houlomotrice
GB2466480A (en) * 2008-12-11 2010-06-30 Univ Nottingham Extracting energy from waves in the form of compressed air

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030218337A1 (en) * 2001-12-18 2003-11-27 Ming-Hung Lin Power generating machine with a bellows adaptable to sea waves so as to drive a generator
EP2140133A1 (fr) * 2007-04-25 2010-01-06 Single Buoy Moorings, Inc. Systèmes de générateur d'énergie houlomotrice
GB2466480A (en) * 2008-12-11 2010-06-30 Univ Nottingham Extracting energy from waves in the form of compressed air

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IL241504A0 (en) 2015-12-01
IL241504A (en) 2016-02-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5025634B2 (ja) 波エネルギから発電する装置及び制御システム
US8581432B2 (en) Ocean wave energy converter capturing heave, surge and pitch motion
US8628303B2 (en) Wave energy converter
US9074577B2 (en) Wave energy converter system
US9920544B1 (en) Plunger wave generator apparatus for efficiently producing waves in a body of water
US20120032446A1 (en) Ocean wave energy converter with multiple capture modes
EP2313646A1 (fr) Convertisseur amélioré de l'énergie des vagues
JP2012514708A (ja) 海洋波エネルギーを電気に変換する方法及び装置
MX2009000329A (es) Convertidor de energia de oleaje.
US20140077496A1 (en) Ocean Wave Energy Converter (OWEC) with Counter-Rotating Flywheels
JP2010065704A5 (fr)
JP2729096B2 (ja) 波エネルギシステム
JP2015528766A (ja) 安定補助翼を有する半潜水型プラットフォームおよびこのようなプラットフォームと一体化した海上波力発電所
US20110289913A1 (en) Wave energy transfer system
WO2017042817A1 (fr) Système de génération d'électricité par énergie des vagues à l'aide d'un soufflet
US20210148326A1 (en) Tide Activated Device to Operate A Turbine Generator
US10184445B2 (en) Linear array of wave energy conversion devices
EP1375912B1 (fr) Plate-forme marine pour la conversion de l'énergie du vent et des vagues
US10508641B2 (en) Wave energy generation apparatus
WO2024057002A1 (fr) Générateur d'énergie permettant de générer de l'énergie à partir d'un écoulement d'eau
EP0036586A2 (fr) Dispositif producteur d'énergie utilisant le mouvement des vagues

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 16843846

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 16843846

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1