WO2010081961A1

WO2010081961A1 - Device for recovering sea wave energy

Info

Publication number: WO2010081961A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georges Hildebrand; Bernard Grand
Original assignee: Georges Hildebrand; Bernard Grand
Priority date: 2009-01-13
Filing date: 2010-01-08
Publication date: 2010-07-22
Also published as: FR2941016A1; FR2941016B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for harnessing the vertical energy and profile of waves, comprising a floating platform that includes a deck (4) which rests on three floating elements (1, 2, 3) and which accommodates a closed circular duct (9) containing a high volume of water called "gush" (10). Said gush (10) is made to rotate using the swirling effect and directly drives a bladed wheel (11) that has a vertical shaft, is rotatably immersed in the water, and drives a power generator (8). Three identical floating elements are disposed under the deck (4) in the form of an equilateral triangle and are always oriented such that any two floating elements are aligned in the direction of propagation of the waves. The device further comprises a mooring system including three identical units that are arranged in an triangle. Each unit has two cables (17) that are tied to the same anchored floating case (18), the cables forming a V and being attached to two mooring points (16) which are 120 degrees apart on a ring located on the deck (4). Said ring (20) allows the power plant to be angularly displaced by 360 degrees using orienting motors (22) and a roller assembly (21) that rolls on a circular rail (23).

Description

DEVICE FOR RECOVERING THE ENERGY OF THE MARINE HOLLY

The invention presented here relates to a device for recovering the energy of the marine swell to produce electricity.

Among the known technologies, there is that of the floating tripod hydroelectric plant elevator whose three floats capture the pitching and rolling oscillations, to create a swiveling phenomenon.

The Centrifugal Tripod Centrifugal Fluid (CFTC), object of the present application, allows to directly transform the swiveling motion generated by the swell in rotation of the axis of the electric generator.

Recall the principle of collecting swell energy by swiveling (Figures 2, 3, 4): A platform is constituted by a bridge and three floats arranged in an equilateral triangle.

Two floats are aligned with the direction of propagation of the wave of waves (pitch floats, port side). The third float (roll float) is at equal distance from the first two, on the starboard side. When the pitch floats are at an identical height overlapping a ridge, the roll float is on the crest line and tilts the deck to port. When the wave has advanced half its length, the two pitch floats will again be at the same height, but overlapping a hollow. The roll float will be in a recess and will tilt the deck to starboard. Half a wave later, the bridge will have returned to its original position, inclined to port.

During the cycle (that of the wave), the bridge of the station rolls from port to starboard, then from starboard to port. Simultaneously, he pitched: from the horizontal, he plunges forward, returns to the horizontal and then leans backwards, and returns to its initial horizontal position.

The combination of the two roll and pitch oscillations causes the axis perpendicular to the bridge to describe an inverted cone. The bridge is tilted in perpetual pivoting about a vertical axis. It is an oscillating-pivoting movement constituting a swiveling.

This composition of oscillations makes describe at the line of greater slope of the inclined bridge a scan of 360 degrees per cycle of the swell.

The Centrifugal Tripod Floating Plant (CFTC) transforms the swivel movement into a rotation of the axis of the generator generating electricity without a complex intermediate device. This device is independent of any external reaction force, according to the principle of the isolated system. It floats freely like a buoy resting on its three floats. It is self-limiting due to the triangular arrangement of its floats and the presence of an annular stabilizer girdling the bridge or several peripheral stabilizers.

The plant is moored so as not to be displaced by wind or sea currents. The mooring is designed so as not to hinder oscillations due to the swell, and to allow the orientation of the plant in accordance with the principle of swiveling and whatever changes in orientation of the swell.

The construction technique is part of a common shipyard. The architecture presents no known technical challenges and uses readily available and recyclable materials and components. One form of the invention is described in the following pages as an indication and in no way limiting. The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the device.

Figure 1: Floating Wave Station (General view for the abstract)

Figure 2: Swiveling principle due to waves Figure 3: Swiveling sequences (top view)

Figure 4: Rotating sequences (view from below)

Figure 5: Exploded Central

Figure 6: Cross section

Figure 7: Mooring system Figure 8: Central fixed by telescopic leg

Figure 9: Multi-stage power plant

Figure 10: Wave Farm (CFTC Power Plants Networked)

The Centrifugal Tripod Centrifugal Fluid (CFTC) comprises various parts detailed below: I) - BRIDGE (Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)

The bridge 4 of the plant is based on three floats 1, 2 and 3, which form an equilateral triangle. Any two of the floats are always aligned in the direction of. propagation of the swell (by an automatic control) and thanks to a specific mooring system.

At the periphery of the circular platform, an annular stabilizer 5 ensures the safety of the plant for cases of extreme location.

2) - CIRCULAR CHANNEL (Figures 5, 6)

A circular channel 9 is formed in the bridge. It contains a volume of captive water which gathers, during swiveling, in the lowest part of the channel forming a "goulée". The mass of this goulée creates an imbalance and, from the circular movement of it, a centrifugal force is born. The groove rotates in the channel at the same frequency as the swiveling motion of the bridge.

The bridge thus takes a heel resulting from three factors: a) the passage of the swell creating the swiveling, b) the existence of unbalance by the goulée, c) the action of the centrifugal force due to the circular displacement of the goulée d 'water. This heeling angle follows, in rotation, the line of greatest slope of the bridge, thereby constituting the swiveling around the vertical axis.

The upper part of the channel is closed by a circular cover 6. Two valves, one filling the other draining the channel are provided. The plant can work with both seawater and freshwater. 3) - VERTICAL AXIS AUBES WHEEL (Figures 5, 6)

The water of the channel causes, in its circular displacement, the rotation of the electric generator 8 via the impeller 11 mounted on the same fixed vertical axis 24. If the type of generator requires it, a multiplier system turns can be provided on its axis. _ _

The number of vanes 12 of the wheel is such that each tube of water (which occupies about half a circumference of the channel) exerts its thrust on several blades at the same time.

The transformation of the swiveling movement of the bridge into a rotation of the generator is direct and of fluid type, without any rigid coupling. In order to obtain an effect of regulating the rotation, the arms of the impeller may be sufficiently massive or associated with a flywheel integral with the rotating axis of the central unit.

Depending on the wavelength of the swell, the system allows operation in both possible directions of rotation thus allowing the use over a wide range of the frequency spectrum of the swell. As a result, the blade plane 12 is positioned perpendicular to the circular displacement of the water channel. The blades are held by the blade struts 26.

4) - GENERATOR (Figures 5, 6)

Placed on the axis of the impeller, the generator 8 rotates thanks to the torque generated by the pressure of the water of the water tube on the blades. It is possibly equipped with a multiplier of turns.

A sealed cover 6 covering the circular channel isolates the generatrix from the water of the goulée, and a cap 7 protects it from the seawater outside.

The electrical energy delivered is sent to shore by an underwater cable.

5) - MOORING SYSTEM (FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 7, 10) On the periphery of the bridge, and at 120 degrees from each other, are arranged three mooring points 16. Three pairs of cables 17 in form of "V" are fixed and will attach to three floating boxes 18, themselves connected by anchor chains 28 to three mooring 19 located on the seabed.

In order to ensure the alignment of two of the floats perpendicular to the direction of the swell to ensure the pitch, the mooring points are not integral with the bridge itself but a circular ring 20 whose angular displacement (from 0 360 degrees) allows the necessary orientation of the bridge and therefore that of the floats.

The rotation of the ring, guided by a rail 23 and rollers 21, is provided by orientation motors 22 controlled by a system controlled by the direction of the swell. 6) - MOTION REPLACEMENT BY TELESCOPIC FOOT (Figure 8)

To exploit the increase in the amplitude of the swell in the shallow areas, the anchoring system by cables or chains is replaced by a vertical telescopic leg 13, the base tripod 14 is sealed or placed on the seabed. The tube comprises two parts sliding one inside the other and whose sections (for example square or hexagonal) prohibit any axial rotation. The center of the platform is then attached to the top of the telescopic leg by an articulation

15 Cardan type. All the vertical angular movements between the bridge and the support foot are free, which allows the center to oscillate and swivel, but not to turn on itself. This function can also be obtained with a finger ball joint. . -

The plant thus performs its swiveling while following, thanks to the sliding tubes, the vertical variations due to the tidal range.

The refraction effect of the wave of wave tending to direct it perpendicular to the shoreline in the shoal areas, and the telescopic foot being fixed at its base, the mooring and its orientation system become mutile. We also benefit from the increase in swell amplitude due to shoaling.

7) - MULTIPLICATION OF POWER THROUGH MULTIPLE TURBINE STAGES (Figure 9)

The above described CFTC wave power plant comprises a single turbine stage 25 comprising a circular channel 9 and a paddle wheel 11 driven by the rotation of the water channel 10.

The electrical power generated by the plant can be multiplied by superimposing several turbine stages identical to the previous, mounted on the same axis 24, and actuating the generator 8 - the operating principle of the plant remaining unchanged.

For example, a three-stage plant, tripling the power produced, is illustrated in Figure 9. 8) - REALIZING A FARM OF PLANTS (Figure 10)

A network constituting a wave farm is obtained by interconnecting several power plants, moored by cables 17 and floating boxes 18, the whole being connected by the anchor chains 28 to the mooring members 19. FIG. 10 shows the example of a hexagonal foπne network.

Claims

I) - Device for capturing the vertical energy and the profile of the swell, characterized in that it consists of a floating platform which comprises a bridge 4 resting on three floats 1, 2, 3, (tripod system ) and in which is formed a circular channel 9 containing a large volume of water called "goulée" 10. This goulée, rotated by the swiveling phenomenon, directly drives a vertical axis impeller 11 rotating an electric generator 8.

2) - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for recovering the pitch and roll oscillations is constituted by three identical floats positioned in equilateral triangle below the deck, and always oriented so that any two floats are aligned with the direction of propagation of the swell. 3) - Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the means to ensure the optimal operation of the floats (tripod) for all wave orientations is a docking system consisting of three identical sets arranged in a triangle.

Each set comprises two cables 17 attached to the same floating box 18 itself anchored, the cables forming a "V" to go to fix two mooring points 16 120 degrees apart on a ring 20. This allows a 360 degree angular deflection of the power plant, which is provided by orientation motors 22 and a set of rollers 21 rolling on a circular rail 23.

4) - Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that a sliding telescopic foot 13 replaces, in first variant, the cable mooring system, and is fixed to the seabed, this device allowing the central to be located on shoals adapting to the tidal range.

5) - Device according to the preceding claims characterized in that the platform comprises, in the second variant, several turbine stages 25 identical to the preceding (circular channel 9 provided with a blade wheel 11), mounted on the same axis and driving a more powerful generator.

6) - Device according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 5 characterized in that a wave farm is achieved by the networking of several power plants moored to each other by cables 17 and floating chests 18, all being anchored by mooring 19 on the seabed.