Ocean Energy Capture Structure

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ocean energy capture structure, which includes a floating block, a weight block, a shell and a flexible piezoelectric component. The flexible piezoelectric component passes through a guide portion in the shell, and one end is connected to the floating body, and the other end is connected to the weight block. Under the action of seawater, the floating body and the weight block, the guide portion in the shell can act on the flexible piezoelectric component to bend and deform the flexible piezoelectric component, thereby polarizing the flexible piezoelectric component to generate electrical energy. The ocean energy can be converted into electrical energy for human use, thereby improving the energy utilization rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of power generation, and in particular to an ocean energy capture structure. Background Art

[0002] The ocean contains abundant wave energy and tidal energy. How to convert the energy in the ocean into electrical energy for human use is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. The ocean energy harvesting technologies currently under research mainly include electromagnetic energy harvesting technology and piezoelectric energy harvesting technology. In related technologies, piezoelectric cantilever beams are usually used. A mass block is arranged at the free end of the piezoelectric cantilever beam. Under the influence of the mass block, the piezoelectric cantilever beam is in a bent state. However, in this way, the strain is mainly concentrated at the root of the cantilever beam, the force-bearing area of ​​the piezoelectric sheet is small, and the energy conversion rate is low. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention provides an ocean energy capture structure that can collect tidal energy or wave energy and convert it into electrical energy.

[0004] The ocean energy capture structure according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises:

[0005] include:

[0006] Floating blocks;

[0007] a first weight block, the first weight block being located below the floating block, and at least one of the floating block and the first weight block being provided with a bending groove;

[0008] a flexible piezoelectric element, one end of which is connected to the floating block, the other end of which is connected to the first weight block, and the flexible piezoelectric element moves along the bending groove;

[0009] A spring, one end of which is fixedly connected to the floating block, and the other end of which is fixedly connected to the first weight block.

[0010] The ocean energy capture structure according to the embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: through the above-mentioned setting method, the flexible piezoelectric element can move along the bending groove, thereby bending and deforming, and converting tidal energy or wave energy into electrical energy.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the flexible piezoelectric element is a sheet-like structure, and the piezoelectric polarization direction of the flexible piezoelectric element is the thickness direction of the flexible piezoelectric element.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the flexible piezoelectric element is a stacked structure, including a flexible piezoelectric material layer and a wear-resistant layer arranged on both sides of the flexible piezoelectric material layer.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the floating block and the first weight block are both provided with bending grooves.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the floating block includes a float and a second weight block, the second weight block is arranged below the floating body and fixedly connected to the floating body, and the first weight block and the second weight block are both provided with the bending groove.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the cross section of the curved groove is semicircular.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, one end of the bending groove is an open end, the other end of the bending groove is a closed end, and the open end of the bending groove on the first weight block and the open end of the bending groove on the second weight block are arranged along a diagonal direction.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, a limiting rope is further included, wherein both ends of the limiting rope are respectively fixedly connected to the floating block and the first weight block, and the limiting rope is used to limit the maximum distance between the floating block and the first weight block.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, a guide column is further included, one of the floating block and the first weight block is fixedly connected to the guide column, and the other is slidably connected to the guide column, and the spring is sleeved on the outside of the guide column.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and in part will be obvious from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 It is a left side view of the marine energy capture structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a front view of the ocean energy capture structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 A bottom view of the marine energy capture structure of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible piezoelectric element in the ocean energy capture structure of the present invention;

[0025] Reference numerals:

[0026] Floating block 100 Floating body 110 Second weight block 120 Second curved groove 121 First weight block 200 First curved groove 210

[0027] Flexible piezoelectric element 300 Flexible piezoelectric material layer 310 Wear-resistant layer 320 Spring 400 Limiting rope 500

[0028] Guide pillar 600. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0030] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., and orientations or positional relationships indicated are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, "several" means more than one, "many" means more than two, "greater than", "less than", "exceed", etc. are understood to exclude the number itself, and "above", "below", "within", etc. are understood to include the number itself. If there is a description of "first" or "second", it is only used for the purpose of distinguishing the technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0032] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0033] In the description of the present invention, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "illustrative embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0034] Combine the following Figures 1 to 4 The ocean energy capture structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0035] The ocean energy capture structure includes a floating block 100, a first weight block 200, a flexible piezoelectric element 300 and a spring 400, wherein the first weight block 200 is located below the floating block 100, and at least one of the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 is provided with a bending groove, one end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is connected to the floating block 100, and the other end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is connected to the first weight block 200, and the flexible piezoelectric element 300 moves along the bending groove, one end of the spring 400 is fixedly connected to the floating block 100, and the other end of the spring 400 is fixedly connected to the first weight block 200.

[0036] Specifically, the ocean energy capture structure is used in water, especially in the ocean, to collect wave energy and tidal energy. The floating block 100 always floats on the sea surface, the first weight block 200 is arranged below the floating block 100, and the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 are connected by a spring 400, that is, the first end of the spring 400 is fixedly connected to the floating block 100, and the second end of the spring 400 is fixedly connected to the first weight block 200. The floating block 100 rises and falls with the waves of the sea water, thereby driving the first weight block 200 to move, but under the influence of factors such as buoyancy and gravity, the movement amplitude of the floating block 100 is greater than the movement amplitude of the first weight block 200, so the distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 will change, that is, the distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 becomes larger, and the spring 400 is in a stretched state, or the distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 becomes smaller, and the spring 400 is in a compressed state. A bending groove is provided on at least one of the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200, and the specific setting manner can be the following three manners: first, the first bending groove 210 is provided only on the first weight block 200, and the bending groove is not provided on the floating block 100, one end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is fixedly connected to the floating block 100, and the other end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is slidably connected to the first weight block 200, that is, the other end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is placed in the first bending groove 210 and can move along the first bending groove 210; second, the second bending groove 121 is provided only on the floating block 100, and the bending groove is not provided on the first weight block 200, and one end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is slidably connected to the floating block 100, that is, one end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is placed in the second bending groove 121 and can move along the second bending groove 121; third, as Figure 1As shown, the second bending groove 121 is provided on the floating block 100, and the first bending groove 210 is provided on the first weight block 200. The two ends of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 are respectively connected to the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 in a sliding manner, that is, one end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is placed in the second bending groove 121, and the other end of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is placed in the first bending groove 210, and the two ends can move along the second bending groove 121 and the first bending groove 210 respectively. The flexible piezoelectric element 300 is deformed under the action of the bending groove, and the piezoelectric material in the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is squeezed to generate electric energy. When the distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 becomes smaller, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is squeezed and moves along the bending groove, that is, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 continuously enters the bending groove. When the distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 increases, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 moves outward from the bending groove, that is, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 gradually exits the bending groove, and when the distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 decreases, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is squeezed into the bending groove again. Under the action of seawater, the distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 of the ocean energy capture structure can be changed between increasing and decreasing, so that electrical energy can be continuously generated, that is, the ocean energy capture structure can collect wave energy and tidal energy in seawater and convert the above energy into electrical energy that can be used by humans. It can be understood that the ocean energy capture structure is not limited to use in the ocean, but can also be used in fresh water where wave energy is relatively abundant.

[0037] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is a sheet-like structure, and the piezoelectric polarization direction of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is the thickness direction of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 .

[0038] Specifically, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is a sheet structure with a relatively thin thickness, so the corresponding piezoelectric material is also distributed in a sheet shape. The flexible piezoelectric element 300 moves in the bending groove and bends and deforms. The piezoelectric material at the bend can basically be fully polarized. If the thickness of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is relatively thick, then at the bend, the material in the middle position in the thickness direction cannot be squeezed and thus will not be polarized, which will cause a waste of piezoelectric material. Through the above-mentioned setting method, the utilization rate of the piezoelectric material can be improved and the cost can be reduced. The thickness of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is preferably such that when bending occurs, the piezoelectric material substrate at the bend is fully polarized.

[0039] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is a stacked structure, including a flexible piezoelectric material layer 310 and a wear-resistant layer 320 disposed on both sides of the flexible piezoelectric material layer.

[0040] Specifically, Figure 4As shown, the cross section of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is a sandwich structure, the middle layer is a flexible piezoelectric material layer 310, and the upper and lower layers of the middle layer are both wear-resistant layers 320. The wear-resistant layer 320 wraps the flexible piezoelectric material layer 310 to protect the flexible piezoelectric material layer 310. When the flexible piezoelectric element 300 moves in the bending groove, the wear-resistant layer 320 can protect the flexible piezoelectric material layer 310. Through the above-mentioned setting, the service life of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 can be improved. In addition, in order to reduce the friction when the flexible piezoelectric element 300 interacts with the guide groove, the outer surface of the wear-resistant layer 320 is a smooth surface layer.

[0041] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the floating block 100 includes a float 110 and a second weight block 120. The second weight block 120 is arranged below the float 110 and fixedly connected to the float 110. The first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120 are both provided with bending grooves.

[0042] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, the buoy 100 includes a float 110 and a second weight block 120. The second weight block 120 is arranged below the float 110. The float 110 and the second weight block 120 are fixedly connected. The float 110 floats on the sea surface, and the second weight block 120 is submerged in the sea water. The second weight block 120 is provided with a bending groove (i.e., the second bending groove 121), and the first weight block 200 is also provided with a bending groove (i.e., the first bending groove 210). The first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120 are both located in the sea water. In addition, in order to make the movement amplitude of the first weight block 200 smaller than that of the second weight block 120, the mass of the first weight block 200 is greater than that of the second weight block 120, and the mass of the first weight block 200 is 2-4 times the mass of the second weight block 120. The float 110 can be made of foam material, such as the attached Figure 3 As shown in the bottom view in FIG. 1 , the area of ​​the float 110 is larger than the area of ​​the second weight block 120. Through the above arrangement, the size of the float 110 can be set according to actual needs. The first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120 can be made of a metal resistant to seawater corrosion, such as copper-nickel alloy, monel alloy, aluminum bronze, etc.

[0043] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the cross section of the curved groove is semicircular.

[0044] Specifically, the cross-sections of the first bending groove 210 and the second bending groove 121 are both semicircular. When the distance between the first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120 becomes smaller, the two ends of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 move along the first bending groove 210 and the second bending groove 121 respectively, and the semicircular bending groove can ensure that the flexible piezoelectric element 300 entering the bending groove is in a state of bending deformation, and can ensure that the flexible piezoelectric element 300 can smoothly enter and exit the first bending groove 210 and the second bending groove 121. The arc length of the semicircle is greater than or equal to half the length of the flexible piezoelectric element 300. When the distance between the first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120 is the smallest, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 can enter the first bending groove 210 and the second bending groove 121 to the maximum extent, so that the flexible piezoelectric element 300 can be fully bent, thereby increasing the amount of electricity generated by the flexible piezoelectric element 300 and improving the working efficiency of the ocean energy capture structure.

[0045] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, one end of the bending groove is an open end, and the other end of the bending groove is a closed end, and the open end of the bending groove on the first weight block 200 and the open end of the bending groove on the second weight block 120 are arranged along the diagonal direction.

[0046] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, one end of the first curved groove 210 is an open end and the other end is a closed end, and one end of the second curved groove 121 is an open end and the other end is a closed end. By setting it as a closed end, it can ensure that the flexible piezoelectric element 300 can only enter and exit in one direction, thereby ensuring the reliability of the marine energy capture structure. The opening end of the first curved groove 210 and the opening end of the second curved groove 121 are arranged along the diagonal direction, the opening end of the first curved groove 210 is arranged on the right side, and the opening end of the second curved groove 121 is arranged on the left side, and the two are arranged in a diagonal direction. Compared with the method in which the opening ends are arranged on the same side, when the opening ends are arranged on the same side, the length of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is slightly larger than the distance between the first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120, while the opening ends are distributed diagonally, and the length of the flexible piezoelectric element 300 is much larger than the distance between the first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120, that is, when the opening ends are arranged along the diagonal direction, a longer flexible piezoelectric element 300 is required to match the ocean energy capture structure, that is, a longer flexible piezoelectric element 300 can be bent and deformed, and in the process in which the distance between the first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120 gradually decreases, the flexible piezoelectric element 300 can generate more electrical energy. Therefore, the above-mentioned arrangement can improve the working efficiency of the ocean energy capture structure.

[0047] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, a limiting rope 500 is further included, and both ends of the limiting rope 500 are fixedly connected to the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 respectively. The limiting rope 500 is used to limit the maximum distance between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200.

[0048] Specifically, in order to prevent the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 from being too far apart, thereby causing the spring 400 to fail, a limit rope 500 is provided between the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200. Figure 1 As shown, one end of the limiting rope 500 is fixedly connected to the first weight block 200, and the other end of the limiting rope 500 is fixedly connected to the floating block 100. Specifically, the other end of the limiting rope 500 is fixedly connected to the second weight block 120 in the floating block 100. Since the limiting rope 500 is rigid, that is, the limiting rope 500 cannot be stretched in the length direction, the maximum spacing between the first weight block 200 and the second weight block 120 is the length of the limiting rope 500. In order to evenly bear the force, the limiting rope 500 can be evenly arranged along the circumference of the first weight block 200 and the first weight block 120.

[0049] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, a guide post 600 is further included, one of the floating block 100 and the first weight block 200 is fixedly connected to the guide post 600, and the other is slidably connected to the guide post, and the spring 400 is sleeved on the outside of the guide post 600.

[0050] Specifically, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, one end of the guide post 600 is fixedly connected to the first weight block 200, and the floating block 100 is provided with a through hole, and the other end of the guide post 600 passes through the through hole and can move up and down along the through hole. The spring 400 is sleeved on the outside of the guide post 600. When the distance between the first weight block 200 and the floating block 100 becomes smaller and compresses the spring, the spring 400 can be compressed along the length direction of the guide post. If the guide post 600 is not provided between the first weight block and the floating block 100, the spring 400 may be bent and will not be compressed according to the predetermined path, thereby affecting the reliability of the ocean energy capture structure. Through the above-mentioned setting method, the spring 400 can be compressed along a fixed path, thereby improving the reliability of the ocean energy capture structure. It can be understood that one end of the guide post 600 can also be fixedly connected to the floating block 100, and the first weight block 200 is provided with a through hole, and the other end of the guide post 600 passes through the through hole and moves up and down relative to the through hole.

[0051] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes can be made within the knowledge of ordinary technicians in the relevant technical field without departing from the purpose of the present invention. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

Claims

1. An ocean energy capture structure, characterized in that: include: Floating blocks; a first weight block, the first weight block is located below the floating block, the floating block includes a floating body and a second weight block, the second weight block is arranged below the floating body and is fixedly connected to the floating body, and the first weight block and the second weight block are both provided with a bending groove; a flexible piezoelectric member, one end of which is slidably connected to the second weight block and placed in a curved groove of the second weight block, the other end of which is slidably connected to the first weight block and placed in the curved groove of the first weight block, and both ends of which move along the curved groove on the first weight block and the curved groove on the second weight block respectively; a spring, one end of which is fixedly connected to the second weight block, and the other end of which is fixedly connected to the first weight block; A guide post, one of the second weight block and the first weight block is fixedly connected to the guide post, the other is slidably connected to the guide post, and the spring is sleeved on the outside of the guide post; a limiting rope, the two ends of which are respectively fixedly connected to the second weight block and the first weight block, and the limiting rope is used to limit the maximum distance between the second weight block and the first weight block; One end of the bending groove is an open end, and the other end of the bending groove is a closed end. The open end of the bending groove on the first weight block and the open end of the bending groove on the second weight block are arranged along the diagonal direction, and the cross-section of the bending groove is semicircular.

2. The ocean energy capture structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible piezoelectric element is a sheet-like structure, and the piezoelectric polarization direction of the flexible piezoelectric element is the thickness direction of the flexible piezoelectric element.

3. The ocean energy capture structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flexible piezoelectric element is a stacked structure, including a flexible piezoelectric material layer and a wear-resistant layer arranged on both sides of the flexible piezoelectric material layer.

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