Ocean current energy harvester and power generation system

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ocean current energy harvester, comprising a shell, a power assembly, and a friction power generation assembly. The shell has an ocean current inlet and an ocean current outlet. The power assembly includes a central shaft and a turbine. The friction power generation assembly is connected to the central shaft. The ocean current harvester of the present invention is arranged on the seabed. The ocean current enters the shell through the ocean current inlet and flows out through the ocean current outlet. During this process, the ocean current drives the turbine to rotate, and the turbine drives the central shaft to rotate, thereby achieving the purpose of using the central shaft to drive the friction power generation assembly to work and generate electricity, completing energy conversion. The present invention uses the power assembly to collect the energy generated by the irregular impact of ocean currents in the ocean. The friction power generation assembly converts the mechanical energy of the ocean current into electrical energy, thereby improving the utilization rate of ocean current energy. The present invention also provides a power generation system including the above-mentioned ocean current harvester. Multiple ocean current harvesters are arranged in parallel to form a network-like power generation system to improve the conversion rate of ocean current impact energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of energy conversion equipment and peripheral supporting facilities thereof, and in particular to an ocean current energy harvester and a power generation system. Background Art

[0002] The regular flow of water on the seafloor is called "ocean currents." Ocean current generators are devices that convert the mechanical energy of ocean currents into electrical energy. This energy is considered an important renewable and clean energy source. Harvesting this energy can power sensing devices, but further research is needed to understand how to harvest this volatile energy. Currently, the traditional method involves rotating underwater turbines to drive surface-mounted generators. This approach is both costly and inefficient.

[0003] Therefore, how to change the current situation of low power generation efficiency of ocean current energy generators in the existing technology has become an urgent problem to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an ocean current energy harvester and a power generation system to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art and improve the utilization rate of ocean current energy.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides the following solution: The present invention provides an ocean current energy harvester, comprising:

[0006] A shell, the shell being capable of being disposed on a seabed, the shell having an ocean current inlet and an ocean current outlet;

[0007] a power assembly disposed in the housing, the power assembly comprising a central shaft and a turbine, the central shaft being rotatably connected to the housing, the turbine being connected to the central shaft, and the turbine being located between the ocean current inlet and the ocean current outlet;

[0008] A friction power generation component is arranged in the shell, and the friction power generation component is connected to the central shaft. The central shaft can drive the friction component to work and generate electricity.

[0009] Preferably, the shell includes two inclined plates and a curved plate, the two inclined plates are connected and are V-shaped, the connection between the two inclined plates can be set on the seabed, there is an angle between the inclined plates and the seabed, the tops of the two inclined plates are connected to the ends of the curved plate, and the longitudinal cross-section of the shell is fan-shaped.

[0010] Preferably, there are two ocean current inlets, which are arranged on the inclined plate. The two inclined plates are symmetrically arranged with the axis of the central axis as the symmetry axis. The ocean current outlet is located on the arc plate, and the ocean current outlet is coaxially arranged with the central axis.

[0011] Preferably, a support base is provided on the top of the inner wall of the shell, the central axis is rotatably connected to the support base, and the support base is a frame structure.

[0012] Preferably, the shell can be rotatably set on the seabed, and the shell also includes a vertical plate, which is set on the top of the arc plate. There are two vertical plates, and the two vertical plates are symmetrically arranged with the rotation axis of the central axis as the symmetry axis.

[0013] Preferably, a filling body is provided between the central axis and the ocean current inlet hole and between the turbine and the inner wall of the shell, and the filling body is made of a waterproof molding material.

[0014] Preferably, the bottom of the central shaft has a locking ball, and the locking ball is rotatably connected to the shell.

[0015] Preferably, the friction power generation component includes a sleeve and a rotor and a stator arranged in the sleeve, the stator is connected to the inner wall of the sleeve, the rotor is connected to the central axis, a polytetrafluoroethylene film is provided on the side of the stator facing the rotor, and a nylon film is provided on the side of the rotor facing the stator.

[0016] Preferably, both the polytetrafluoroethylene film and the nylon film are provided with a concave-convex structure.

[0017] The present invention also provides a power generation system, comprising the above-mentioned ocean current energy harvester, wherein the number of the ocean current energy harvesters is multiple, and the multiple ocean current energy harvesters are arranged in parallel.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has achieved the following technical effects:

[0019] The ocean current energy harvester of the present invention is arranged on the seabed. The ocean current enters the shell through the ocean current inlet and flows out through the ocean current outlet. During this process, the ocean current drives the turbine to rotate, and the turbine drives the central shaft to rotate, thereby achieving the purpose of using the central shaft to drive the friction power generation component to work and generate electricity, thereby completing the energy conversion. The present invention uses a power component to collect the energy generated by the irregular ocean current impact in the ocean, and the friction power generation component converts the mechanical energy of the ocean current into electrical energy, thereby improving the utilization rate of the ocean current energy.

[0020] The present invention also provides a power generation system including the above-mentioned ocean current energy harvester. A plurality of ocean current energy harvesters are arranged in parallel to form a network power generation system, thereby improving the conversion rate of ocean current impact energy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0022] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention from other angles;

[0024] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the cross-section structure of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the ocean current inflow and outflow of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of the friction power generation component of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of charge transfer of the triboelectric power generation component of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of the stator of the friction power generation component of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention.

[0029] Among them, 1 is the shell, 2 is the ocean current inlet, 3 is the ocean current outlet, 4 is the central axis, 5 is the turbine, 6 is the friction power generation component, 7 is the inclined plate, 8 is the arc plate, 9 is the support seat, 10 is the vertical plate, 11 is the filling body, 12 is the card ball, 13 is the rotor, 14 is the stator, 15 is the polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, 16 is the electrode A, 17 is the electrode B, and 18 is the seabed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an ocean current energy harvester and a power generation system to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art and improve the utilization rate of ocean current energy.

[0032] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1-Figure 7 ,in, Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention from another angle. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section structure of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ocean current inlet and outlet of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of the friction power generation component of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention. Figure 6 Schematic diagram of charge transfer of the triboelectric component of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of the stator of the friction power generation component of the ocean current energy harvester of the present invention.

[0034] The present invention provides an ocean current energy harvester, comprising a shell 1, a power assembly and a friction power generation assembly 6, wherein the shell 1 can be set on the seabed 18, and the shell 1 has an ocean current inlet 2 and an ocean current outlet 3; the power assembly is arranged in the shell 1, and the power assembly includes a central shaft 4 and a turbine 5, the central shaft 4 is rotatably connected to the shell 1, the turbine 5 is connected to the central shaft 4, and the turbine 5 is located between the ocean current inlet 2 and the ocean current outlet 3; the friction power generation assembly 6 is arranged in the shell 1, and the friction power generation assembly 6 is connected to the central shaft 4, and the central shaft 4 can drive the friction assembly to work and generate electricity.

[0035] The ocean current energy harvester of the present invention is arranged on the seabed 18. The ocean current enters the shell 1 through the ocean current inlet 2 and flows out through the ocean current outlet 3. During this process, the ocean current drives the turbine 5 to rotate, and the turbine 5 drives the central shaft 4 to rotate, thereby achieving the purpose of using the central shaft 4 to drive the friction power generation component 6 to work and generate electricity, thereby completing the energy conversion. The present invention uses a power component to collect the energy generated by the irregular ocean current impact in the ocean, and the friction power generation component 6 converts the mechanical energy of the ocean current into electrical energy, thereby improving the utilization rate of the ocean current energy.

[0036] The shell 1 includes two inclined plates 7 and an arc panel 8. The two inclined plates 7 are connected and V-shaped. The connection between the two inclined plates 7 can be set on the seabed 18. There is an angle between the inclined plates 7 and the seabed 18. The tops of the two inclined plates 7 are connected to the ends of the arc panel 8. The power assembly and the friction power generation assembly 6 are arranged in the space surrounded by the inclined plates 7 and the arc panel 8. The longitudinal section of the shell 1 is fan-shaped. The longitudinal section specifically refers to Figure 3 In the figure, the shell 1 is cut along a direction parallel to the paper surface. The cross-section of the shell 1 is fan-shaped. The shell 1 has a symmetrical structure, which improves the overall stability of the energy harvester.

[0037] It should also be emphasized that there are two ocean current inlets 2, which are arranged on the inclined plate 7. The two inclined plates 7 are symmetrically arranged with the axis of the central axis 4 as the symmetry axis. The two symmetrically arranged ocean current inlets 2 can simultaneously collect the energy generated by the impact of ocean currents in different directions, further improving the utilization rate of ocean current energy. The ocean current outlet 3 is located on the arc panel 8, and the ocean current outlet 3 is coaxially arranged with the central axis 4. The ocean current entering through the ocean current inlet 2 drives the turbine 5 and the central axis 4 to rotate, and then the friction power generation component 6 works to generate electricity. The ocean current flows out from the ocean current outlet 3, and the ocean current outlet 3 is coaxially arranged with the central axis 4. The distance between the two ocean current inlets 2 and the ocean current outlet 3 is the same, ensuring that the ocean currents entering the shell 1 from two directions can flow out smoothly, while maximizing the force uniformity of the shell 1 and improving the working reliability of the energy harvester.

[0038] In order to achieve the installation and positioning of the central axis 4 and avoid the central axis 4 blocking the ocean current outlet 3, a support seat 9 is provided on the top of the inner wall of the shell 1. The central axis 4 is rotatably connected to the support seat 9. The support seat 9 is a frame structure. The ocean current entering the shell 1 flows through the hollow structure of the support seat 9 and is further discharged from the ocean current outlet 3. In actual application, the support seat 9 can be set to a rotating body structure to reduce the difficulty of installation and positioning of the central axis 4, improve the force uniformity of the support seat 9, and ensure the working stability of the central axis 4.

[0039] Specifically, housing 1 is rotatably mounted on seabed 18 and further includes two vertical plates 10, which are mounted atop curved plate 8. These two vertical plates 10 are symmetrically arranged about the rotation axis 4. When ocean currents impact the energy harvester, the resistance of vertical plates 10 causes the harvester to rotate a certain angle, allowing the current to flow smoothly into housing 1, driving turbine 5 and improving its reliability.

[0040] In addition, a filling body 11 is provided between the central shaft 4 and the ocean current inlet hole 2 and between the turbine 5 and the inner wall of the housing 1. Specifically, the filling body 11 filled at the connection corner of the inclined plate 7 and the arc panel 8 can prevent the ocean current from entering the connection between the inclined plate 7 and the arc panel 8 to form turbulence. The filling bodies 11 are provided at the "sharp corners" on both sides of the fan-shaped housing 1. Under the premise of not affecting the normal rotation of the turbine 5, a circulation channel is constructed for the ocean current. For a schematic diagram of the ocean current flow, please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 The bold line with an arrow in the middle is the direction of ocean current flow, so that the ocean current can flow out smoothly from the ocean current outlet 3, further improving the utilization rate of ocean current impact energy; the filling body 11 filled between the central axis 4 and the ocean current inlet 2 can prevent the ocean current from flowing back and ensure that the ocean current flows toward the turbine 5 and the ocean current outlet 3. The filling body 11 is made of waterproof molding material.

[0041] More specifically, the bottom of the central shaft 4 has a locking ball 12, which is rotatably connected to the housing 1. In actual operation, a rotational recess can be provided in the housing 1, and the locking ball 12 can be rotatably disposed in the rotational recess to facilitate the connection and positioning of the central shaft 4. It should also be noted that the central shaft 4 can be made of acrylic material to effectively prevent the central shaft 4 from being corroded by seawater and extend the service life of the central shaft 4.

[0042] In this embodiment, the triboelectric generator assembly 6 comprises a sleeve, a rotor 13, and a stator 14 disposed within the sleeve. The stator 14 is connected to the inner wall of the sleeve, and the rotor 13 is connected to the central shaft 4. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane 15 is provided on the side of the stator 14 facing the rotor 13, and a nylon membrane is provided on the side of the rotor 13 facing the stator 14. When the central shaft 4 drives the rotor 13 to rotate, the rotor 13 comes into contact with the stator 14 fixed to the inner wall of the sleeve, that is, the nylon membrane comes into contact with the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane 15. Due to the different electron affinities of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane 15 and the nylon membrane, their surfaces generate equal amounts of positive and negative charges, respectively. This creates a potential difference between electrode A 16 and electrode B 17. This potential difference drives the charge within the electrodes to move in a directional manner, thereby generating current, and the triboelectric generator assembly 6 generates electricity. In actual operation, the sleeve can be connected to the housing 1 using a fixing element to achieve fixation, or other fixing elements can be provided.

[0043] To increase the contact area between the PTFE membrane 15 and the nylon membrane, both are provided with a nanoscale concave-convex structure, which increases power generation. It should be noted that etching can be used to create nanoscale surface topography on the surfaces of the PTFE membrane 15 and the nylon membrane, reducing the difficulty of manufacturing the energy harvester.

[0044] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a power generation system, comprising the above-mentioned ocean current energy harvester, wherein the number of the ocean current energy harvesters is multiple, and the multiple ocean current energy harvesters are arranged in parallel using wires to form a network-like power generation system to improve the conversion rate of ocean current impact energy.

[0045] The present invention uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The above examples are only intended to help understand the method and core concept of the present invention. At the same time, those skilled in the art will find that the specific implementation methods and application scopes may vary based on the concept of the present invention. In summary, the contents of this specification should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. An ocean current energy harvester, characterized in that: include: A shell, the shell being capable of being disposed on a seabed, the shell having an ocean current inlet and an ocean current outlet; a power assembly disposed in the housing, the power assembly comprising a central shaft and a turbine, the central shaft being rotatably connected to the housing, the turbine being connected to the central shaft, and the turbine being located between the ocean current inlet and the ocean current outlet; A friction power generation component is disposed in the housing and is connected to the central shaft, and the central shaft is capable of driving the friction component to work and generate electricity; The shell includes two inclined plates and a curved plate. The two inclined plates are connected to form a V-shape. The connection between the two inclined plates can be set on the seabed. There is an angle between the inclined plates and the seabed. The tops of the two inclined plates are connected to the ends of the curved plate. The longitudinal cross-section of the shell is fan-shaped. There are two ocean current inlets, which are arranged on the inclined plate. The two inclined plates are symmetrically arranged with the axis of the central axis as the symmetry axis. The ocean current outlet is located on the arc plate, and the ocean current outlet is coaxially arranged with the central axis.

2. The ocean current energy harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that: A support base is provided on the top of the inner wall of the shell, the central shaft is rotatably connected to the support base, and the support base is a frame structure.

3. The ocean current energy harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell can be rotatably arranged on the seabed. The shell also includes a vertical plate, which is arranged on the top of the curved plate. There are two vertical plates, and the two vertical plates are symmetrically arranged with the rotation axis of the central axis as the symmetry axis.

4. The ocean current energy harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that: Filling bodies are provided between the central axis and the ocean current inlet hole and between the turbine and the inner wall of the shell, and the filling bodies are made of waterproof molding material.

5. The ocean current energy harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the central shaft is provided with a locking ball, and the locking ball is rotatably connected to the shell.

6. The ocean current energy harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The friction power generation component includes a sleeve and a rotor and a stator arranged in the sleeve. The stator is connected to the inner wall of the sleeve, and the rotor is connected to the central axis. A polytetrafluoroethylene film is provided on the side of the stator facing the rotor, and a nylon film is provided on the side of the rotor facing the stator.

7. The ocean current energy harvester according to claim 6, characterized in that: The polytetrafluoroethylene film and the nylon film are both provided with concave-convex structures.

8. A power generation system comprising the ocean current energy harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: There are multiple ocean current energy harvesters, and the multiple ocean current energy harvesters are arranged in parallel.

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