Active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ocean energy utilization, in particular to an active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device which comprises an OWC air chamber, an adjustable closed body, a closed body control module, an energy conversion module and a sensor system. The OWC gas chamber is communicated with the outside atmosphere and used for entering of waves and entering of gas; an adjustable sealing body is arranged on the outer side of the OWC air chamber and is used for controlling the opening area of the OWC air chamber; the sensor system is used for detecting the water level height and period of waves and transmitting signals to the closed body control module; the closed body control module is arranged above the OWC air chamber and is used for controlling the position of the closed body according to the water level change of waves; the energy conversion module is used for converting wave energy into mechanical energy or electric energy; waves can be effectively guided to enter the air chamber, air is pushed to move, the air turbine is driven to generate electricity, and therefore wave energy is efficiently converted into electric energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of ocean energy utilization, in particular to an active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device. Background Art

[0002] As a renewable energy resource, ocean energy has the advantages of abundant reserves, wide distribution, and environmental protection. Among them, wave energy, as an important component of ocean energy, is a form of capturing and converting the mechanical motion energy of waves on the ocean surface. According to research by authoritative organizations, the unused wave energy in the world's oceans is as high as trillions of watt-hours per year, and its development potential is huge.

[0003] The oscillating water column (OWC) device is a device that uses ocean wave energy to generate electricity. Figure 1 As shown, the core components of the OWC device include an air chamber and a generator set with an air turbine. The upper part of the air chamber has an opening, and the air turbine is connected to the upper opening. The basic principle is that the waves entering the air chamber oscillate up and down in the air chamber, compressing the air inside the air chamber, so that the air in the air chamber enters and exits the air chamber from the upper opening of the air chamber, thereby driving the air turbine to rotate and drive the generator to generate electricity.

[0004] Although the OWC device has good wave energy capture capability and a long service life, there are still some technical problems in actual operation, especially in terms of the stability and efficiency of the device under different water level conditions. For example:

[0005] 1. The influence of water level change on the air chamber sealing:

[0006] The water level fluctuates frequently due to the periodic movement of waves. When the water level is too low, the air chamber of a conventional OWC device may not be completely closed, resulting in air leakage or unstable flow, which reduces power generation efficiency and even affects the normal operation of the device.

[0007] 2. Energy dissipated by the vortex outside the rectangular front wall:

[0008] Existing OWC devices usually rely on a rectangular front wall to guide wave motion. However, in practical applications, the rectangular configuration may produce nonlinear effects due to changes in water level or wave direction, and wave reflections outside the rectangular front wall may also generate large vortices to dissipate wave energy, affecting energy conversion efficiency.

[0009] 3. Equipment adaptability and durability issues:

[0010] In the complex and ever-changing marine environment, OWC devices need to have high adaptability and durability. Traditional designs have difficulty ensuring the air chamber is sealed when the water level changes, causing waves to slam in the air chamber during oscillation, increasing the wave load on the air chamber, and possibly causing structural damage or performance degradation.

[0011] In view of the above problems, a new device structure that can automatically adjust the position according to the water level change is urgently needed to improve the overall efficiency and stability of the OWC device. The present invention proposes an active closed OWC device with an adjustable closure body, which solves the problems of air chamber sealing and energy conversion efficiency of the traditional OWC device during operation through innovative design. Summary of the invention

[0012] The present invention relates to an active closed oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy power generation device with an adjustable enclosure, which aims to solve the problems of insufficient air chamber sealing and low energy conversion efficiency of existing OWC devices under different water level conditions. Through innovative design and optimization and improvement, the present invention significantly improves the overall power generation performance of the device, reduces structural wave loads, and improves the reliability of the device.

[0013] An active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device, comprising: an OWC air chamber, an adjustable enclosure, an enclosure control module, an energy conversion module and a sensor system;

[0014] The OWC air chamber is connected to the outside atmosphere and is used for wave entry and gas inlet and outlet;

[0015] An adjustable closing body is provided on the outside of the OWC air chamber to control the opening area of ​​the OWC air chamber;

[0016] A sensor system for detecting the water level height and period of waves and transmitting the signal to the enclosure control module;

[0017] The enclosure control module is arranged above the OWC air chamber and is used to control the enclosure position according to the water level changes of the waves;

[0018] The energy conversion module is used to convert wave energy into mechanical energy or electrical energy; the energy conversion module includes a turbine and a generator set, which are used to convert the kinetic energy of air in the OWC air chamber into electrical energy.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, when the water level rises, after the sensor system detects a signal, the control module drives the hydraulic rod to move upward, causing the closing body to move upward accordingly, thereby increasing the opening area of ​​the air chamber and improving the energy capture efficiency; when the water level drops, the sensor system triggers the hydraulic rod to move downward again, and the closing body moves downward, reducing the opening area of ​​the air chamber and ensuring the sealing of the air chamber.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor system is arranged on the inner side of the front wall of the air chamber near the water surface, and includes a water level sensor and a wave period sensor; the water level sensor is used to measure the water level changes in the air chamber; the wave period sensor is used to detect the wave height, period and frequency of the waves.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the OWC air chamber has an air chamber rear wall, an air chamber bottom plate, an air chamber front wall, an air chamber top plate, an air chamber inlet and an air chamber outlet, wherein the air chamber inlet at the front allows waves to enter the OWC air chamber, and the air chamber outlet at the top is connected to the outside atmosphere.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, a hydraulic rod is connected to the enclosure and the outward extension plate of the OWC air chamber, and is used to drive the enclosure to move so as to adjust the opening area of ​​the air chamber.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, it also includes: a monitoring and control system for real-time monitoring of the operating status of the device and optimizing the energy collection efficiency.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable closing body comprises: at least two sliding members for moving on a horizontal plane to change the opening area of ​​the air chamber; and a sealing structure for ensuring the sealing between the closing body and the air chamber.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable closing body is triangular in shape and fits snugly against the front wall of the air chamber.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the control module includes a data processing unit, a storage unit and an enclosed body control unit; the data processing unit is used to analyze the signals transmitted by the sensor system and generate control instructions; the storage unit is used to record the device operation data, and the enclosed body control unit controls the extension and retraction of the hydraulic rod according to the control instructions to adjust the height of the control body.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, it is characterized in that the hydraulic rod is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder capable of realizing forward and reverse driving to control the position of the closing body.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0029] 1. Improve the sealing performance of the air chamber:

[0030] Through the dynamic adjustment of the triangular closure body, the effective sealing of the air chamber under different water level conditions is ensured to prevent air leakage and flow instability.

[0031] 2. Optimize energy conversion efficiency:

[0032] Dynamic adjustment of the enclosure optimizes the air flow path, reduces energy losses and significantly improves power generation efficiency.

[0033] 3. Enhance device stability:

[0034] The innovative sealing structure design and dynamic adjustment mechanism enable the device to adapt to the operating environment under different water level conditions, enhancing the stability and reliability of the equipment.

[0035] 4. Extend service life:

[0036] By avoiding the slamming phenomenon caused by the unsealed air chamber, the wave load of the device is reduced, the durability of the device in complex marine environments is improved, and the service life of the equipment is extended. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 The power generation principle of the OWC device;

[0038] Figure 2 is a front view of the OWC device of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an OWC device of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 It is a diagram of the automatic sealing process of the air chamber of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the power generation process of the device of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a closed body of the device of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a model used in the simulation of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 8 The two-dimensional air chamber grid used in the simulation of the present invention;

[0045] Fig. 9 It is the phenomenon of waves impacting the front and rear walls of the air chamber when the air chamber is not closed;

[0046] Fig.10 The wave force time history curves of the OWC device with and without the enclosed body in the wave direction;

[0047] Fig.11 This is the inflection point diagram of the change of pressure coefficient in the air chamber when the length of the closed body is different.

[0048] Among them, 1-OWC air chamber; 2-air chamber rear wall; 3-air chamber bottom plate; 4-air chamber inlet; 5-air chamber front wall; 6-enclosure; 7-hydraulic rod; 8-extension plate; 9-enclosure control module; 10-air chamber top plate; 11-air chamber air outlet; 12-turbine and generator set. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The technical scheme in the embodiment of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiment of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiment is only a part of the embodiment of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiment of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0050] Embodiment 1: Overall structural design of wave energy power generation device.

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, the present invention provides an oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy power generation device with an adjustable enclosure, the wave energy power generation device comprising:

[0052] The OWC air chamber comprises an air chamber rear wall, an air chamber bottom plate, an air chamber front wall, an air chamber top plate, an air chamber inlet and an air chamber outlet. The air chamber inlet at the front allows waves to enter the OWC air chamber, and the air chamber outlet at the top is connected to the outside atmosphere.

[0053] An adjustable closing body is arranged on the outer side of the front wall of the OWC air chamber to control the opening area of ​​the OWC air chamber;

[0054] The hydraulic rod connects the closing body and the outward extension plate of the OWC air chamber, and is used to drive the closing body to move so as to adjust the opening area of ​​the air chamber;

[0055] The enclosure control module is arranged above the overhanging plate of the OWC air chamber and is used to detect water level changes and control the position of the enclosure.

[0056] The turbine and generator set are used to convert the kinetic energy of the air in the OWC chamber into electrical energy.

[0057] A sensor system that detects the height and period of the waves and transmits the signal to the enclosure control module.

[0058] The sensor system includes a water level sensor and a wave period sensor, which are arranged on the inner side of the front wall of the air chamber near the water surface; the water level sensor is used to measure the water level changes in the air chamber; the wave period sensor is used to detect the wave height, period and frequency of the waves.

[0059] When the water level rises, the sensor system detects a signal and the control module drives the hydraulic rod to move upward, causing the enclosure to move upward accordingly, increasing the air chamber opening area and improving energy capture efficiency.

[0060] When the water level drops, the sensor system triggers the hydraulic rod to move downward again, and the closing body moves downward, reducing the opening area of ​​the air chamber and ensuring the sealing of the air chamber.

[0061] The closed body control module adjusts the movement of the hydraulic rod according to the signal transmitted by the sensor system, thereby adjusting the opening area of ​​the air chamber.

[0062] The closed body control module includes a data processing unit, a storage unit and a closed body control module; the data processing unit is used to analyze the signals transmitted by the sensor system and generate control instructions; the storage unit is used to record the device operation data for subsequent analysis. The closed body control module controls the extension and retraction of the hydraulic rod according to the control instructions to adjust the height of the control body.

[0063] The energy conversion module is used to convert wave energy into mechanical energy or electrical energy, including a turbine and a generator set, which are used to convert the kinetic energy of air in the OWC air chamber into electrical energy.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable closing body comprises: at least two sliding members for moving on a horizontal plane to change the opening area of ​​the air chamber; and a sealing structure for ensuring the sealing between the closing body and the air chamber.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, the hydraulic rod is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder capable of both forward and reverse drive to precisely control the position of the enclosure.

[0066] The oscillating water column wave energy power generation device of the present invention can be designed to be integrated with an offshore fixed structure, or can work independently, and can capture wave energy and convert it into electrical energy to supply power to offshore facilities.

[0067] During the design phase, the device is designed as an integrated unit with offshore structures such as oil production platforms and wind turbine platforms, or a separate pile foundation support structure is designed.

[0068] During the construction phase, the device will be integrated into offshore structures such as oil production platforms and wind turbine platforms according to the design, or supported by the device alone in the working sea area to generate electricity.

[0069] When waves enter the oscillating water column wave energy power generation device of the present invention, the liquid level in the OWC air chamber of the power generation device oscillates up and down, pushing the air in the OWC air chamber to move in and out of the air chamber from the air chamber outlet, driving the air turbine to generate electricity, thereby driving the turbine and the generator set to generate electricity. In this process, wave energy is converted into air mechanical energy, air mechanical energy is converted into turbine mechanical energy, and turbine mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.

[0070] When the water surface height drops, the sensor system detects the drop in water level and drives the hydraulic rod to extend to drive the closing body down, thereby ensuring that the air chamber is closed and that the power generation device can still generate electricity stably and continuously when the water surface drops, avoiding the wave slamming in the air chamber caused by changes in air pressure.

[0071] When the water level rises, the sensor system detects the rise in water level and drives the hydraulic rod to shorten and drive the enclosure to rise, thereby increasing the air outlet area and preventing the enclosure from affecting the energy capture of the OWC air chamber.

[0072] Regularly check the sealing of the enclosure and air chamber to ensure there is no leakage. Clean any marine organisms that may be attached to the surface of the device to prevent it from affecting the operating efficiency. Lubricate and maintain key components (such as the limit mechanism).

[0073] Example 2: Key component design.

[0074] (1) Design of adjustable closure.

[0075] like Figure 6 As shown, the adjustable closure body has a triangular shape and fits tightly against the front wall of the air chamber.

[0076] The specific dimensions of the adjustable closure can be optimized through experiments and numerical simulations according to the width of the OWC air chamber and the wave motion characteristics to ensure efficient dynamic sealing under different water level conditions.

[0077] In order to compare the influence of the air chamber with or without the closed body on the air chamber load, the following Figure 7 and Figure 8 The OWC device was simulated in two dimensions. The Stokes second-order wave was selected in wave theory, the gravity similarity criterion was adopted, the scale was 1:20, and the wave height was H s =10mm (actually 2m), period T s =1.3s (actually 6s), opening rate α=0.01, water depth 400mm, the lower end of the front wall is flush with the water surface, the air chamber is 24 meters long, the water depth of the closed body is 10mm, and the other parameters are as shown in the figure, in mm.

[0078] If there is no closed body, the air chamber is not closed, and the air in the air chamber contacts with the outside air during the wave oscillation, causing a large pressure change, so that the wave oscillates in the air chamber and produces a slamming phenomenon, violently hitting the front and rear walls (such as Fig. 9 ), increasing the wave load on the air chamber.

[0079] Fig.10 The time history curves of wave force in the wave direction of the OWC device with and without the closed body show that if there is no closed body to seal the air chamber, the wave force in the wave direction of the device has an obvious peak value. Compared with the case with the closed body, the peak force is about 40% higher, that is, the closed body can effectively reduce the wave load.

[0080] The size of the closed body can be selected according to the numerical simulation data. In this paper, the OWC device shown in the figure is selected for two-dimensional numerical simulation research. The wave theory selects Stokes second-order wave, adopts the gravity similarity criterion, the scale is 1:20, and the wave height is H. s =10mm (actually 2m), period T s=1.3s (actually 6s), opening ratio α = 0.01, water depth 400mm, the lower end of the front wall is flush with the water surface, the air chamber is 24 meters long, the water depth of the enclosure is 10mm, because the wave height is 10mm, in order to avoid the wave movement range exceeding the height of the enclosure, the height of the enclosure is twice the wave height, that is, a = 20mm, and the other parameters are shown in the figure, in units of mm. The length b of the enclosure needs to be determined by numerical simulation. This paper mainly uses the pressure coefficient C in the air chamber. p The pressure coefficient in the air chamber is an important parameter for judging the energy capture performance of the device. Generally speaking, the larger the pressure coefficient in the air chamber, the higher the energy capture power of the air chamber.

[0081] The calculation formula is as follows:

[0082]

[0083] Δ p is the difference between the maximum and minimum air pressures in the chamber, ρ w is the density of water, g is the gravity coefficient, H s For wave height.

[0084] like Fig.11 From the inflection point diagram of the change of the pressure coefficient in the air chamber when the closed body length is different, it can be found that the pressure coefficient reaches the maximum value when the closed body length b = 15mm, so the closed body length a is recommended to be 15mm (that is, 300mm in the actual scale).

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the material of the enclosure is selected to be corrosion-resistant and high-strength material (such as stainless steel or composite material) to meet the requirements of the marine environment.

[0086] (2) Configuration of hydraulic rod.

[0087] One end of the hydraulic rod is connected to the closing body, and the other end is fixed to the extended plate on the top of the air chamber.

[0088] The length and stroke of the hydraulic rod can be designed according to the water level and the maximum amplitude of wave movement. The length generally needs to ensure that the lower end of the enclosure can be flush with the water surface when the average highest water level of the target sea area is in the unextended state of the hydraulic rod, and the stroke is not less than the average tidal range of the target sea area to ensure that the enclosure can flexibly and accurately follow the changes in water level.

[0089] (3) Enclosed body control module.

[0090] A high-precision water level sensor is installed on the inner side of the front wall of the air chamber to monitor the changes in water level in real time.

[0091] The signal transmitted by the sensor system is transmitted to the driving device of the hydraulic rod through the closed body control module, thereby realizing the position adjustment of the closed body.

[0092] The closure body and hydraulic rod should be manufactured using precision machining technology to ensure that their shape and size meet the design requirements; all metal parts need to be treated with anti-corrosion to adapt to the salt spray and moisture in the marine environment.

[0093] The present invention sets a triangular closed body close to the front wall on the outside of the front wall of the OWC device. The closed body is connected to the extension plate on the upper part of the air chamber through a hydraulic rod. The hydraulic rod adjusts its length in real time according to the change of water level, changes the height of the closed body, and thus realizes the effective sealing of the air chamber. The adjustment of the closed body is driven by the hydraulic rod, and the water level change signal is detected in real time by the sensor. When the water level drops, the sensor detects that the water level is too low, the depth of the closed body entering the water is too small, and the air chamber is not closed. The control system adjusts the extension of the hydraulic rod, and the closed body moves downward to reduce the opening area of ​​the air chamber and close the air chamber; when the water level rises, the sensor detects that the depth of the closed body entering the water is too large, and the control system adjusts the shortening of the hydraulic rod, and the closed body moves upward to increase the opening area of ​​the air chamber and improve the energy capture power of the air chamber; the depth of the closed body entering the water is determined according to the wave height of the target sea area, which is generally 1.5-2.0 times the characteristic wave height. The triangular closed body uses the inclined surface profile to guide the wave to move downward into the air chamber, which can reduce the generation of vortices compared with the rectangular front wall, reduce the vortex dissipation caused by the reflection of the rectangular front wall, and improve the efficiency of the device in capturing wave energy.

[0094] (4) Installation and debugging.

[0095] In practical applications, it is recommended to adjust the design parameters of the enclosure according to the wave characteristics of the specific sea area (such as wave height, period, etc.). For example, if the common effective wave height in the target sea area is 2m and the period is 6s, the height a of the enclosure is selected to be twice the effective wave height, i.e. 4m, and the length b is determined to be 3m according to the simulation above;

[0096] After installation, the system should be debugged to ensure the coordinated operation between the sensor, hydraulic rod and control module.

[0097] (5) Maintenance and care.

[0098] Regularly check the movement flexibility and sealing performance of the hydraulic rod and replace worn parts if necessary;

[0099] The sensor is calibrated periodically to ensure measurement accuracy.

[0100] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential features of the invention. The embodiments should therefore be considered exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims be included in the invention. Any reference numeral in a claim should not be considered as limiting the claim to which it relates.

Claims

1. An active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device, characterized in that: include: OWC air chamber, adjustable enclosure, enclosure control module, energy conversion module and sensor system; The OWC air chamber is connected to the outside atmosphere and is used for wave entry and gas inlet and outlet; An adjustable closing body is provided on the outside of the OWC air chamber to control the opening area of ​​the OWC air chamber; A sensor system for detecting the water level height and period of waves and transmitting signals to the enclosure control module; The enclosure control module is arranged above the OWC air chamber and is used to control the enclosure position according to the water level changes of the waves; The energy conversion module is used to convert wave energy into mechanical energy or electrical energy; the energy conversion module includes a turbine and a generator set, which are used to convert the kinetic energy of air in the OWC air chamber into electrical energy.

2. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: When the water level rises, the sensor system detects the signal and the control module drives the hydraulic rod to move upward, causing the closing body to move upward accordingly, increasing the opening area of ​​the air chamber and improving the energy capture efficiency; when the water level drops, the sensor system triggers the hydraulic rod to move downward again, and the closing body moves downward, reducing the opening area of ​​the air chamber and ensuring the sealing of the air chamber.

3. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The sensor system is arranged on the inner side of the front wall of the air chamber near the water surface, and includes a water level sensor and a wave period sensor; the water level sensor is used to measure the water level change in the air chamber; the wave period sensor is used to detect the wave height, period and frequency of the waves.

4. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The OWC air chamber comprises an air chamber rear wall, an air chamber bottom plate, an air chamber front wall, an air chamber top plate, an air chamber inlet and an air chamber outlet. The air chamber inlet at the front allows waves to enter the OWC air chamber, and the air chamber outlet at the top is connected to the outside atmosphere.

5. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hydraulic rod connects the closing body and the outward extension plate of the OWC air chamber, and is used to drive the closing body to move so as to adjust the opening area of ​​the air chamber.

6. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device also includes: a monitoring and control system for real-time monitoring of the device operating status and optimizing energy collection efficiency.

7. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjustable closing body comprises: at least two sliding members for moving on a horizontal plane to change the opening area of ​​the air chamber; and a sealing structure for ensuring the sealing between the closing body and the air chamber.

8. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The adjustable closing body is in a triangular shape and is closely attached to the front wall of the air chamber.

9. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module includes a data processing unit, a storage unit and an enclosed body control unit; the data processing unit is used to analyze the signals transmitted by the sensor system and generate control instructions; the storage unit is used to record the operation data of the device, and the enclosed body control unit controls the extension and retraction of the hydraulic rod according to the control instructions to adjust the height of the control body.

10. The active closed oscillating water column wave energy power generation device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The hydraulic rod is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder that can realize forward and reverse drive to control the position of the enclosure.

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