Butterfly fan air inlet and chamber exhaust valve controller for wave making system

Abstract

A pool wave generator has a pool region and a plurality of chambers for generating waves in the pool region. Exemplary embodiments include using an exhaust valve in each chamber to control performance of the fan. Measurement of the power consumed by the fan in real time can determine the amount of air extracted from the pneumatic system (thereby determining the opening angle of the exhaust valve), so that the fan operates with maximum efficiency and less instability. In exemplary embodiments, a valve mounted on the fan inlet allows for control of incoming air flow, allowing the motor to continue to rotate at a given speed when the valve is partially or fully closed, with little or no energy consumption.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 380,230, filed on October 19, 2022. This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 652,680, filed on February 25, 2022. Background Art

[0003] Water rides bring multi-generational fun to diverse demographics. They allow people in different locations to simulate experiences from other locations. For example, a wave pool can simulate the experience of a beach.

[0004] Various water rides can be used to simulate natural environments, allowing users to experience sports and activities from these other environments. For example, sheet surfing rides simulate the experience of surfing or bodyboarding, allowing surfers to use their bodies or a thin board to surf the sheet of water created by the contours of the underlying gliding surface. Because the sheet of water does not allow for wave breaking or the use of a real surfboard, sheet surfing does not provide a realistic surfing experience.

[0005] Deepwater wave surfing systems are provided in an attempt to create a surfing experience that more accurately simulates the natural environment. U.S. Patent Nos. (USPN) 8,434,966; 9,103,133; 9,279,263; 10,145,135; 10,280,640; and 10,526,806 disclose deepwater wave surfing simulators, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0006] Deepwater wave surfing rides present unique challenges in managing the large volumes of water used in the ride. For example, currents and eddies can form, disrupting wave formation. Managing the flow of air and water into and out of the chamber is also problematic. The air in the chamber can act like a spring, and the momentum of the water leaving and returning to the chamber can create undesirable forces, oscillations, and other motions in the water. These forces, in turn, can create undesirable wave effects, turbulence, and other undesirable characteristics within the generated waves.

[0007] Another difficulty is that when the pressure inside the plenum becomes too high for the fans to blow in, air begins to escape from the plenum in the opposite direction through the fans. As a result, one or more fans may be blowing air in reverse, causing system efficiency to decrease and creating instability due to the exhaust air. This can also lead to overall system inefficiency, fan inefficiency, fan damage, fan vibration, overheating, and energy loss as the fans oscillate between intake and exhaust. When the fans are running in a reverse flow state, the system loses air, resulting in negative efficiency, which is worse than if the fans were not running. In other words, reverse flow means negative efficiency because power is expended to exhaust the air. Summary of the Invention

[0008] A pool wave generator is disclosed, which has a pool area and a plurality of chambers for generating waves in the pool area. The plurality of chambers can be used to hold or release water into the pool to generate desired waves.

[0009] Exemplary embodiments described herein may include unique pool and chamber configurations for managing fluid flow, including water and air within the chamber, to influence desired wave morphology and control or minimize undesirable wave effects. Exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may be used to control various characteristics of waves, such as the water level in the chamber, which may be used to suppress residual waves after waves are generated in the pool. This exemplary configuration may be used to generate and maintain desired wave formations and allow for repeated wave formations, either continuously along the length of the pool or at desired time intervals (e.g., with a time length between waves). Exemplary embodiments may also be used to control and define customized waves, which may have controllable or programmable individual characteristics.

[0010] Although a deep water wave pool having specific features, including the pool shape, the chamber for releasing water, and the trough for controlling the return of water to the pool, is described herein, these embodiments are merely exemplary. Exemplary embodiments of the chamber, control system, and method for generating waves can be used in various water environments. For example, the embodiments described herein can be used to generate waves for surfing, or simply for use in a wave pool. Exemplary embodiments can also be used in other water recreational facilities where water is retained and released in a controlled manner.

[0011] In various embodiments, the present invention may include one or more of the following aspects:

[0012] Use of exhaust and intake valves with position-controlled actuators, wherein the valves are actuated independently of each other, do not interfere with each other and / or adapt to each other;

[0013] An exhaust valve attached to the caisson is used to perform two independent functions: exhausting air from the chamber to generate waves; and exhausting air from the chamber when the chamber is not being used for wave generation, and ultimately exhausting air from the boost chamber to control the fan operating point.

[0014] Providing exhaust valves from within the chamber eliminates the need for additional exhaust valves on the plenum to exhaust the plenum, thereby providing a sharper response (greater number) and more uniform response using the chamber's exhaust valves.

[0015] By monitoring the power consumed by the blower rather than the pressure in the chamber, efficiency is improved, eliminates the need for an additional pressure sensor in the plenum, and provides finer control than monitoring pressure.

[0016] Individual surge detection of individual fans by monitoring power consumption provides advantages over monitoring common pressure in the plenum.

[0017] Use an inlet valve or IVC with a position controlled actuator.

[0018] Dynamically change the fan's performance curve, where the valve opening angle or position varies based on air demand.

[0019] Reduces peak power consumption by allowing fans to accelerate at different times during the startup process.

[0020] In one embodiment, the present invention may include: a pool area; at least one chamber on one side of the pool area for releasing water into the pool area to generate waves in the pool area; a boost chamber in fluid communication with the at least one chamber; at least one fan positioned in fluid communication with the boost chamber; a valve controller; an intake valve located between the boost chamber and the chamber and capable of being selectively opened at different angles by a position-controlled actuator to allow air to enter the chamber from the boost chamber at a controlled rate; an exhaust valve capable of being selectively opened at different angles and located on a wall of the chamber so that air can be exhausted from the chamber through the exhaust valve, wherein the position of the exhaust valve is independent of the position of the intake valve; a first sensor and a second sensor in communication with the valve controller; wherein the first sensor monitors fan power consumption and the second sensor monitors water level in the chamber, the first sensor and the second sensor operating independently of each other; and wherein the degree to which the exhaust valve is opened is determined by the valve controller based on power consumption information of the at least one fan.

[0021] In one embodiment, the present invention provides improved fan operating efficiency and accuracy by the following steps: calculating an actual fan curve based on actual air density (using temperature and humidity sensors in the machine room); determining a surge power point and a best efficiency power point; selecting a power point between the surge and best efficiency points; measuring the error between the actual power and the target power; calculating the total air flow (if any) required to be extracted to achieve the target power, including using chamber pressure and / or temperature sensors to calculate this value; calculating the required valve opening angle using valve characteristics and the number of available valves not used for wave generation; measuring the actual power; and returning to the first step and repeating the process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figures 1A to 1C An exemplary wave generation chamber and its associated controls are shown for generating waves in a deep water wave pool as described herein;

[0023] Figure 2A An exemplary progression of waves generated from a wave generation chamber is shown;

[0024] Figure 2B Shown with Figure 2A an exemplary graph of water levels in a wave pool at different times associated with an exemplary progression of waves;

[0025] Figure 2C Shown with Figure 2B An exemplary wave pattern formed in a wave pool corresponding to a wave amplitude graph;

[0026] Figure 3 shows an exemplary comparison of wave amplitudes of water in a wave pool on a time course graph using a chamber and control system according to embodiments described herein to control a desired wave form in the wave pool;

[0027] Figures 4A to 4D shows an exemplary comparison of waves and currents generated in a wave pool using the chambers and control systems and methods described herein;

[0028] Figure 5A and Figure 5B An exemplary control loop for use with valves in a chamber controller is shown, for defining a desired wave shape if used with an inlet valve, or for optimizing blower efficiency if used with an exhaust valve;

[0029] Figure 6 An exemplary valve group is shown;

[0030] Figure 7 shows the typical throttling characteristics of the valve;

[0031] Figure 8is a block diagram describing the calculation of the valve angle required to meet the target water level;

[0032] 9A to 9D Shown with Figure 8 valve and water level aspects of corresponding systems and methods;

[0033] Figure 10 is a graph showing the evolution of the water level in the different chambers;

[0034] Figure 11 is a graph showing the height of the water level in an approach exceeding the normal maximum wave amplitude;

[0035] Figure 12A and 12B is a typical fan curve showing volume flow at different fan speeds according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 13 An exemplary wave generating chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0037] Figure 14 is a block diagram describing the calculation of the exhaust valve angle according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0038] Figures 15A to 15E shows aspects of valve angle calculation according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 16 is a wind turbine efficiency curve illustrating a comparison of an uncontrolled system and a controlled system according to one aspect of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following detailed description illustrates the principles of the present invention by way of example and not limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, modifications, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of exemplary embodiments of the invention and do not limit the invention, nor are the drawings necessarily drawn to scale. Like numbers are intended to represent like features throughout the drawings.

[0041] While embodiments of the present invention may be described and illustrated herein in terms of pool wave generators having unique and novel features, it should be understood that embodiments of the present invention do not require or necessarily include every feature unless otherwise specified.

[0042] Figures 1A to 1CAn exemplary wave generating chamber and its associated controls are shown for generating waves in a wave pool as described herein. The chamber 10 can be configured to hold water at a chamber water level 18, and when water is released into the pool, the pool water level 16 increases to generate waves 16' that propagate across the pool away from the chamber 10. The chamber can include one or more valves 12, 13, 14 for controlling the holding and release of water in the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, a first valve 12 can control the flow of water into and out of the chamber 10. In an exemplary embodiment, a second valve or valves can control the flow of air or fluid into and out of the chamber 10. As shown in FIG. Figures 1A to 1C As shown, an exemplary inlet valve 14 can be used to introduce pressurized gas into the chamber. An exemplary exhaust valve 13 can be used to remove gas from the chamber by exhausting the gas or applying negative pressure to the chamber.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the wave generating system may include a control system. The control system may include sensors within the chamber. The sensors may include one or more sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensors may include a water level sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the water level sensor may be used to determine or simulate the water level within the chamber. In another embodiment, a pressure sensor may be used to determine or simulate the water level within the chamber. Other control sensors may be incorporated, such as within the plenum chamber, at the exhaust port, at the intake valve or intake valve actuator, at the pressure blower, at the blower motor, or at a control panel that controls the blower motor. Any combination of sensors may be configured as inputs to the control system to assist in operating or controlling the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the control system is configured to receive inputs from one or more sensors and control one or more valves in response to the received sensor inputs.

[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, the control system may include an actuator for setting the position of one or both of valves 13, 14 to transition the valve from fully open to fully closed, or any intermediate position between fully open and fully closed. For example, if fully closed is considered to be zero degrees and fully open is considered to be ninety degrees, the valve can be positioned at any angle from 0 to 90 degrees. In an exemplary embodiment, one or both of the intake and exhaust valves are equipped with a position controller so that one or more valves can be opened to any position from fully open to fully closed, and any position in between.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the water level within the chamber can be measured using one or more sensors within the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensors are positioned at the top of the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensors are configured to provide input to a control system so that the control system can determine the height of the water within the chamber. The control system can be configured to control an exhaust valve or an intake valve to control the desired water level within the chamber.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, the chamber includes a pressure sensor. The control system can be configured to control the exhaust valve and the intake valve to maintain a desired pressure within the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensor within the chamber can be in fluid communication with the chamber.

[0047] Exemplary embodiments described herein may include a control system capable of setting the position of one or more valves to fully open and fully closed. The control system may be configured to control the corresponding wave height by controlling a variable frequency drive (VFD) to achieve a desired pressure.

[0048] Exemplary embodiments described herein may include a control system capable of setting the position of one or more valves to any position from fully open to fully closed, as well as any intermediate position therebetween. Exemplary embodiments include positioning one or more valves in intermediate positions between fully open and fully closed. The control system may be configured to control the corresponding wave height via a height set point rather than VFD frequency.

[0049] like Figure 1A As shown, the system may have been released so that there is no water in the chamber 10 or the water level 18 in the chamber is at a low level (e.g. Figure 1C (as shown). Second valve 13 can be opened to evacuate air from the chamber. Chamber 10 can be configured to evacuate air from chamber 10, placing the chamber at a negative pressure. Second valve 13 can also be opened to place chamber 10 at a neutral pressure and allow air to escape when the chamber is filled with water. First valve 12 is opened, and water is flushed into the chamber, raising the water level in the chamber.

[0050] like Figure 1B As shown, the first valve 12 is closed to maintain the height of the chamber water level 18 above the pool water level 16. The chamber 10 can then be filled with pressurized gas to apply additional pressure to the water in the chamber. The second valve 13 is then closed and the first valve 12 is then opened.

[0051] like Figure 1CAs shown, pressurized air in chamber 10 pushes the water level 18 in the chamber, which in turn causes water to surge out of the chamber to create a wave 16' that propagates across the pool. First valve 12 can be closed and the air in the chamber is exhausted, for example, through second valve 13. First valve 12 can be closed to limit the amount of water returning to the chamber, thereby minimizing interference with the wave 16' being formed. First valve 12 can also be left open to allow water to return to the chamber, and as with Figure 1B Closed as discussed.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the control system can be configured to control a third valve 14 for providing air into the chamber and a second valve 13 for removing air from the chamber. The system can also include one or more sensors that serve as inputs to the control system to determine the level of water within the chamber or the air pressure within the chamber or the air pressure in a portion of the system in fluid communication with the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the control system includes a feedback loop such that the second valve 13 and the third valve 14 are positioned to control the water level within the chamber and / or maintain a desired pressure within the chamber.

[0053] Exemplary embodiments may include a user interface in which the control system can be programmed. The user interface can be configured to display information to a user and to receive input from the user. The user interface can be used to provide settings for the control system, such as when determining a desired relationship between valve positions and sensor inputs. In an exemplary embodiment, the user interface is configured to receive from the user information describing a desired water height profile, such as the water height profile in a chamber, wherein the system is then configured to determine control parameters to achieve the desired wave characteristics. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the control system can be used to control wave height during wave generation. Exemplary embodiments of the control system can be used to control wave shape, wave characteristics, and the like. The system can be used to generate unique and fully customized waves because each chamber can be fully actuated to produce a combined effect with the water, thereby constructing virtually any wave.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the system is configured to cycle through the process of releasing water from the chamber and allowing the water to surge back into the chamber. The system may also include a delay after any number of cycles to allow the water in the pool to settle and reduce turbulence that may affect wave generation.

[0055] In the exemplary embodiment provided, three valves are shown: a first valve 12 for water control, and a second valve 13 and a third valve 14 for gas control. Any combination of valves can be used and is within the scope of this disclosure. For example, multiple gas valves can be used to vent a chamber, inject pressurized gas, or the like, and multiple fluid valves can be used to drain water from a chamber or retain water within the chamber. The order and cycle of valves described here are merely exemplary. Wave release using valves, gates, or other methods can be implemented in any number of different ways. Valves can be opened and closed in various ways. For example, the system can utilize a purge system to remove gas from a chamber before water surges back, thereby raising the water level returning to the chamber. For example, the system can drain water into the pool without using a pressurized gas system. For example, one-way valves can be used so that the valves do not need to be individually actuated to open and close. The valves in each chamber can be controlled individually or sequentially as part of the larger operation of the entire pool system.

[0056] Exemplary embodiments of the control system described herein can be used to control power consumption or reduce the power consumption required to generate waves of the same size. This power consumption is achieved because no additional energy is expended to suppress residual waves generated by water oscillations within the chamber. Exemplary embodiments of the control system described herein can be used to control (or reduce) water flow within a pool. The exemplary embodiments described herein can result in more efficient operation of a wave pool and also extend the life of the equipment.

[0057] In exemplary embodiments, one or more valves can be actuated so that they can be controlled to be fully open, fully closed, or partially open. In exemplary embodiments, one or more valves can be actuated mechanically, pneumatically, or otherwise to allow for a full range of positions between open and closed. In exemplary embodiments, one or more valves can be actuated mechanically, pneumatically, electrically, or otherwise to allow for gradual positioning of the valves within a range between fully open and fully closed. Exemplary embodiments of the chamber and control system described herein can utilize intermediate positioning of one or more valves to control the amount of water discharged within the chamber. In exemplary embodiments, the control system and method can be used to adjust wave frequency to avoid or minimize conflict between primary and residual waves. In exemplary embodiments, the control system can include one or more parameters that can be used to customize wave characteristics. Wave characteristics can include wave height, wave shape, wave profile, and so on. Exemplary embodiments can utilize a combination of valve controls, including allowable intermediate positioning of valves, as one or more parameters for wave generation, allowing for the generation of a wider range of wave combinations. Exemplary embodiments of the control system described herein can reduce power consumption by approximately 10%. Exemplary embodiments of the control system described herein can reduce the total installed power of a facility.

[0058] Figure 2AAn exemplary progression of waves generated from a wave generation chamber is shown. Figure 2A The first step shown in is when the wave chamber and wave pool are ready to be activated to generate waves. In this initial state, the exhaust valve 202 is fully closed and the inlet valve 204 is fully open. The inlet valve 204 allows pressurized air in the plenum chamber to enter the chamber and apply pressure to the water in the chamber to create a low water level below the water level in the wave pool. Figure 2A In the second step shown, the chamber pressure is released. The exhaust valve 202 is fully opened, and the intake valve 204 is fully closed. As a result, the air pressure in the chamber is released, and the water in the chamber rises. As water moves from the wave pool into the chamber, the rising water in the chamber creates a void in the wave pool. This movement causes a localized decrease in the water level in the adjacent pool near the chamber. Figure 2A In the third step, the chamber pressure is increased again to release water from the chamber. As shown, the exhaust valve 202 is fully closed, while the intake valve 204 is fully opened. This allows the pressurized air to push the water out of the chamber through the channel and into the wave pool. As shown, as the water is pushed from the chamber into the pool, waves are generated in the pool.

[0059] When the valve is used in this configuration, such that the valve is configured to transition between a fully closed state and a fully open state, the air within the chamber can act as a spring. When the water in the chamber reaches a maximum height or a minimum height, the water level can rebound as the air is compressed and released, thereby generating an oscillating wave surface.

[0060] Figure 2B Shown with Figure 2A An exemplary graph of the water level in the chamber at different times associated with an exemplary progression of a wave. Figure 2A As can be seen by comparing the water states in the chamber, the water level in the chamber initially is at a lower point / resting water level 206. When air is exhausted, water enters the chamber, and the water level increases to a maximum position 208. When air is injected, water leaves the chamber, and the water level reaches a minimum. As best shown between the second and third states, where the chamber transitions between vented and pressurized states, and water is drawn into and then released from the chamber, the water level recovers after reaching a minimum. However, before the water level returns to the original lower point / resting water level position 210, the residual air in the chamber creates another oscillation in the chamber water level height, a residual wave.

[0061] Figure 2C Shown is the corresponding Figure 2BFIGURE 2 shows an exemplary wave pattern formed in a wave pool. The water level in the chamber produces the desired rideable or primary waves 212 at its maximum and minimum values. However, intermediate oscillations that may occur within the chamber may cause interfering water effects between the desired waves. These interfering water effects may resemble fewer or smaller residual waves 214 between the desired wave effects.

[0062] In an exemplary embodiment, the valve system can be controlled to position one or more valves in intermediate positions between open and closed to dampen oscillations within the chamber caused by the movement of air and water within the chamber. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, between steps 2 and 3, rather than the exhaust valve transitioning from fully open to fully closed and the intake valve transitioning from fully closed to fully open, the exhaust valve can be fully closed and then remain partially open, or remain partially open during the transition from step 2 to step 3. Alternatively or additionally, during the transition between steps 2 and 3, the intake valve can be opened to varying degrees to control the flow of air into the chamber and dampen any spring action caused by the injected air within the chamber.

[0063] Figure 3 An exemplary comparison of the time course of water amplitude within a chamber, using a chamber and control system according to embodiments described herein to control a desired wave form within a wave pool, is shown. As shown, when water re-enters the chamber, the original water amplitude within the chamber progresses between a minimum wave height and a maximum wave height, exhibiting oscillations. This can occur when one or more exhaust or intake valves are set between fully open and fully closed positions. The comparative graph illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the intake valve is partially open, so that the water level within the chamber does not result in the same sharp minimum, but instead includes a waveform with defined maxima and truncated minima, thereby minimizing oscillations. As shown, the uncontrolled waveform results in residual waves, while the controlled waveform mitigates the generation of residual waves within the chamber. The adjustment parameters can be varied to achieve different water height profiles and different performance characteristics.

[0064] Figure 4A and Figure 4B Shown is an exemplary comparison of waves generated in a wave pool using the chambers and control systems and methods described herein. Figure 4A Waves (401, 402) generated using the chamber and control system and methods described herein are shown, resulting in mitigation of residual waves. Figure 4B Waves (401, 402) generated without the benefit of the systems and methods described herein are shown, with residual waves (403) appearing.

[0065] Figure 4C and Figure 4DAn exemplary comparison of water currents (411, 412) generated in a wave pool using the chambers and control systems and methods described herein is shown. Mitigating residual waves significantly reduces the water current (411) in the pool, thereby allowing for better wave quality, such as Figure 4C (with controls) as shown, and results in a better and safer rider / surfing experience than when no controls are used, as Figure 4D The water pool includes excess water flow (412).

[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more valves, including exhaust valves or injection valves, may be coupled to a separate controller, such as a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, a proportional-integral (PI) controller, or a proportional-derivative (PD) controller, to facilitate a control loop between one or more sensors of the system and the position of the one or more valves. In an exemplary embodiment, the PID controller may follow the formula:

[0067]

[0068] u(t)=PID control variable,

[0069] K p = proportional gain,

[0070] e(t) = error value,

[0071] K i =Integral gain,

[0072] de = change in error value,

[0073] dt = change in time.

[0074] In the case of an intake controller, the error [e(t)] can be the difference between the current value (given by the sensor) and the water level set (target) point. For an exhaust controller, the error is the difference between the power currently consumed by the exhaust blower (reported by the sensor) and the target power. In one embodiment, the feedback control loop for the exhaust valve position can be based on a pressure sensor in the chamber ( Figure 5B The difference between the triangle P in the chamber (opposite to the one in the boost chamber) and the set pressure point, and the feedback control loop for the injection valve position can be based on the difference between the water level in the chamber sensor and the set height point. Figure 5AAn exemplary feedback control loop is shown, in which a target state (e.g., water level in the case of an intake controller or power in the case of an exhaust controller) is compared to the current state (using sensors). The error is the difference between the target state and the current state. Gains P, I, and D are adjusted to achieve the desired system response to external disturbances. Using the above formula, the PID control variables are updated. In the case of the intake and exhaust controllers, the calculated values are valve angles (intake and exhaust).

[0075] Figure 5B An exemplary control device for use with an injection valve is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, as the water returns to the chamber, the height of the water oscillates until it reaches a final height. The water level height oscillations in the chamber can be suppressed by reducing the opening of the inlet valve to reduce the pressure given to the chamber by the boost chamber. The water level can be measured by a liquid level transmitter. Air pressure can be provided to the chamber through a valve whose position is controlled between fully closed and fully open (0 to 100% open). In an exemplary embodiment, the percentage opening of the inlet valve can be controlled using a PID, PI or PD loop controller to affect the water level to a set height point and, or optionally, suppress wave harmonics. The set water level height point can be determined based on the shape or size of the waves generated. The selection of the set height point can be customized to affect the wave characteristics and more fully customize the waves generated.

[0076] The present invention includes a position control valve mounted on the chamber to control the amount of air delivered from the plenum to the chamber. A set of sensors connected to the chamber includes, but is not limited to, a water level sensor W for measuring the water level in the chamber and a pressure sensor P for measuring the pressure in the chamber. Other sensors may also be used, such as a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature in the mechanical compartment, a humidity sensor for measuring the humidity in the mechanical compartment, or a flow sensor mounted on the valve to measure the flow rate through the valve. The plenum, which is pressurized by one or more blowers, is equipped with a temperature sensor to measure the temperature in the plenum. A power sensor is connected to the motor to measure the amount of power consumed by the blower motor. Alternatively, these sensors can be replaced by amperage sensors mounted on the motor electrical leads. For motors controlled by a variable frequency drive (VFD), data calculated by the VFD can be used instead of the sensors. In addition, one or more temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors are mounted in the mechanical compartment to measure the air density and atmospheric pressure in the mechanical compartment.

[0077] ( Figure 5B Not shown.)

[0078] Figure 6A valve group is shown comprising one or more valves 602 equipped with a position control actuator 601 that allows the valve to be opened to 0 degrees (fully open) or 90 degrees (fully closed) and any position in between, wherein the position of the valve is provided to the actuator controller by a main controller signal. The reaction of the actuator in response to the signal can be adjusted by the actuator controller. Figure 6 As shown, valve 602 is fully open.

[0079] Figure 7 A typical throttle valve characteristic is shown, showing that the pressure drop across the valve, or throttle, increases as the degree of opening increases. By controlling the degree of opening of the valve, one can control the pressure drop across the valve and the amount of air transferred through the valve.

[0080] Figure 8 is a block diagram describing the calculations for the valve angle required to meet the target water level. A controller method is shown that uses the known laws of fluid dynamics to calculate the valve opening based on the target water level, the current water level measurement within the chamber, the pressure within the chamber, the temperature within the plenum chamber, the power consumed by the blower motor, and the temperature and humidity within the mechanical chamber. set is the target height received from the user interface. Z w is the actual water level measured by the sensor. The error is given by e in Indicates that e in It's Z set and Z w The difference between the two values is calculated using the error. This error is used to calculate the angle needed to reach the target, which then sends a signal to the actuator to open the valve to the appropriate degree. This process repeats as the system continuously measures, recalculates, and adjusts as needed.

[0081] 9A to 9D The system and method are shown in Figure 8 The position of the valve and the water level at each of points 1, 2, and 3 are shown in FIG. At the end of step 3, the system repeats as described above. Although certain sensors are shown and described in these figures, additional or alternative sensors may be used as described above.

[0082] Figure 10 The evolution of water levels in different chambers is shown. As described above, the pool wave generator and pool can be configured to generate two waves in the same pool. For example, one wave can move generally toward the left side of the pool, while a second wave can move generally toward the right side of the pool. The present invention allows for the ability to target different water levels in the chambers, thereby allowing the chambers to simultaneously generate waves of different sizes. For example, a more skilled surfer may desire a larger wave, while a novice surfer in the same pool may desire a smaller wave. Figure 10This depicts a situation where the first wave produces a larger amplitude, while the second wave is relatively smaller. This allows the pool to accommodate groups of different competitive levels simultaneously and reduces peak power consumption.

[0083] Figure 11 A method of generating waves with a maximum amplitude that is greater than the normal possible amplitude for a given equipment setup is shown. In this method, the water level in the control chamber is raised, allowing the system to generate a first, small amplitude wave (excitation) to set the water in motion, thereby generating larger waves later. Figure 11 As shown, the dashed line represents the maximum wave amplitude for a given system. Compared to uncontrolled methods, the maximum wave height can be increased by 25%, resulting in waves exceeding the normal maximum amplitude. Also as mentioned above, when the valve is used in this configuration, configured to transition between fully closed and fully open states, the air within the chamber can act as a spring. When the water in the chamber reaches its maximum or minimum height, the water level can rebound as the air is compressed and released, creating an oscillating wave surface.

[0084] In another aspect of the present invention, fan surge prevention is improved. In most pneumatic systems used for wave generation, a group of air blowers deliver air in a common plenum to build up air pressure. However, when the pressure in the plenum becomes too high for the blowers to blow in, air begins to escape from the plenum in the opposite direction through the blowers. As a result, one or more blowers deliver air in the reverse direction, reducing system efficiency due to the exhaust air. This phenomenon not only causes instability due to oscillations (large pressure fluctuations in the plenum), but can also damage the blower impeller, motor, and bearings because the forces applied to the rotor are periodically reversed. Vibration, overheating, and cyclic loading (alternating back and forth between forward and reverse flow) are typical causes of damage. These instabilities occur not only when trying to maintain the target pressure in the plenum, but also when the blower is accelerated or shut down and allowed to rotate freely.

[0085] In another aspect of the present invention, the fan efficiency drop is improved. The fan curve, such as Figure 12A and Figure 12B The diagram shows the relationship between the power consumed by a fan and the air flow / pressure it produces at its outlet. When a fan operates in a surge state, efficiency drops to zero or even negative efficiency because air is flowing back in the opposite direction, while the motor still consumes some power. This means that the overall pneumatic system is generally less efficient because the remaining fans must move more air to achieve a given pressure in the plenum, consuming more power. Because the efficiency of each fan cannot be controlled individually, the system will find a balance between some fans operating in surge and others operating normally.

[0086] The fan curve is a parabola. Every fan has a maximum pressure at which it can still deliver air. When the fan reaches or exceeds this maximum pressure, it will begin to lose airflow, which causes oscillations between forward and reverse flow, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as surge (reverse flow) or stall (restricted or only slightly reverse flow). Fan surge and stall have a negative impact on fan efficiency and life.

[0087] Comparing wind turbine efficiency with pressure shows that peak efficiency occurs near maximum pressure. That is, the closer the system is to maximum pressure, the larger the waves it generates and the more efficient the system is in using mechanical power.

[0088] The flow delivered by a blower is related to downstream pressure. Pressure is related to flow, power is related to flow, and efficiency is related to flow, pressure, and power. By knowing one of these values, the others can be determined. Perhaps most usefully, by looking at power, it is possible to determine which specific blowers are in surge, something that cannot be determined by measuring pressure. Once the power is known, the operator can set the power value close to maximum efficiency and safely away from the surge line. Reference Figure 12A , which shows the relationship between flow and pressure, the top of each curve is relatively flat, making it difficult to determine where the surge point (maximum pressure) actually occurs based on the pressure readings. For example, near the surge limit, the curve is quite flat, requiring a large change in air flow (i.e., moving away from the surge line) to discern the pressure difference caused by the flat pressure curve. To effectively avoid surge, it is necessary to move away from the surge point, which requires a large change in flow and a corresponding large power consumption. In addition, operation near the surge limit is difficult because even a small change in pressure can cause a surge, making it difficult to utilize the fan's maximum pressure and consume less power.

[0089] In contrast, Figure 12B The curves shown show the Figure 12A (Second order polynomial curve) has a significantly different curve shape (first order polynomial), which demonstrates the advantage of measuring power rather than pressure. Figure 12B The power curve in the figure makes it easier to identify the location of the fan's operating point compared to the surge line. As shown in the figure, for each curve, the surge limit and the maximum efficiency point appear at the same point on the air flow axis (with Figure 12A In this case, when operating near the surge limit, even small pressure changes will show up as large power changes on the power curve. Therefore, the operator is able to exert finer control over the system due to the greater range. In addition, due to Figure 12ARepresenting steady state pressure vs. flow, the fan may not dynamically follow the curve exactly, meaning the operating point may temporarily be off the curve. However, the power will accurately follow the output flow of the curve, providing a more robust approach to handling the dynamic behavior of the fan.

[0090] Furthermore, pressure sensors are no longer necessary, as pressure can already be determined by monitoring power output. By observing the motor's power draw, it's possible to determine how close each blower is to maximum efficiency. Using this information, the system can determine how much air is being exhausted and determine the opening angle of the exhaust valve. In addition to the aforementioned advantages, by eliminating or reducing the number of pressure sensors in each system, operators can achieve even greater cost savings in both initial expenditure and system maintenance. The elimination or reduction of pressure sensors also reduces points of failure.

[0091] In another aspect of the invention, energy loss and fan damage between wave groups and large wave intervals are improved. Typically, waves are generated in wave pools in groups or "trains," just like in the ocean. Sometimes a break is needed between these trains to allow surfers to rest or return to peak form. Another option is to increase the intervals between waves, such as when dealing with a small surfing group. In either case, there are two options at the aerodynamic level: (1) one can turn the fan off during the break and then turn it back on again, which can lead to premature damage if done too frequently and improperly; and (2) keep the fan on during the run, which will find a balance between some surge operation and other normal operation. Both of these situations can lead to premature fan damage and can be accompanied by the surge or stall phenomena mentioned above.

[0092] Previous attempts to address these issues have used exhaust valves on the plenum that open for a fixed duration when a pressure sensor in the plenum registers a pressure exceeding a threshold. Similar solutions exist in compressor engineering, known as surge control methods (exhaust or bleed valves with pressure sensors, or recirculation valves that direct outlet gas to the inlet rather than into the exhaust).

[0093] While this existing solution is the first answer to avoiding blower backflow, the problem can be solved more precisely. In fact, it is a passive blower control solution: when the pressure in the boost chamber exceeds a threshold, the exhaust valve is programmed to open for a preset duration, which means there is no active control.

[0094] This solution often leads to undesirable results, such as: (1) too much or too little air may be blown because the process does not take into account the actual operating state of the fan; (2) the control system cannot be maintained in a stable pressure in the plenum due to the binary control of the valve (fully open or fully closed); (3) the fan operating point cannot be monitored in real time (it cannot operate at peak efficiency); (4) unnecessary air volume is blown, thereby consuming unnecessary energy; (5) additional exhaust valves are required on the plenum; and uneven control along the plenum, resulting in undesirable pressure waves. An additional benefit is that power consumption is easily measured with reference to each specific fan, while pressure measurements are usually made with reference to the entire plenum. By measuring the power consumption of each fan, the operator can determine which specific fan is in surge (or near surge) and can make adjustments to that fan individually. Because the power consumption during surge will be close to zero, or at least significantly lower, there are several ways to remove the fan from surge when a fan is detected to be in surge. For example, reducing the pressure in front of the fan to a certain level, or accelerating the fan to get it out of surge and then slowing it down to its initial speed. This benefit cannot be obtained when measuring pressure alone. Inlet guide vane control (IVC) dampers are also commonly installed at the inlet of centrifugal fans to provide regulation and control. Its multi-blade arrangement around the central hub helps to introduce swirl into the fan inlet to enhance flow control. For any form of actuation, it can also be designed to achieve the same purpose as a variable frequency drive (VFD), which adjusts the motor speed to achieve different pressure levels in the boost chamber, thereby changing the characteristics of the fan curve.

[0095] IVC dampers with vanes can present their own challenges. Because IVC dampers are more complex guide vanes, they are also more expensive, more fragile, and typically used for static applications and less commonly in control systems. On the other hand, knowing that this inlet valve will be used during unit lulls or long surge intervals, and that a VFD is already in place to control the pressure in the plenum, an IVC with vanes may be too complex and / or expensive for some applications.

[0096] In one aspect, the present invention can be divided into two parts: a controller that controls the air intake opening of the blower and a monitor that independently controls the exhaust valve of each pneumatic chamber.

[0097] In this regard, the present invention uses an exhaust valve for each chamber, rather than adding exhaust valves to control fan performance. By measuring the power consumed by the fan in real time, the amount of air exhausted from the pneumatic system (and thus the opening angle of the exhaust valve) can be determined, allowing the fan to operate at maximum efficiency. It also allows the fan airflow to be properly adjusted to avoid instability. Compared to existing systems that typically use one exhaust valve for each fan, by using exhaust valves for each chamber, the operator can achieve a more responsive system with uniform exhaust because there are multiple exhaust valves. That is, exhaust can be exhausted throughout the entire booster chamber, rather than just at one point.

[0098] Furthermore, a valve installed at the fan's air inlet can control the incoming air flow. This allows the motor to continue rotating at a given speed with little or no energy consumption when the valve is partially or fully closed. This feature is particularly useful when wave generation is temporarily unavailable but there is no reason to shut down the fan.

[0099] Each exhaust valve has a dual purpose: exhausting the chamber for wave generation and exhausting the chamber for regulating the fans. These two functions are not active at the same time. With respect to the exhaust valve controller, the fans blow air in a common plenum chamber, which supplies air to the independent wave generation caisson through its air inlet butterfly valve. In addition, each chamber is equipped with an exhaust valve for extracting air from the chamber, which also removes air from the plenum chamber, which causes the water to rise in the chamber under the action of gravity to establish the next wave generation cycle, such as Figure 13 The second function only works when both valves (exhaust and intake) are open.

[0100] Power sensors (variable frequency drives or VFDs) measure the power consumed by each fan in real time, while two other sets of sensors measure the temperature in the plenum and the pressure in the chamber. For a given fan speed and a given air density (calculated using temperature and humidity sensors located in the mechanical room), the fan curve gives the relationship between the power consumed and the air flow rate at the fan outlet. The exhaust controller then calculates the airflow to be extracted from the plenum to achieve the target fan operating point (to maximize efficiency), as shown in Figure 2. Figure 14 As shown. Next, the controller calculates the exhaust valve angle to achieve the target airflow out of the chamber. Finally, the fan motor power reaches the target value. In some embodiments, additional sensors (temperature, intake air flow, fan chamber humidity, etc.) can be used to provide more accurate results.

[0101] Because the chamber inlet valve is also equipped with a controller, the two controllers form a coupled system. When the exhaust valve opens to remove air from the chamber, the inlet valve immediately opens, following the guidance of a second, independent controller, which targets a specific water level. This compensates for the loss of air in the chamber and removes excess air from the plenum. Thus, the fan is indirectly regulated by the exhaust controller to operate at the target operating point, ensuring stable maximum efficiency.

[0102] Figures 15A to 15E The process is shown. Figure 15A The steps and schematic diagram of the wave generator in step 1 are described. First, the controller measures the power difference between the target and actual wind turbine power consumption. Figure 15B In step 2 shown, the system calculates the airflow to be extracted from the chamber to achieve the target fan efficiency. Figure 15C In step 3 shown, the system calculates the exhaust valve angle to allow the target airflow to escape from the chamber. Figure 15D In step 4 shown, the air inlet controller compensates for the gain or loss of air in the chamber by adjusting the blower. Figure 15E As shown, the process is restarted. For the purposes of these illustrations, both the inlet and exhaust valves are shown in a partially open position. Depending on the requirements of the system and the cycle step in which the system is operating, the valves can be appropriately positioned at other angles.

[0103] The exhaust valve controller of this aspect of the invention has various advantages over existing systems. The system does not specify preset variables regarding pressure thresholds and the corresponding time the valves remain open, which means that the system has active control, reacting intelligently based on the measurements of each sensor. In addition, the system does not require a boost chamber pressure sensor because the system monitors blower power rather than boost chamber pressure. The system also allows for inlet valve control. Because the target aspect is efficiency rather than pressure, it tends to promote higher efficiency in the system. In some embodiments, the increased blower group efficiency can be +25% or more compared to a system that does not use a controller. The system can be connected to the chamber inlet valve, exhaust valve and blower inlet valve, and does not require an additional exhaust valve.

[0104] The benefits of this system are that it avoids turbine instability and increases turbine life by eliminating undesigned loads. When there are no waves, the turbine can safely rotate freely. By eliminating or reducing airflow oscillations, the system can deliver larger and more stable waves. Wind noise and heat generation are also reduced. Therefore, during wave formation at the top of the curve, the turbine's full performance can be utilized. The system also correctly provides stable airflow to the pneumatic caisson.

[0105] Because previous systems focused on exhaust valves connected to the blowers, the system may have a relatively small number of exhaust valves, resulting in relatively little control over the system. In one aspect of the present invention, the wave generator can be composed of multiple chambers, each chamber having 2 or more exhaust valves. For example, a system with 48 chambers may have 2 exhaust valves per chamber, for a total of 96 exhaust valves, and have a greater degree of control over where, when, and how much each chamber discharges. When needed, the distributed exhaust valves can be opened to blow air out quickly. And because the exhaust valves in this aspect are more evenly distributed than in existing systems, the user will have more precise control over the exhaust.

[0106] Regarding the fan inlet valve controller, this valve is installed on the fan's air inlet and allows for control of incoming airflow. The more the valve closes, the less air enters, thereby reducing the fan's power consumption. This allows the system to keep the motor on and the impeller spinning, thereby consuming less power at a fixed speed. The valve can then be controlled to gradually close when waves are less or less needed in the wave pool at a given moment. Finally, the inlet valve is gradually reopened to allow air in and recompress it. This allows the engine's energy consumption to be limited when there are no waves in the wave pool. By placing a butterfly valve in front of the fan, which can be controlled to open at various angles, the system operates more efficiently than existing inlet valves.

[0107] The system described herein provides information related to fan efficiency during operation. Figure 16 The fan efficiency curves for an uncontrolled and controlled system during a wave generation process are shown. The curves show that by activating the exhaust controller, the fan efficiency drop when entering a reverse flow state can be completely avoided.

[0108] Benefits of the fan inlet valves (not shown) include reduced power consumption, increased fan speed, and reduced fan noise. The fan speeds can be increased individually at different times, thereby reducing peak power consumption. For example, each fan can be accelerated within a specific time period (e.g., 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, etc.) after the previous fan has accelerated. The offset time between the acceleration of each fan can be the same for each consecutive fan, or can be varied according to the specific operating requirements of the system. Another advantage of offsetting the acceleration times is that the system will experience lower peak power levels than if all fans were accelerated at the same time.

[0109] While the exhaust and intake valve controllers described herein are directed to use with a wave generator, it will be appreciated that the principles disclosed herein may be advantageously applied to other applications employing blowers and plenum systems.

[0110] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications should be understood to be included within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Specifically, exemplary components are described herein. Any combination of these components may be used in any combination. For example, any component, feature, step, or portion may be integrated, separated, subdivided, removed, copied, added, or used in any combination and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments are exemplary only and provide illustrative combinations of features, but are not limited thereto.

[0111] When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and their variations mean including the specified features, steps, or integers. These terms should not be interpreted as excluding the presence of other features, steps, or components. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated, the words "and" and "or" should not be interpreted as excluding the presence of other features, steps, or components.

[0112] The features disclosed in the above description, the appended claims, or the drawings, expressed in their specific form or according to the means for performing the disclosed functions, or the methods or processes for obtaining the disclosed results, may be used, as appropriate, alone or in any combination of these features to realize the invention in its different forms.

Claims

1. A pool wave generator comprising: pool area; at least one chamber located on one side of the pool area for releasing water into the pool area to generate waves in the pool area; a plenum chamber in fluid communication with the at least one chamber; at least one blower positioned in fluid communication with the plenum; Valve controller; an air inlet valve located between the plenum and the chamber and capable of being selectively opened at different angles by a position-controlled actuator to allow air to enter the chamber from the plenum at a controlled rate; an exhaust valve, the exhaust valve being selectively openable at different angles and being located on a wall of the chamber so that air can exit the chamber through the exhaust valve, wherein the position of the exhaust valve is independent of the position of the intake valve; a first sensor and a second sensor in communication with the valve controller; wherein the first sensor monitors the power consumption of the fan, and the second sensor monitors the water level in the chamber, and the first sensor and the second sensor operate independently of each other; and The degree of opening of the exhaust valve is determined by the valve controller based on power consumption information of the at least one fan.

2. The pool wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: The air intake valve is a butterfly valve.

3. The pool wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: The exhaust valve is a butterfly valve.

4. The pool wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: In a first mode, the exhaust valve operates to exhaust air from the chamber to push water into the pool area to generate waves in the pool area, and in a second mode, the exhaust valve exhausts air from the plenum and chamber to regulate fan operation.

5. The pool wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: The valve controller adjusts an opening angle of the exhaust valve in response to power consumption information received from the first sensor.

6. A method of generating waves in a wave pool, comprising: providing a pool area, at least one chamber for releasing water into the pool area to generate waves in the pool area, a plenum in fluid communication with the at least one chamber, at least one blower positioned in fluid communication with the plenum, a valve controller, an air inlet valve positioned between the plenum and the chamber, an exhaust valve positioned on a wall of the chamber to enable air to exit the chamber through the exhaust valve, and a first sensor and a second sensor in communication with the valve controller; determining a target power consumption of the at least one wind turbine; monitoring the actual power consumption of the at least one wind turbine using the first sensor; determining a difference between a target power consumption and an actual power consumption of the at least one wind turbine; calculating an air flow rate to be exhausted from the chamber to achieve a target power consumption level; calculating an exhaust valve opening angle that will provide a calculated air flow rate to the at least one blower; The air inlet valve is adjusted to compensate for changes in the air within the chamber following a second controller targeting a specific water level target.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The target power consumption is determined based on an actual air density in the chamber determined by a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor located in the machinery room.

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