Oscillating water column type wave energy power generation device based on superstructure

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of ocean renewable energy technology utilization, and provides an oscillating water column type wave energy power generation device based on a superstructure, which comprises an oscillating water column main body, a superstructure assembly, a top shell and a power generation unit, and is characterized in that the interior of the oscillating water column main body is provided with the superstructure assembly formed by a plurality of guide plates which are arranged along the radial direction and extend in a horn shape; the oscillating water column body is internally divided into a plurality of independent oscillating water column cavities with gradually-changed sizes by combining with the partition plate assembly, an air chamber is defined by the top shell and the oscillating water column body, and airflow energy generated by water column oscillation driving is converted into electric energy through the power generation unit. The power generation unit can adopt a plurality of split type air turbines to generate power or a general type air turbine to generate power. The special fluctuation performance of the superstructure is fully exerted, efficient broadband capture and wave absorption are achieved, meanwhile, wave loads are effectively reduced, diversified integration of wave energy power generation devices is developed, sea area resources and operation and maintenance cost are saved, and negative environmental influences are reduced.

Description

Oscillating Water Column Wave Power Generation Device Based on Superstructure Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of marine engineering technology, specifically to an oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure. Background Technology

[0002] Wave energy, as a type of renewable marine energy, boasts advantages such as large reserves, high energy density, and wide distribution, offering broad application prospects. The efficient development and utilization of wave energy can effectively alleviate the shortage of traditional fossil fuels and the environmental pollution caused by fossil fuel combustion. Currently, wave energy power generation devices are mainly classified into three types based on their working principles: oscillating water column type, oscillating body type, and overtaking type. Among these, the oscillating water column type wave energy power generation device has been widely researched and put into use due to its advantages of simple structure, high efficiency, low cost, and ease of maintenance.

[0003] While existing oscillating water column wave energy generation devices have undergone numerous design optimizations, significant technical bottlenecks remain. For example, existing designs are mostly based on single-frequency optimization theory, resulting in peak wave energy capture efficiency limited to specific frequencies and a limited frequency response width for wave energy capture and attenuation, making them unsuitable for wide-bandwidth sea conditions. Furthermore, existing oscillating water column wave energy devices typically employ vertical plates or cylindrical chambers, where the oscillating water column and its length are limited by water depth, resulting in a relatively high natural frequency. This leads to poor long-wave energy capture and attenuation effects and easily causes strong vortices to detach from the chamber ends, resulting in energy loss and significant wave loads, which are detrimental to device stability.

[0004] Meanwhile, superstructures, as composite materials or structural arrays that precisely control physical fields at subwavelength scales through artificial microstructures, exhibit unique wave characteristics compared to traditional structures, such as retrorefraction, near-trapped waves, and resonance. However, how to apply them to the engineering field of wave energy capture, especially by deeply integrating them with oscillating water column technology to solve core problems such as poor broadband adaptability and low flow field efficiency, remains a direction that urgently needs to be explored. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure. This device aims to significantly broaden the wave energy capture bandwidth, improve energy conversion efficiency, and enhance the adaptability and stability of the device under wide-range sea conditions by integrating a superstructure to form a series of oscillating water columns with different natural frequencies.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure, comprising an oscillating water column body, a superstructure component, a top shell, and a power generation unit.

[0007] The main body of the oscillating water column has side walls and an internal hollow column structure, which serves as the foundation for accommodating water flow and superstructure.

[0008] The superstructure component is disposed inside the oscillating water column body and includes multiple radially arranged guide vanes. These guide vanes extend axially, thereby dividing the interior of the oscillating water column body into multiple independent oscillating water column chambers. By designing the arrangement of the guide vanes, each oscillating water column chamber has different geometric dimensions, thus corresponding to different natural frequencies, to achieve efficient capture of broadband wave energy.

[0009] The top outer shell is positioned above the main body of the oscillating water column and together with the main body of the oscillating water column, forms a sealed air chamber.

[0010] The power generation unit is used to convert the energy of the reciprocating airflow generated by the reciprocating oscillation of the water column in each oscillating water column chamber into electrical energy.

[0011] Furthermore, the multiple guide plates are concentric, equidistant annular plates. From the sidewall of the oscillating water column towards the axis, the radius of these annular plates gradually increases, thus forming an overall funnel-shaped structure. This funnel-shaped design is beneficial for guiding water flow and optimizing the flow field.

[0012] Furthermore, the power generation device also includes a baffle assembly comprising multiple radially distributed baffles along the circumference. These radial baffles divide the interior of the oscillating water column body into multiple sectors along the circumference. Multiple guide plates are fixedly connected to these radial baffles, thereby forming multiple radially arranged, independent oscillating water column chambers within each sector. The baffle assembly serves to support the guide plates and further separate the water flow.

[0013] Furthermore, the top of the main body of the oscillating water column is provided with a chamber top plate, and the chamber top plate has air holes that correspond one-to-one with each of the oscillating water column chambers below. These air holes keep the upper part of each oscillating water column chamber in communication with the air chamber below the top shell, serving as a channel for airflow exchange.

[0014] Furthermore, the power generation device also includes a floating base connected below the main body of the oscillating water column, providing the necessary buoyancy for the entire device to float stably in the working sea area. The side shape of the floating base is parallel to the extension surface of the innermost guide plate to maintain smooth flow. The floating base can be specifically designed as a rounded-corner flat-bottom structure or a convex-bottom structure to adapt to different sea conditions and installation requirements.

[0015] Furthermore, one type of power generation unit is a split-type air turbine power generation system, comprising multiple split-turbine generators, each of which is respectively disposed at a corresponding air hole on the top plate of the chamber. The airflow generated by each oscillating water column chamber drives its corresponding split-turbine generator to work independently.

[0016] Furthermore, another type of power generation unit is an integrated air turbine power generation system, which includes a two-way check valve, a gas collection pipeline, and a main turbine generator.

[0017] The dual-way one-way valve is installed at each air hole on the top plate of the chamber, and its function is to allow the airflow to pass through only one direction between the oscillating water column chamber and the upper air chamber.

[0018] The gas collection pipeline is used to collect the airflow passing through each two-way check valve.

[0019] The main turbine generator is connected to the gas collection pipeline and is used to convert the energy of the collected gas flow into electrical energy.

[0020] For a unified power generation system, the gas collection pipeline has two specific forms: the first is a separate power generation type, where the gas collection pipeline includes a main intake pipe and a main exhaust pipe. The main intake pipe collects the airflow flowing from the gas chamber into each oscillating water column chamber through each double-way one-way valve; the main exhaust pipe collects the airflow flowing from each oscillating water column chamber back to the gas chamber through a double-way one-way valve. Both the main intake pipe and the main exhaust pipe are directly connected to the outside atmosphere and each is equipped with a main turbine generator. In this way, the intake airflow and exhaust airflow drive two generators to rotate in one direction at all times. The second is a connected circulation type, where the gas collection pipeline also includes a main intake pipe and a main exhaust pipe, with the same function. In addition, a connecting pipe is included, which is set between the main intake pipe and the main exhaust pipe to connect them. The main turbine generator is installed in the connecting pipe. Meanwhile, an intake check valve is installed in the pipe connecting the main exhaust pipe to the outside, and an exhaust check valve is installed in the pipe connecting the main intake pipe to the outside, so that a gas circulation loop is formed inside the device, driving the main turbine generator in the connected pipe to rotate in one direction at all times, while balancing the system gas pressure through two external check valves.

[0021] Compared with existing technologies, this invention provides an oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure, which has the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention creates multiple independent oscillating water column chambers of different sizes and shapes inside the power generation device by combining a trumpet-shaped guide plate and a radial baffle. These chambers have a series of different natural frequencies, which can respond to incident waves with a wide spectrum, thereby significantly improving the overall energy capture bandwidth and energy capture efficiency of the wave energy device and overcoming the narrow bandwidth of traditional single-chamber devices; 2. This invention provides two types of power generation systems. The split-type power generation system has a simple structure, with each chamber generating electricity independently and having high reliability. The overall power generation system has a high degree of integration and significantly improved efficiency. The overall power generation system also includes separate power generation and interconnected circulation types. Through the ingenious design of gas collection pipelines and one-way valves, the turbulent reciprocating airflow in the traditional oscillating water column is integrated into a stable and continuous airflow, thereby driving the turbine generator to rotate in one direction at all times, which greatly improves the operating efficiency, reliability and service life of the generator. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 3 is a top view of the AA section of the split-type air turbine used in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the AA section of the overall-type air turbine used in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a bidirectional single-way butterfly valve; Figure 6 is a top view of a gas collection pipeline; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the separate power generation type used in Embodiment 3 of the present invention; Figure 8 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the separate power generation type used in Embodiment 3 of the present invention; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the interconnected circulation type used in Embodiment 4 of the present invention; Figure 10 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the interconnected circulation type used in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0023] Reference numerals: 1. Oscillating water column body; 2. Top shell; 3. Floating base; 4. Mooring system; 5. Baffle plate; 6. Oscillating water column chamber; 7. Side wall; 8. Baffle assembly; 9. Chamber top plate; 10. Separate turbine generator; 11. Two-way one-way butterfly valve; 12. Main turbine generator; 13. Semi-circular passage; 14. Butterfly plate; 15. Butterfly plate shaft; 16. Separated air chamber; 17. Circular passage; 18. Connecting vent; 19. Main exhaust pipe; 20. Main intake pipe; 21. Exhaust one-way valve; 22. Intake one-way valve. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment 1

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, this embodiment provides an oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure, specifically adopting a rounded corner flat bottom floating base and a split air turbine power generation scheme.

[0026] In this embodiment, the power generation device includes an oscillating water column body 1, which is a hollow cylindrical structure formed by sidewalls 7. Inside the oscillating water column body 1, a superstructure component is provided. This superstructure component consists of multiple radially arranged trumpet-shaped guide plates 5. These trumpet-shaped guide plates 5 are concentric and equidistant annular plates, and their radius gradually increases from the sidewalls 7 towards the axis, forming a trumpet-shaped structure that gradually widens from the inside out.

[0027] Specifically, the main body 1 of the oscillating water column is further provided with a baffle assembly 8. The baffle assembly 8 is composed of multiple radially distributed baffles along the circumference, dividing the internal space into multiple sectors along the circumference. Multiple horn-shaped guide plates 5 are fixedly connected to these radial baffles, thereby forming multiple radially arranged, independent oscillating water column chambers 6 in each sector. The outermost oscillating water column chamber 6 is surrounded by the side wall 7 and the shortest guide plate 5, while the innermost chamber is surrounded by the side of the floating base 3 and the longest guide plate 5.

[0028] Specifically, a chamber top plate 9 is fixedly provided on the top of the oscillating water column body 1. The chamber top plate 9 is a disc, on which an air hole is opened corresponding to the position of each oscillating water column chamber 6. Above the oscillating water column body 1, a top outer shell 2 is installed, which is hemispherical in this embodiment, and together with the oscillating water column body 1 and the chamber top plate 9, it forms a sealed air chamber. In addition, a ventilation pipe communicating with the outside is opened at the top of the top outer shell 2.

[0029] Specifically, a floating base 3 is connected below the main body 1 of the oscillating water column. In this embodiment, the floating base 3 has a rounded-corner flat-bottom structure, with its side surface being an inwardly concave frustum-like surface. The inclination angle of this side surface is parallel to the extension surface of the innermost guide plate 5, ensuring smooth water flow. Furthermore, the bottom of the floating base 3 is flat, with rounded corners at the junction with the side surface to reduce vortex-induced vibration. The floating base 3 is fixed to the seabed by an anchoring system 4.

[0030] Preferably, the mooring system 4 can adopt conventional mooring technology used in the field for floating structures, such as consisting of multiple anchor chains, anchor blocks and connectors, with one end of the anchor chain connected to the floating base 3 and the other end fixed to the seabed by the anchor block to ensure the stability of the device in the working sea area.

[0031] In this embodiment, the power generation unit adopts a split-type air turbine power generation system. As shown in Figure 3, a split-type turbine generator 10 is installed at each air vent of the chamber top plate 9. The turbine generator can be a symmetrical airfoil turbine generator or a Wells turbine generator. The water column in each oscillating water column chamber 6 oscillates up and down under the action of waves, compressing or drawing in the air at its top, generating a reciprocating airflow. This reciprocating airflow directly drives the corresponding split-type turbine generator 10 to work and generate electricity, and the electrical energy generated by each split-type turbine generator 10 is aggregated and output.

[0032] Working principle: After the power generation device is in place, waves enter from the side. Guided by the trumpet-shaped guide plate 5, seawater enters each oscillating water column chamber 6, exciting a series of water column oscillations with different natural frequencies. The water column oscillations drive the turbine generator 10 at the top to generate electricity, achieving parallel and efficient capture of broadband wave energy. Example 2

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the superstructure components, partition components 8, chamber top plate 9, top shell 2 and split power generation system in this embodiment are the same as those in embodiment 1. The main difference is in the structure of the floating base 3, which adopts a convex bottom structure.

[0034] Specifically, in this embodiment, the bottom surface of the floating base 3 is a convex curved surface, symmetrical to the top hemispherical shell 2 about a certain transverse plane, making the entire device capsule-shaped. Correspondingly, the lower end of the guide plate 5 and the lower edge of the baffle assembly 8, located at the bottom of the oscillating water column body 1, also taper inwards, smoothly connecting with this convex curved surface. This fully streamlined design further optimizes the hydrodynamic performance of the device and reduces resistance and wave loads. Example 3

[0035] As shown in Figures 4-8, this embodiment modifies the power generation unit based on the mechanical structure of the oscillating water column main structure, superstructure components, floating base, etc. in Embodiment 1 or 2, and adopts a separate power generation scheme of the overall air turbine power generation system.

[0036] In this embodiment, the turbine generator 10 is omitted. A two-way check valve 11 is installed at each vent of the chamber top plate 9.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, the dual-way one-way valve 11 is a cylinder with two semi-circular channels 13 inside. Each semi-circular channel 13 contains a butterfly valve that can only be opened in one direction. The butterfly valve includes a disc shaft 15 rotatably mounted within the semi-circular channel 13 and a disc 14 on the disc shaft 15. The function of the butterfly valve is to ensure that the airflow can only pass through the oscillating water column chamber 6 and the upper air chamber in one direction. At the same time, one semi-circular channel 13 (exhaust side) allows airflow from the chamber to the air chamber, while the other semi-circular channel 13 (intake side) allows airflow to flow in the opposite direction, but the two will not open simultaneously.

[0038] In this embodiment, a gas collection pipe is provided above the top plate 9 of the chamber. Specifically, the air holes on the oscillating water column chamber 6 in the same radial direction are in a straight line. A semi-circular pipe is provided above the air holes. The outer end of the semi-circular pipe is connected to the inner wall of the top shell 2 and is closed. The two semi-circular channels 13 of the double-pass one-way valve 11 are divided into two independent partitioned air chambers 16 by a partition plate inside the semi-circular pipe. The partitioned air chambers with air holes close to each other on the two adjacent straight lines are both air intake channels or exhaust channels. An annular channel 17 is provided between the two identical air intake channels and exhaust channels. The annular channel 17 is used to connect the two adjacent air intake channels or exhaust channels together. Then, a connecting air hole 18 is opened at the top of the annular channel 17. All connecting air holes 18 on the exhaust side are connected by branch pipes to form a main exhaust pipe 19. All connecting air holes 18 on the intake side are connected by branch pipes to form a main intake pipe 20.

[0039] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the main exhaust pipe 19 and the main intake pipe 20 are independently connected to the outside atmosphere through pipes opened on the top outer casing 2. A main turbine generator 12 is installed in the outlet pipe of the main exhaust pipe 19, and another main turbine generator 12 is installed in the inlet pipe of the main intake pipe 20. The turbine generators can be symmetrical airfoil turbine generators or Wells turbine generators.

[0040] Working principle: When the air pressure in part of the oscillating water column chamber 6 increases, it presses open the exhaust side butterfly plate of the double-way one-way valve 11 at its top, allowing airflow to be discharged through the main exhaust pipe 19, driving the main turbine generator 12 at the outlet of the main exhaust pipe 19 to rotate in the forward direction to generate electricity. Simultaneously, when the air pressure in part of the chamber decreases, it draws in the air intake side butterfly plate of the double-way one-way valve 11 at its top, allowing outside air to enter through the main intake pipe 20, driving the main turbine generator 12 at the inlet of the main intake pipe 20 to rotate in the reverse direction to generate electricity. Thus, the two generators operate stably in one direction respectively, resulting in high power generation efficiency. Example 4

[0041] As shown in Figures 4-6 and 9-10, this embodiment is also based on the mechanical structure of embodiment 1 or 2, and adopts a connected circulation scheme for overall power generation.

[0042] This embodiment also uses a two-way one-way valve 11 and a gas collection pipeline including a main intake pipe 20 and a main exhaust pipe 19. The key difference from embodiment 3 is the pipeline connection method: the main intake pipe 20 and the main exhaust pipe 19 are connected to each other through a connecting pipe, and a main turbine generator 12 is installed in the connecting pipe.

[0043] Furthermore, the main exhaust pipe 19 is connected to the outside via a pipe equipped with an intake check valve 22, and the main intake pipe 20 is also connected to the outside via a pipe equipped with an exhaust check valve 21. The intake check valve 22 only allows external gas to enter the main exhaust pipe 19, and the exhaust check valve 21 only allows gas to be discharged from the main intake pipe 20 to the outside.

[0044] Working principle: Since the main exhaust pipe 19 and the main intake pipe 20 are connected by a connecting pipe, and a main turbine generator 12 is installed in the middle, when the generator is working, the oscillating water column chamber 6 with increased air pressure exhausts air into the main exhaust pipe 19 through a double-way one-way valve 11. The outer end of the main exhaust pipe 19 is connected to an intake one-way valve 22, which prevents exhaust from the outside. Therefore, the gas discharged from the high-pressure chamber flows only to the low-pressure chamber through the connecting pipe, forming an internal gas circulation loop. Similarly, the chamber with decreased air pressure draws air from the main intake pipe 20 through the double-way one-way valve 11. The outer end is connected to an exhaust check valve 21, which prevents air intake. Therefore, it can only draw air from the main exhaust pipe 19 through the connecting pipe. The gas in the main exhaust pipe 19 flows to the main intake pipe 20 through the connecting pipe, forming an internal gas circulation loop. Since the gas always flows from the main exhaust pipe 19 to the main intake pipe 20 through the connecting pipe, it drives the main turbine generator 12 in the connecting pipe to rotate in one direction and generate electricity continuously. In addition, the intake check valve 22 and the exhaust check valve 21 are used to replenish or exhaust a small amount of gas from the outside when the total amount of gas in the system is unbalanced, so as to maintain the gas pressure balance.

Claims

1. A wave energy generation device based on a superstructure-driven oscillating water column, characterized in that, include: The oscillating water column body (1) has a sidewall (7) and an interior hollow column structure; a superstructure assembly is disposed inside the oscillating water column body (1), the superstructure assembly includes multiple radially arranged guide plates (5), the multiple guide plates (5) extend axially and divide the interior of the oscillating water column body (1) to form multiple independent oscillating water column chambers (6); a top shell (2), the top shell (2) is disposed above the oscillating water column body (1), the top shell (2) and the oscillating water column body (1) together form an air chamber; a power generation unit is used to convert the airflow energy generated by the oscillation of the water column in the oscillating water column chamber (6) into electrical energy.

2. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple guide plates (5) are concentric and equidistant annular plates, and the radius of the annular plates gradually increases from the side wall (7) of the oscillating water column body (1) towards the axis, forming a trumpet-shaped structure.

3. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a baffle assembly (8), which includes a plurality of radial baffles evenly distributed along the circumference, the plurality of radial baffles dividing the interior of the oscillating water column body (1) into a plurality of sectors along the circumference; the plurality of guide plates (5) are connected to the plurality of radial baffles, thereby forming a plurality of radially arranged oscillating water column chambers (6) in each sector.

4. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The top of the main body (1) of the oscillating water column is provided with a chamber top plate (9), and the chamber top plate (9) is provided with air holes corresponding to each oscillating water column chamber (6), and the air holes are connected to the air chamber below the top shell (2).

5. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a floating base (3), which is connected below the oscillating water column body (1).

6. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The floating base (3) is a rounded flat bottom structure or a convex bottom structure.

7. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The power generation unit is a split-type air turbine power generation system, including multiple split turbine generators (10), each of which is respectively located at the corresponding air hole on the top plate (9) of the chamber.

8. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The power generation unit is an overall air turbine power generation system, including: a double-way check valve (11), which is located at each air hole on the top plate (9) of the chamber, for allowing airflow to pass unidirectionally between the oscillating water column chamber (6) and the air chamber; a gas collection pipeline, which is used to collect the airflow flowing through each double-way check valve (11); and a main turbine generator (12), which is connected to the gas collection pipeline and is used to convert the collected airflow energy into electrical energy.

9. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The gas collection pipeline includes: a main air inlet pipe (20), which is used to collect the airflow flowing from the gas chamber into each oscillating water column chamber (6) through a double-way one-way valve (11); and a main exhaust pipe (19), which is used to collect the airflow flowing from each oscillating water column chamber (6) to the gas chamber through a double-way one-way valve (11). Both the main air inlet pipe (20) and the main exhaust pipe (19) are connected to the outside and are respectively equipped with a main turbine generator (12).

10. The oscillating water column wave energy generation device based on a superstructure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The gas collection pipeline includes: a main air inlet pipe (20), which is used to collect the airflow flowing from the gas chamber into each oscillating water column chamber (6) through a double-way one-way valve (11); a main exhaust pipe (19), which is used to collect the airflow flowing from each oscillating water column chamber (6) to the gas chamber through a double-way one-way valve (11); a connecting pipe, which is set between the main air inlet pipe (20) and the main exhaust pipe (19) to make the main air inlet pipe (20) and the main exhaust pipe (19) interconnected, and the main turbine generator (12) is set in the connecting pipe; an intake one-way valve (22), which is set inside the end of the main exhaust pipe (19) that is connected to the outside; and an exhaust one-way valve (21), which is set inside the end of the main air inlet pipe (20) that is connected to the outside.

Images