A pneumatic wave energy collector and wave power plant

Abstract

The utility model relates to the engine technical field of wave energy, especially air pressure formula wave energy collector and wave power generation device. The utility model carries out optimization design to the unit module of collecting wave energy in the existing wave power generation device, sets up the floating piston in the energy-gathering fixed cylinder with the energy-gathering flared section, can guide the seawater of at least two times of vertical cylinder section coverage area to surge into the vertical cylinder section when the sea wave surges through the energy-gathering flared section, realizes energy convergence in the process that the seawater of energy-gathering flared section covered area surges into the vertical cylinder section with smaller area, doubles the thrust force and the thrust speed of seawater to the floating piston, makes the floating piston have greater kinetic energy, converts the kinetic energy of floating piston into air internal energy for utilization again, improves wave energy collection and utilization rate, improves power generation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of engine technology utilizing wave energy, and in particular to a pneumatic wave energy collector and wave power generation device. Background Technology

[0002] Offshore floating platforms, such as aquaculture platforms, offshore observation platforms, and offshore wind power platforms, are often located far from the coastline. Using submarine cables for power supply would be not only costly but also require stringent permit requirements. Therefore, most of them rely on fuel-fired generators to meet their electricity needs. However, this method of obtaining electricity is not only more expensive than grid power but also causes environmental and noise pollution.

[0003] With the continuous expansion of green and sustainable energy applications, wave energy has also been extensively researched and experimented with, especially for the offshore floating platforms mentioned above, where wave power generation shows great promise. Chinese invention patent application CN110529329A discloses an ocean wave power generation device, including an outer buoy and an inner buoy. The inner buoy rises and falls within the outer buoy due to wave undulations, and the vertical rack connected to its top, in conjunction with a reciprocating lever, converts the rising and falling motion into the unidirectional rotation of a ratchet, thereby outputting kinetic energy for power generation. However, the power generation device disclosed in the above-mentioned prior art has a large number of transmission components, making assembly and manufacturing complex and costly. Moreover, the transmission components are mostly made of metal, which are prone to wear, corrosion, and jamming in the marine environment, resulting in a short service life. Crucially, due to the variability of the ocean wave environment—the wave period, direction, and amplitude vary in different sea areas—the amount of seawater and energy that can continuously enter the outer buoy and effectively propel the inner buoy is limited in practical applications, resulting in low energy collection and utilization rates and low actual power generation efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pneumatic wave energy collector to solve the problem of low wave energy conversion and utilization rate in existing wave power generation devices; at the same time, the purpose of this invention is also to provide a wave power generation device using the above-mentioned wave energy collector to solve the same problem.

[0005] The pneumatic wave energy collector of this utility model adopts the following technical solution: The pneumatic wave energy collector includes a focusing cylinder for installation on a floating platform at sea. The focusing cylinder includes a vertical section and a focusing flared section at the lower end of the vertical section with an internal cavity that is connected to it. The cross-sectional area of ​​the opening end of the focusing flared section away from the vertical section is not less than twice the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical section, allowing more seawater to enter the focusing flared section and converge into the vertical section. A sealing plate is fixedly installed inside the focusing cylinder section to seal the internal cavity, and a piston chamber is formed on the lower side of the sealing plate. A floating piston is installed in the piston chamber in a vertical direction. When seawater flows into the focusing cylinder, the floating piston is pushed upward by the seawater. The sealing plate is provided with a one-way air intake structure and a one-way air outlet structure that connect the inside and outside of the piston chamber. The one-way air outlet structure is used to connect an air pipe to provide compressed air to the power generation unit.

[0006] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the open end of the energy-concentrating flared section is within 50 times the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylinder section.

[0007] Furthermore, the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder section is fixed with upper and lower spaced fixed frames to fix and connect upper and lower extending guide columns between the two fixed frames. The guide columns guide and slide through the floating piston and guide it.

[0008] Furthermore, there is a friction-reducing and water-leaking gap between the circumferential side of the floating piston and the inner wall of the vertical cylinder section.

[0009] Furthermore, the sealing plate is positioned between the upper fixed frame and the floating piston, and the guide column slides through the sealing plate. The sealing plate is fixedly connected to the upper fixed frame in an adjustable vertical direction.

[0010] Furthermore, the sealing plate is adjustable up and down to adjust the initial volume of the piston chamber.

[0011] Furthermore, the energy-concentrating flared section is set vertically downwards or inclined downwards or inclined upwards with an elevation angle not exceeding 45°. The lower end of the vertical cylinder section or the upper position of the energy-concentrating flared section is provided with a floating piston blocking and limiting structure to limit the downward extreme position of the floating piston.

[0012] This invention optimizes the design of existing wave energy collection modules in wave power generation devices by placing a floating piston inside a fixed energy-concentrating cylinder with a concentrating flared section. The concentrating flared section guides seawater, at least twice the area covered by the vertical cylinder section, into the vertical cylinder section when waves surge. As the seawater from the area covered by the concentrating flared section flows into the smaller vertical cylinder section, energy is concentrated, significantly increasing the pushing force and speed of the seawater on the floating piston. This gives the floating piston greater kinetic energy, which is then converted into air internal energy for utilization, improving wave energy collection and utilization efficiency and enhancing power generation efficiency.

[0013] The wave power generation device of this utility model adopts the following technical solution: The wave power generation device includes a power generation unit and a wave energy collector. The wave energy collector is a pneumatic wave energy collector and includes a focusing cylinder for installation on a floating platform at sea. The focusing cylinder includes a vertical cylinder section and a focusing flared section located at the lower end of the vertical cylinder section and connected to it internally. The cross-sectional area of ​​the opening end of the focusing flared section away from the vertical cylinder section is not less than twice the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylinder section, allowing more seawater to enter the focusing flared section and converge into the vertical cylinder section. A sealing plate is fixedly installed inside the focusing cylinder section to seal the internal cavity, and a piston chamber is formed on the lower side of the sealing plate. A floating piston is installed in the piston chamber in a vertical direction. When seawater flows into the focusing cylinder, the floating piston is pushed upward by the seawater. The sealing plate is provided with a one-way air intake structure and a one-way air outlet structure connecting the inside and outside of the piston chamber. The one-way air outlet structure is used to connect an air pipe to provide compressed air to the power generation unit. The power generation unit is used to be installed on a floating platform at sea or at the upper part of the focusing cylinder.

[0014] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the open end of the energy-concentrating flared section is within 50 times the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylinder section.

[0015] Furthermore, the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder section is fixed with upper and lower spaced fixed frames to fix and connect upper and lower extending guide columns between the two fixed frames. The guide columns guide and slide through the floating piston and guide it.

[0016] Furthermore, there is a friction-reducing and water-leaking gap between the circumferential side of the floating piston and the inner wall of the vertical cylinder section.

[0017] Furthermore, the sealing plate is positioned between the upper fixed frame and the floating piston, and the guide column slides through the sealing plate. The sealing plate is fixedly connected to the upper fixed frame in an adjustable vertical direction.

[0018] Furthermore, the sealing plate is adjustable up and down to adjust the initial volume of the piston chamber.

[0019] Furthermore, the energy-concentrating flared section is set vertically downwards or inclined downwards or inclined upwards with an elevation angle not exceeding 45°. The lower end of the vertical cylinder section or the upper position of the energy-concentrating flared section is provided with a floating piston blocking and limiting structure to limit the downward extreme position of the floating piston.

[0020] Furthermore, the power generation unit includes a compressed air tank connected to the unidirectional air outlet structure of the wave energy collector via an air pipe, a pneumatic motor connected to the compressed air tank via an air supply line, and a generator driven by the pneumatic motor to generate electricity.

[0021] Furthermore, there are multiple wave energy collectors, and the unidirectional air outlet structures of these multiple wave energy collectors are connected to the same compressed air tank.

[0022] This invention optimizes the design of existing wave energy collection modules in wave power generation devices by placing a floating piston inside a fixed energy-concentrating cylinder with a concentrating flared section. The concentrating flared section guides seawater, at least twice the area covered by the vertical cylinder section, into the vertical cylinder section when waves surge. As the seawater from the area covered by the concentrating flared section flows into the smaller vertical cylinder section, energy is concentrated, significantly increasing the pushing force and speed of the seawater on the floating piston. This gives the floating piston greater kinetic energy, which is then converted into air internal energy for utilization, improving wave energy collection and utilization efficiency and enhancing power generation efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the usage state of one embodiment of the wave power generation device of this utility model. Figure 2 for Figure 1 A simplified schematic diagram of the internal structure of the wave energy collector in a medium-sized wave power generation device; Figure 3 This is a simplified schematic diagram of the internal structure of a wave energy harvester in another embodiment; Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the wave power generation device shown. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the first application of another type of wave power generation device; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a second use of another wave power generation device; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a pneumatic wave energy collector in its retracted state. Figure 8 This is a simplified schematic diagram of the internal structure of a wave energy harvester in another embodiment.

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Vertical cylindrical section; 2. Energy-concentrating flared section; 3. Compressed air tank; 4. Pneumatic motor; 5. Generator; 6. Battery; 10. Upper fixing frame; 11. Lower fixing frame; 12. Guide column; 13. Sealing plate; 14. Floating piston; 15. Guide perforation; 16. Locking screw; 17. Air outlet pipe; 18. Air inlet pipe; 19. Fixing structure; 120. Wave energy collector. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The existing technologies described in the background art have low wave energy collection and utilization rates, resulting in low power generation efficiency and high power generation costs. To address the problems of the existing technologies, this utility model systematically provides a wave power generation device and a pneumatic wave energy collector for the device. Through structural optimization, it achieves the convergence and collection of wave energy, thereby improving the wave energy collection and utilization rate and increasing power generation efficiency.

[0026] The wave power generation device of this utility model will be described below with reference to various different implementation methods.

[0027] The wave power generation device of this utility model mainly comprises two parts: a pneumatic wave energy collector and a power generation unit. The pneumatic wave energy collector is used to collect wave energy and convert it into air pressure energy and internal energy, which are then used by the power generation unit to generate electricity. Among them, the wave energy collector, as the core part of energy acquisition, is the key to this utility model.

[0028] Figure 1 The image shows an example of wave power generation applied to an offshore aquaculture platform. Some offshore aquaculture platforms use floating aquaculture cages with steel frames. The bottom of the steel frame platform is connected to numerous buoys, which maintain the platform's buoyancy. The bottom of the platform is anchored by ropes to secure it, ensuring that the distance between the floating platform and the water surface remains constant regardless of the tide's amplitude. Since floating aquaculture cages with steel frames are a well-established and mature technology, this article will not elaborate further.

[0029] The pneumatic wave energy collector is fixedly installed on the edge of the steel frame structure platform, and the power generation unit is located on the steel frame structure platform. Specifically... Figure 2-3 As shown, the pneumatic wave energy collector includes a focusing cylinder, which is the main body of the entire collector. It comprises a vertical cylinder section 1 and a focusing flared section 2 located at the lower end of the vertical cylinder section 1. In a preferred embodiment, the focusing flared section 2 is an underwater focusing flared section 2. A fixing structure 19 is provided on the outer side of the vertical cylinder section 1, and the section is installed on the edge side of the steel frame platform via the fixing structure 19. Its installation height allows most or all of the focusing flared section 2 to extend below the water surface when there are no waves. Of course, in other embodiments, the focusing flared section 2 can also be an above-water focusing flared section 2, meaning its installation height allows the entire focusing flared section 2 to be above the water surface when there are no waves, with the lower end not exceeding 1 meter above the water surface. In both cases, to prevent the floating piston 14 from detaching from the vertical cylinder section 1, a blocking and limiting structure is provided at its lower end to limit the lowest position of the floating piston 14.

[0030] Structurally, the energy-concentrating flared section 2 adopts a conical or trumpet-shaped design, with one end directly connected to the vertical section 1 (e.g., Figure 2-3 (As shown in the embodiment), with one end facing downwards, its inner cavity is directly connected to the inner cavity of the vertical cylinder section 1. The energy-concentrating flared section 2 can also be in the shape of a flat cone or a flat trumpet, etc. The cross-sectional area of ​​the opening end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 away from the vertical cylinder section 1 is much larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylinder, at least more than twice. Based on this structural feature, when seawater surges, the seawater covered by the energy-concentrating flared section 2 can be guided and gathered into the vertical cylinder section 1.

[0031] The vertical cylindrical section 1 is equipped with a compressed air piston structure. Specifically, a sealing plate 13 is installed at the upper part of the vertical cylindrical section 1, which seals the inner cavity of the vertical cylindrical section 1, creating a piston cavity in the portion of the vertical cylindrical section 1 below the sealing plate 13. A floating piston 14 is installed vertically within the piston cavity, below the sealing plate 13. When seawater flows into the vertical cylindrical section 1, the flow area inside the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder is reduced, increasing the upward velocity of the seawater and converging kinetic energy. The floating piston 14 can be quickly pushed upward by the incoming seawater, thus possessing greater kinetic energy.

[0032] The sealing plate 13 is equipped with a one-way air intake structure and a one-way air outlet structure. The one-way air outlet structure allows compressed gas in the piston chamber to flow outward when the floating piston 14 moves rapidly upward and compresses the space of the piston chamber. This process realizes the conversion of the kinetic energy of the floating piston 14 and the internal energy of the air. Specifically, the one-way air outlet structure is a one-way exhaust valve provided on the sealing plate 13. The one-way exhaust valve is connected to an exhaust pipe 17 on its outer side, which can only allow gas in the piston chamber to be discharged, but cannot allow gas from the outside to enter the piston chamber. The one-way air intake mechanism is used to allow natural air from the outside of the piston chamber to enter the piston chamber and replenish the piston chamber when the floating piston 14 descends with the water. Specifically, the one-way air intake structure is a one-way air intake valve provided on the sealing plate 13. The one-way air intake valve is connected to an air intake pipe 18 on its outer side, which can only allow air from the outside to enter the piston chamber, but cannot allow gas in the piston chamber to flow outward.

[0033] Compressed air flowing out through the one-way exhaust structure is transported to the compressed air tank 3 by the exhaust pipe 17. The compressed air tank 3 is connected to the air inlet of the pneumatic motor 4 through the air supply pipeline. After the gas in the compressed air tank 3 reaches a certain pressure, the air supply pipeline is controlled to supply air to the pneumatic motor 4 and drive it to output torque, realizing the conversion of air internal energy into mechanical kinetic energy. The pneumatic motor 4 drives the generator 5 to rotate and generate electricity, which is then transmitted and stored in the battery 6 through the power transmission cable, realizing the conversion of mechanical kinetic energy into electrical energy.

[0034] Experiments have shown that, considering the wave conditions in different sea areas, the wave power generation device of this invention can generate about 2-3 kilowatt-hours per hour per unit (costing 10,000 yuan), and 28-42 kilowatt-hours per day (calculated based on 14 effective hours per day).

[0035] To achieve a high energy-concentrating effect, theoretically, the larger the opening diameter of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is from the vertical cylindrical section 1, the better. However, considering specific application scenarios, it is feasible for the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 to be within 50 times the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylindrical section 1. When the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is 30-50 times that of the vertical cylindrical section 1, it is more suitable for applications in bays with low wave amplitudes, such as those consistently below 1 meter. Through high energy concentration, it can effectively collect and utilize wave energy. In this case, the energy-concentrating flared section 2 should be made of lightweight materials, such as plastic. For waves greater than 1 meter but less than 2 meters in height, a gradient can be set according to the wave height, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is between 10-20 times the inner diameter of the vertical cylindrical section 1; the higher the wave height, the smaller the multiple. When applied to offshore floating platforms, based on the current size and displacement of offshore floating platforms, and combined with wave height data from various sea areas in China, it is preferable that the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 be between 5 and 10 times the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylinder section 1.

[0036] by Figure 1 Taking an example of an offshore aquaculture platform, the main platform for personnel to walk on is typically about 2 meters above the sea surface. In one specific embodiment, the vertical cylindrical section 1 is 3 meters high and 50 centimeters in diameter, while the height of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is between 1.5 meters and 2.5 meters in diameter at its lower end. In this embodiment, the lower end diameter of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is five times the diameter of the vertical cylindrical section 1. This large ratio means that the seawater flowing into the vertical cylindrical section 1 will push the floating piston 14 upwards at a high speed for a considerable distance, enabling efficient energy collection.

[0037] In one embodiment, both the vertical cylinder section 1 and the energy-concentrating flared section 2 are stainless steel cylinders, such as 316 or 316L stainless steel, connected as a single structure by winding and welding. The floating piston 14 is a hollow, closed stainless steel barrel, with a wear-resistant material, such as nylon or polytetrafluoroethylene, applied to its outer circumference. The floating piston 14 directly slides and guides the vertical cylinder section 1, ensuring that the floating piston 14 moves as linearly as possible. The higher the fit between the floating piston 14 and the vertical cylinder section 1, the greater the friction between them, which will not only cause energy loss but also lead to increased wear. Therefore, a certain gap between the floating piston 14 and the vertical cylinder section 1 is a better choice. Of course, this gap should be much smaller than the thickness of the floating piston 14 to avoid large-angle deflection of the piston; at the same time, this gap should be controlled within a small range to avoid affecting the compression capacity. When there is a gap between the floating piston 14 and the vertical cylinder section 1, seawater will enter the upper side of the floating piston 14. In order to avoid the accumulation of seawater above the floating piston 14 and affect energy collection, in a preferred embodiment, the floating piston 14 is provided with a water leakage structure, such as a valve-type water leakage hole, so that seawater can flow back to below the floating piston 14.

[0038] In one embodiment, the sealing plate 13 can be a metal plate directly welded into the vertical cylindrical section 1. The shape of the metal plate is consistent with the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the vertical cylindrical section 1 to achieve complete sealing without leakage during compression. In another embodiment, the sealing plate 13 is installed in the vertical cylindrical section 1 with adjustable position in the vertical direction, thereby adjusting the initial volume of the piston chamber to adjust the gas pressure output by the compressor piston structure at different water levels and wave heights. For example, the sealing plate 13 is provided with two or more upwardly extending adjusting connecting rods, and the top of the vertical cylindrical section 1 is provided with an inwardly extending locking connecting lug. The adjusting connecting rod passes through the through hole on the locking connecting lug. The adjusting connecting rod is a screw, and the adjusting connecting rod is locked by the locking nuts located on the upper and lower sides of the locking connecting lug, thereby locking the sealing plate 13. When the locking nuts are loosened, the height of the sealing plate 13 can be adjusted. The sealing between the edge of the sealing plate 13 and the inner wall of the vertical cylinder section 1 can be ensured by a sealing gasket fixed to the edge of the sealing plate 13, or by a gap fit between the two. If the gap is controlled to be within a small range, the leakage of the gap will not affect the air compression capacity of the air piston structure, and the sealing effect can still be achieved.

[0039] In another specific embodiment, to ensure the stability of the guided movement of the floating piston 14, a guide structure is used within the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder section to guide the movement of the floating piston 14. The guide structure includes an upper fixing frame 10 fixed at a higher position in the vertical cylinder section 1, and a lower fixing frame 11 fixed at a lower position in the vertical cylinder section 1. Both the upper fixing frame 10 and the lower fixing frame 11 can be frame structures, fixedly connected to the cylinder wall of the vertical cylinder section 1 by threaded fasteners. A vertically extending guide column 12 connects the two fixing frames. A sealing plate 13 is located between the upper fixing frame 10 and the floating piston 14. The guide column 12 slides through the sealing plate 13 and the floating piston 14, guiding the floating piston 14. The guide columns 12 are evenly distributed within the cross-section of the vertical cylinder section 1, providing good guidance even under uncertain wave impact conditions. At this time, the lower fixing frame 11 also serves to limit the lower limit position of the floating piston 14. Furthermore, in this case, there is a certain gap between the circumferential side of the floating piston 14 and the inner wall of the vertical cylindrical section 1. This gap serves two purposes: firstly, it prevents wear between the two parts; secondly, it allows seawater entering the upper part of the floating piston 14 to leak downwards. Therefore, this gap can be called a friction-reducing and water-leaking gap. Similarly, this gap should be controlled within a small range to prevent a large amount of water from rushing into the piston chamber and affecting the compressed air.

[0040] The top of the sealing plate 13 is provided with an upwardly extending height adjustment rod, which passes through a hole in the crossbeam of the upper fixing frame 10. The side of the crossbeam is screwed with a locking screw 16 that can tighten the sealing plate 13 into the hole. When the locking screw 16 is loosened, the height of the sealing plate 13 in the vertical direction can be adjusted.

[0041] To avoid severe wear, anti-friction sleeves made of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, or stainless steel can be installed in the guide holes 15 through which the guide column 12 passes on the sealing plate 13 and the floating piston 14.

[0042] In another embodiment, to minimize the overall weight of the wave energy collector, the vertical cylindrical section 1 is made of commercially available PVC pipe, and the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is made of PVC sheet rolled and welded. The energy-concentrating flared section 2 is welded to the vertical cylindrical section 1 at the joint, or connected by a metal connecting ring. The circular segment of the metal connecting ring fits onto the vertical cylindrical section 1, and the conical segment fits onto the energy-concentrating flared section 2. The metal connecting ring is connected to the vertical cylindrical section 1 or the energy-concentrating flared section 2 by corrosion-resistant bolt assemblies or rivets, ensuring that there is no gap at the joint between the vertical cylindrical section 1 and the energy-concentrating flared section 2. The floating piston 14 is made of a hollow, closed rubber cylinder or a hollow, closed metal cylinder, or a closed metal shell filled with foam. The closed metal shell of the floating piston 14 has a heat dissipation function, thus enabling the wave energy collector to dissipate heat.

[0043] When the vertical cylinder section 1 is made of PVC pipe, if the floating piston 14 is guided through the inner wall of the vertical cylinder section 1, the wear between the two is quite severe. After a period of time, it may lead to wear and breakage, or it may lead to the inability to ensure good guiding and matching between the two. Therefore, this method is more suitable for the method of guiding the floating piston 14 through the guide column 12 as described above.

[0044] In some embodiments, the upper end of the vertical cylindrical section 1 can be directly open to allow for observation and maintenance of the internal structure. Alternatively, a top cover can be detachably installed at the top opening of the vertical cylindrical section 1. In this case, a clearance passage needs to be provided on the top cover at the position corresponding to the height adjustment rod.

[0045] In the above embodiments, the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is configured with its opening facing downwards; in other embodiments, such as... Figure 4 As shown, when the sea waves in the area are mostly horizontal surging waves, such as in some sea areas close to the coastline, a bent pipe section can be connected to the lower end of the vertical cylindrical section 1. The bent pipe section is bent at 90°, and the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is connected to the end of the bent pipe section. In this case, the flared end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 faces horizontally. In other similar embodiments, the flared end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 can be set diagonally downward or diagonally upward. However, when it is set diagonally upward, the angle between its orientation and the plumb line is not less than 45°, that is, the angle between its orientation and the vertical cylindrical section 1 is not less than 45°.

[0046] When the opening of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is set downwards, in one embodiment, as follows: Figure 8 As shown, the lower fixing frame is located inside the energy-concentrating flared section 2 and close to the upper end. When the floating piston is at the lower limit position, part of it is located inside the energy-concentrating flared section 2, and at least part of it is located inside the vertical cylinder section 1. This allows the waves to act on a larger area of ​​the floating piston, thereby transferring more kinetic energy to the floating piston.

[0047] To reduce the installation difficulty of the pneumatic wave energy collector at the edge of the offshore platform and facilitate product transportation, the pneumatic wave energy collector and the power generation unit are installed separately, with the power generation unit fixed on the offshore platform. The number of pneumatic wave energy collectors is equal to the number of power generation units, and they are configured in a one-to-one correspondence. The compressed gas generated by each pneumatic wave energy collector is delivered to a corresponding air compression tank and controlled to be supplied to the pneumatic motor 4 through an air supply pipeline. In another embodiment, for integration, the various parts of the power generation unit are integrated and installed on a fixed base, and fixed to the upper end of the energy-concentrating cylinder by the fixed base. This also reduces the amount of air pipes used.

[0048] like Figure 5-6As shown, for large offshore floating platforms, more pneumatic wave energy collectors 120 can be installed at the edge of the floating steel frame structure, and the air supply lines of the energy conversion modules can be connected to a main air supply pipe, which supplies air to the air compressor tank. In this case, only a large-capacity air compressor tank, a high-power pneumatic motor 4, and a generator 5 are needed to generate electricity using the energy from the pneumatic wave energy collectors 120. For some large-scale offshore floating platforms, dozens or even hundreds of small wave energy collectors can be arranged simultaneously to supply high-power generators 5, eliminating the need for a large number of small generators 5 and reducing power generation costs. Of course, it is not excluded that all pneumatic wave energy collectors can be divided into several groups, with the compressed air from multiple pneumatic wave energy collectors in each group supplied to the corresponding power generation units.

[0049] Furthermore, a number of wave energy collectors are installed at the edge of the offshore floating platform, especially the downward-facing pneumatic wave energy collectors with the energy-concentrating flared section 2. The energy-concentrating flared section 2 covers a large area in the seawater and can also act as a wave deflector, which can improve the stability of the entire offshore floating platform on the sea surface.

[0050] In the above embodiments, the pneumatic wave energy collector is fixedly installed at the edge of the floating steel frame structure. A stainless steel clamp is used to hold the vertical cylinder section 1, and then the clamp is fixedly connected to the steel frame structure. An anti-rotation pin is radially inserted through the stainless steel clamp and the vertical cylinder section 1 to prevent rotation of the vertical cylinder section 1 around its own axis. In another embodiment, the mounting structure on the wall of the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder is a rotating mounting structure around a horizontal axis. The rotating mounting structure is equipped with a locking mechanism that can lock the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder in a downward position below the water surface and a raised position above the water surface. The rotating installation structure includes hinge lugs welded to the outer wall of the vertical cylindrical section 1. A hinge seat is fixed to the edge of the offshore floating platform. A hinge shaft passes through the hinge lug and the hinge seat, allowing the vertical cylindrical section 1 to rotate around its horizontal axis. Locking lugs are provided on the outer wall of the vertical cylindrical section 1 on both the upper and lower sides of the hinge lugs. In use, the vertical cylindrical section 1 is in an extended vertical position. The locking lugs located below the hinge lugs are locked and fixed to the steel frame structure by locking pins. During maintenance or when a typhoon passes, to prevent damage to the wave energy collector from excessive waves, it is rotated to an upward-facing position with the energy-concentrating flared section 2 facing upwards. Figure 7 As shown, the locking lugs on the upper side of the hinge lugs are locked and fixed to the steel frame structure, keeping the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder section in a raised position with the water surface facing upwards. In other embodiments, a lifting mechanism can also be set on the floating platform. After the wave energy collector is disconnected from the floating platform, the wave energy collector is raised as a whole by the ropes of the lifting mechanism, so that the opening end of the energy-concentrating flared section 2 is higher than the water surface.

[0051] In other embodiments, when the offshore floating platform is as follows: Figure 5-6 When the frame shape shown has a large open space in the middle, the wave energy collector can be installed on the outer edge or inner edge of the frame-shaped platform, or it can be installed in the open space inside the frame.

[0052] The above describes the wave power generation device and its wave energy collector in conjunction with various application scenarios. Besides its application on offshore aquaculture platforms, this invention can also power other offshore industries using floating platforms. Alternatively, a dedicated floating platform for installing the wave power generation device can be set up around an offshore wind power platform, directly connecting the electricity generated by the wave power generation device to the wind power grid to achieve complementarity between wind and wave power generation. Furthermore, with the continuous development of new energy ships, the wave power generation device of this invention can also be applied to new energy ships. Of course, to avoid affecting the ship's navigation, it is best to place it at the stern. In this case, the energy-concentrating flared section can be horizontally oriented with the open end facing away from the stern.

[0053] In other embodiments, the lower end of the shaped-focus flare section is covered with a wire mesh to prevent marine organisms from entering the shaped-focus flare section and attaching to the floating piston.

[0054] In other embodiments, the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder is square, and the floating piston is also square.

[0055] In other embodiments, when the compressed air tank is extremely large, battery energy storage is not required; power can be generated whenever electricity is needed.

[0056] Preliminary tests have shown that, taking the sea area of ​​Wanning, Hainan as an example, a single wave collector (costing 10,000 yuan) can generate about 2 kilowatt-hours of electricity per hour. The average cost of generating electricity is about 0.4-0.5 yuan. Compared with existing wave power generation devices, the cost of power generation has been greatly reduced and the economic benefits have been significantly improved.

[0057] The specific structure of the embodiment of the pneumatic wave energy collector of this utility model is the same as that of the pneumatic wave energy collector in the wave power generation device described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0058] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. The patent protection scope of the present utility model shall be determined by the claims. Similarly, any equivalent structural changes made based on the description and drawings of the present utility model shall also be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A pneumatic wave energy collector, characterized in that, The device includes a condensing cylinder for installation on a floating platform at sea. The condensing cylinder comprises a vertical cylindrical section and a condensing flared section located at the lower end of the vertical cylindrical section and connected to it internally. The cross-sectional area of ​​the condensing flared section at the opening end away from the vertical cylindrical section is not less than twice the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylindrical section, allowing more seawater to enter the condensing flared section and converge into the vertical cylindrical section. A sealing plate is fixedly installed inside the condensing cylinder section to seal the internal cavity, and a piston chamber is formed on the lower side of the sealing plate. A floating piston is installed inside the piston chamber in a vertical direction. When seawater flows into the condensing cylinder, the floating piston is pushed upward by the seawater. The sealing plate is provided with a one-way air intake structure and a one-way air outlet structure connecting the inside and outside of the piston chamber. The one-way air outlet structure is used to connect an air pipe to provide compressed air to the power generation unit.

2. The pneumatic wave energy harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional area of ​​the open end of the energy-concentrating flared section is less than 50 times that of the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cylinder section.

3. The pneumatic wave energy harvester according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The energy-concentrating fixed cylinder section is fixed with upper and lower spaced fixed frames to fix and connect the upper and lower extending guide columns between the two fixed frames. The guide columns guide and slide through the floating piston and guide it.

4. The pneumatic wave energy harvester according to claim 3, characterized in that, There is a friction-reducing and water-leaking gap between the circumferential side of the floating piston and the inner wall of the vertical cylinder section.

5. The pneumatic wave energy harvester according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sealing plate is located between the upper fixed frame and the floating piston. The guide column slides through the sealing plate, and the sealing plate is fixedly connected to the upper fixed frame in an adjustable position in the vertical direction.

6. The pneumatic wave energy harvester according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sealing plate is adjustable up and down to adjust the initial volume of the piston chamber.

7. The pneumatic wave energy harvester according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The energy-concentrating flared section is set vertically downward or inclined downward or inclined upward with an elevation angle not exceeding 45°. The lower end of the vertical cylinder section or the upper position of the energy-concentrating flared section is provided with a floating piston blocking and limiting structure to limit the downward extreme position of the floating piston.

8. A wave power generation device, comprising a power generation unit, characterized in that, It also includes a wave energy collector, which is a pneumatic wave energy collector as described in any one of claims 1-7, and the power generation unit is used to install on a floating platform at sea or on the upper part of the energy-concentrating fixed cylinder.

9. The wave power generation device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The power generation unit includes a compressed air tank connected to the unidirectional air outlet structure of the wave energy collector via an air pipe, a pneumatic motor connected to the compressed air tank via an air supply line, and a generator driven by the pneumatic motor to generate electricity.

10. The wave power generation device according to claim 9, characterized in that, There are multiple wave energy collectors, and the unidirectional air outlet structures of the multiple wave energy collectors are connected to the same compressed air tank.

Images