Wave power engine

Abstract

To provide technology for converting wave energy and suitably storing the energy.SOLUTION: A wave engine 1 of the present disclosure converts oscillation of a marine movable body into predetermined energy. The wave engine 1 comprises: a first container part 21 that is fixed to the marine movable body and oscillates in accordance with the oscillation of the marine movable body; a weight part 3 that is housed inside the first container part 21, and configured to be movable inside the first container part, to perform a relative motion with respect to the first container part; a hydraulic pump 4 that applies a pressure to predetermined fluid using kinetic energy based on the relative motion of the weight part 3; and a pressure accumulation tank 31 that accumulates the pressure of the fluid by sealing the fluid pressurized by the hydraulic pump 4. When the weight part 3 pushes in a piston 42 with the relative motion, the piston 42 slides in a cylinder 41 in the hydraulic pump 4, and a pressure is applied to the fluid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wave engine that converts the motion of a marine vehicle into a predetermined energy. [Background technology]

[0002] Wave power generation, which uses wave energy to generate electricity, has been put to practical use for some time. Known wave power generation methods include a method that directly uses the fluid energy of waves, such as a method that generates electricity by driving a turbine with a water flow, and a method that generates electricity by converting a water flow into the rocking motion of a wave-receiving member. Another known wave power generation method is a method that uses the action of waves, such as a method that generates electricity using the kinetic energy of a floating structure that rocks in accordance with the movement of the waves.

[0003] As a method of generating electricity by converting water flow into the rocking motion of a wave-receiving member, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that includes a wave-receiving member that rocks in response to the force of the waves, and generates electricity using a hydraulic motor operated by hydraulic pressure generated based on the rocking motion of the wave-receiving member.

[0004] Furthermore, as a method of generating electricity using the kinetic energy of a floating structure that sways in accordance with the movement of the waves, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for generating electricity by utilizing the kinetic energy of a weight that is attached inside the floating structure and moves in accordance with fluctuations in the water surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-108344 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-215120 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the conventional method of directly utilizing the fluid energy of waves, for example, in the method of generating electricity by driving a turbine with a water current, a power generation device can be constructed relatively easily by installing a waterway and a turbine in the hull, but these tend to cause resistance to the movement of the hull. Also, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the durability of the wave receiving member tends to be an issue due to the structure in which the wave receiving member directly receives the water current and sways.

[0007] On the other hand, in a method of generating power using the kinetic energy of a floating structure that sways in accordance with the movement of waves, the components of the power generation device are not directly exposed to the water current, so there is little risk of the water current affecting the durability of the components. According to the technology described in Patent Document 2, the generator is driven based on the reciprocating linear motion of a weight that moves in accordance with the fluctuation of the water surface, making it possible to generate power. However, in order to increase the amount of power generated, it is necessary to use a large generator or multiple generators, and the cost of the device used for wave power generation tends to be high. Thus, various issues remain with wave power generation that uses wave energy to generate power, and there is still room for improvement in the technology of converting wave energy and appropriately storing that energy.

[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for converting wave energy and storing that energy in an optimal manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The wave engine disclosed herein is a wave engine that is installed on a marine moving body configured to be movable on the sea by its own power or by towing, and converts the motion of the marine moving body into a predetermined energy. The wave engine includes a first container part that is fixed to the marine moving body and that motions in accordance with the motion of the marine moving body, a weight part that is housed inside the first container part and configured to be movable inside the first container part, thereby performing a relative motion with respect to the first container part, a pressurizing part that applies pressure to a predetermined fluid by utilizing kinetic energy based on the relative motion of the weight part, and a pressure accumulating part that accumulates the pressure of the fluid by sealing the fluid pressurized by the pressurizing part, the pressurizing part being configured by a hydraulic pump having a cylinder and a piston, and the weight part pushing the piston in conjunction with the relative motion causes the piston to slide inside the cylinder in the hydraulic pump, thereby applying pressure to the fluid.

[0010] The wave engine is a device that converts the motion of a marine moving body into a predetermined energy. Here, the marine moving body is a moving body that is configured to be able to move on the sea by its own power or by towing, and is, for example, a ship or an offshore floating structure such as a megafloat. In such a wave engine, when the first container part is swayed in accordance with the motion of the marine moving body caused by waves, the weight part moves relative to the first container part, and the pressurizing part applies pressure to a predetermined fluid by utilizing the kinetic energy. Note that the above-mentioned fluid is, for example, hydraulic oil that can be used in a hydraulic device such as a hydraulic motor. Then, the fluid pressurized by the pressurizing part is led to the pressure accumulator, and the pressure of the fluid is accumulated. This makes it possible to store the pressure energy of the fluid in the pressure accumulator. In other words, according to the present disclosure, the kinetic energy of the weight part that moves relative to the first container part in accordance with the motion of the marine moving body caused by waves can be suitably converted into pressure energy of the fluid. Then, this pressure energy can be stored in the pressure accumulator.

[0011] In the wave engine, the weight portion pushes the piston of the hydraulic pump in accordance with the relative motion, so that pressure is applied to the fluid. This makes it possible to convert the energy of the waves in an appropriate manner. In addition, in the wave engine of the present disclosure, in the above configuration, the weight portion may be configured by a predetermined tank configured to be able to seal the fluid therein, and the fluid pressurized by the pressurizing portion may be sealed in the tank, so that the pressure accumulator is provided in the weight portion. In this way, the weight of the tank, which is configured to accumulate the pressure of the fluid, and the weight of the fluid sealed in the tank can be used as energy for pressurizing the fluid, and the cost and space of the device used to utilize the energy of the waves can be reduced.

[0012] In the wave engine described above, the pressurizing unit may be configured with four hydraulic pumps, each of which is installed at one of the four corners of the first container unit formed into a rectangular parallelepiped, and the first container unit may be configured to include a first rail extending in a predetermined first direction and a second rail extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In this case, when the weight unit moves relative to the first container unit in the first direction in association with the motion of the marine mobile unit, the pistons of one of the two sets of hydraulic pumps facing each other in the first direction among the four hydraulic pumps may be pushed in due to the relative motion, and the pistons of the other set of hydraulic pumps may be pulled out due to the relative motion. Furthermore, when the weight section moves relative to the first container section in the second direction due to the motion of the marine moving body, for two sets of hydraulic pumps among the four hydraulic pumps that face each other in the second direction, the pistons of one set of hydraulic pumps may be pushed in due to the relative motion, and the pistons of the other set of hydraulic pumps may be pulled out due to the relative motion.

[0013] Furthermore, in this case, a shaft portion supporting the pressurizing portion is provided at each of the four corners of the first container portion on which the pressurizing portion is installed, and the pressurizing portion may be rotatably supported relative to the shaft portion via an insertion hole formed in an end of the cylinder opposite to the piston side and into which the shaft portion is inserted. Here, the weight portion may have a coupling for connecting with the piston, and the hydraulic pump may have a biasing means for biasing the piston toward the coupling, and when each of the hydraulic pumps is installed at each of the four corners of the first container portion, the coupling and the piston may abut against each other in an unfastened state, so that the piston is slidable relative to the coupling on the abutment surface.

[0014] Such a wave engine may include a second container part mounted vertically upward on the first container part. In this case, the wave engine may further include a tube that supplies the fluid filled in the second container part to the cylinder of the hydraulic pump, and may further include a flow path that supplies the fluid filled in the second container part to the first container part. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present disclosure, wave energy can be converted and the energy can be conveniently stored. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wave engine in a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mode of converting wave energy and storing the energy in the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the pressure accumulator tank. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wave engine according to a second embodiment in comparison with the wave engine according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments.

[0018] First Embodiment The outline of the wave engine in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the wave engine in the present embodiment. The wave engine 1 according to the present embodiment is a device that converts the motion of a marine moving body into a predetermined energy. Here, the marine moving body is a moving body configured to be able to move on the sea by its own power or by towing, for example, a ship or a marine floating structure such as a megafloat. As shown in FIG. 1, the wave engine 1 is realized by incorporating a predetermined configuration into a container 2. Note that a well-known marine container can be used as the container 2, and the container 2 in the present embodiment is a dry container (general-purpose container). Also, FIG. 1(a) is a front view of the wave engine 1, and FIG. 1(b) is a plan view of the wave engine 1. In order to illustrate the inside of the container 2, one side of the first container section 21 and the second container section 22 is omitted in FIG. 1(a), and the top surface of the second container section 22 and the first container section 21 is omitted in FIG. 1(b).

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the wave engine 1 includes a first container section 21 that is fixed to a marine moving body and sways in accordance with the swaying of the marine moving body, a weight section 3 that is housed inside the first container section 21 and configured to be movable inside the first container section 21, a hydraulic pump 4 (pressurizing section of the present disclosure) that applies pressure to a predetermined fluid by utilizing the kinetic energy of the weight section 3, and a pressure accumulator tank 31 (pressurizing section of the present disclosure) that accumulates the pressure of the fluid pressurized by the hydraulic pump 4 by sealing the fluid. Here, the above-mentioned fluid in this embodiment is a hydraulic oil that can be used in a hydraulic device such as a hydraulic motor. However, there is no intention to be limited thereto, and the above-mentioned fluid may be a liquid such as water.

[0020] In this embodiment, the second container portion 22 is loaded vertically upward on the first container portion 21. The internal space of the second container portion 22 is filled with hydraulic oil, and a tube 23 is provided for supplying the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 into the cylinder 41 of the hydraulic pump 4. In this manner, the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 is supplied into the cylinder 41 of the hydraulic pump 4 via the tube 23.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the weight section 3 includes a pressure accumulator tank 31 and a housing 32 that is a case that surrounds the pressure accumulator tank 31. In this embodiment, a plurality of pressure accumulator tanks 31 are housed in the housing 32. Here, as described above, the pressure accumulator tank 31 is a tank that seals the hydraulic oil pressurized by the hydraulic pump 4. That is, in this embodiment, the weight section 3 is configured by the pressure accumulator tank 31 that is configured to be able to seal the hydraulic oil therein, and the pressure accumulator is provided in the weight section by sealing the hydraulic oil pressurized by the hydraulic pump 4 in the pressure accumulator tank 31. According to this, the weight of the pressure accumulator tank 31 that is configured to accumulate the pressure of the hydraulic oil and the weight of the hydraulic oil sealed in the pressure accumulator tank 31 can be used as energy for pressurizing the hydraulic oil, and the cost and space of the device used to utilize wave energy can be reduced.

[0022] The weight section 3 is configured to be movable inside the first container section 21, and thus moves relative to the first container section 21. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the weight section 3 is disposed on the first arrangement section 213. Here, the first arrangement section 213 is configured to include a first rail 2131 extending in a predetermined first direction. The above-mentioned first direction is, for example, the longitudinal direction of the first container section 21. The weight section 3 has a first mover 321 that is fixed to a position facing the first rail 2131 when the weight section 3 is accommodated in the first container section 21 and is configured to be horizontally movable along the first rail 2131. The first mover 321 is a roller fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 32, and the first mover 321 slides on the first rail 2131 in association with the motion of the marine mobile object, and thus the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21.

[0023] 1, a second rail 2141 extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is provided on the bottom surface inside the first container section 21. The first arrangement section 213 includes a second mover 2132 fixed to a position facing the second rail 2141 and configured to be horizontally movable along the second rail 2141. The second mover 2132 is a roller fixed to the first arrangement section 213. The second mover 2132 slides on the second rail 2141 in accordance with the motion of the marine mobile object, whereby the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21. With this configuration, as the marine vehicle rocks, the first moving element 321 fixed to the weight section 3 (the bottom surface of the housing 32) slides on the first rail 2131 of the first placement section 213, and / or the second moving element 2132 fixed to the first placement section 213 in which the weight section 3 is placed slides on the second rail 2141, causing the weight section 3 to move relative to the first container section 21.

[0024] The housing 32 is formed with a confinement section 33 in which the hydraulic oil to be sealed in the accumulator tank 31 is temporarily sealed and through which the hydraulic oil is introduced into the accumulator tank 31, and the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump 4 is led to the accumulator tank 31 via the confinement section 33. The hydraulic pump 4 and the confinement section 33 are connected by a tube 34.

[0025] The hydraulic pump 4 is a well-known piston pump having a cylinder 41 and a piston 42. In this embodiment, such hydraulic pump 4 is installed at the four corners (C211 to C214 in FIG. 1(b)) of the first container section 21. As the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21, the weight section 3 pushes the piston 42, so that the piston 42 slides inside the cylinder 41 and pressure is applied to the hydraulic oil. A shaft section 210 supporting the hydraulic pump 4 is provided at the four corners (C211 to C214 in FIG. 1(b)) of the first container section 21. The hydraulic pump 4 is supported rotatably with respect to the shaft section 210 via an insertion hole 412, which is a hole formed in an end section 411 on the opposite side to the piston 42 side of the cylinder 41, and into which the shaft section 210 is inserted. The piston 42 is connected to the weight section 3 via a coupling 322 fixed to the side surface of the housing 32.

[0026] Next, a mode of converting wave energy and storing the energy, that is, a mode of storing kinetic energy generated by the motion of the marine moving body due to waves as hydraulic oil pressure, will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mode of converting wave energy and storing the energy in this embodiment. Fig. 2(a) shows a case where the first container section 21 also moves in accordance with the motion of the marine moving body due to waves, and the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21 in a first direction, and Fig. 2(b) shows a case where the first container section 21 also moves in accordance with the motion of the marine moving body due to waves, and the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21 in a second direction.

[0027] When the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21 in a first direction due to the motion of the marine vehicle, for two sets of hydraulic pumps among the four hydraulic pumps 4 that face each other in the first direction, as shown in Figure 2(a), in the first set of one hydraulic pump 4 (the hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C211 and C214), the pistons 42 are pushed in due to the relative motion, and in the second set of the other hydraulic pump 4 (the hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C212 and C213), the pistons 42 are pulled out due to the relative motion.

[0028] At this time, the hydraulic pump 4 rotates with respect to the shaft portion 210 with the movement of the weight portion 3. Here, as described above, in the hydraulic pump 4, an insertion hole 412 is formed in the end portion 411 on the opposite side of the piston 42 side of the cylinder 41, and the insertion hole 412 and the shaft portion 210 are connected via a rolling bearing. Then, when the coupling 322 fixed to the side surface of the housing 32 presses the piston 42 of the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C211 with the movement of the weight portion 3, the hydraulic pump 4 rotates toward the side of C214 while the piston 42 is pushed. Similarly, the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C214 rotates toward the side of C211 while the piston 42 is pushed. Here, in a state where each of the hydraulic pumps 4 is installed at the four corners of the first container portion 21, the coupling 322 and the piston 42 come into contact with each other in a non-fastened state, so that the piston 42 is configured to be slidable with respect to the coupling 322 on the contact surface. This allows the piston 42 to slide relative to the cylinder 41 and the hydraulic pump 4 itself to rotate in the hydraulic pump 4. Note that a lubricant such as silicon may be applied to each of the contact surfaces between the coupling 322 and the piston 42.

[0029] Meanwhile, at this time, in the hydraulic pumps 4 arranged in C212 and C213, the piston 42 is pulled out in association with the movement of the weight section 3. Here, the hydraulic pump 4 has a spring that urges the piston 42 in a direction to pull out, and when the weight section 3 moves as described above, the spring urges the piston 42 towards the coupling 322. Then, the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C212 rotates towards the C211 side while the piston 42 is pulled out, and the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C213 rotates towards the C214 side while the piston 42 is pulled out.

[0030] In addition, when the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21 in the second direction due to the motion of the marine vehicle, for two sets of hydraulic pumps among the four hydraulic pumps 4 that face each other in the second direction, as shown in Figure 2(b), in one set of hydraulic pumps 4 (the hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C211 and C212), which is the third set, the pistons 42 are pushed in due to the relative motion, and in the other set of hydraulic pumps 4 (the hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C213 and C214), which is the fourth set, the pistons 42 are pulled out due to the relative motion.

[0031] In detail, the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C211 rotates toward the C212 side while the piston 42 is pushed in, and the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C212 rotates toward the C211 side while the piston 42 is pushed in. On the other hand, the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C213 rotates toward the C212 side while the piston 42 is pulled out, and the hydraulic pump 4 arranged in C214 rotates toward the C211 side while the piston 42 is pulled out.

[0032] As described above, when the first container section 21 also sways in accordance with the swaying of the marine mobile body caused by waves and the weight section 3 moves relative to the first container section 21 in the first direction, the piston 42 is pushed in by the relative movement, for example, in the first set of hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C211 and C214 and the third set of hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C211 and C212. In this way, pressure can be applied to the hydraulic oil by utilizing the kinetic energy based on the relative movement of the weight section 3, and thus the kinetic energy of the weight section 3 moving relative to the first container section 21 in accordance with the swaying of the marine mobile body caused by waves can be suitably converted into pressure energy of the hydraulic oil.

[0033] Here, the hydraulic oil pressurized by the hydraulic pump 4 is guided to the sealed portion 33 through the tube 34. A check valve is provided at the connection between the cylinder 41 and the tube 34, and the flow of the hydraulic oil through the tube 34 is restricted to one direction from the cylinder 41 to the sealed portion 33. Then, the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump 4 is guided to the accumulator tank 31 through the sealed portion 33. This will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the accumulator tank 31. As shown in FIG. 3(a), in a state in which no hydraulic oil is supplied to the accumulator tank 31, the accumulator tank 31 is occupied by a gas bag 313 filled with a gas such as nitrogen. Then, when the hydraulic oil in the sealed portion 33 is guided to the accumulator tank 31 through the tube 311, the hydraulic oil is filled so as to compress the gas bag 313, as shown in FIG. 3(b). Here, a check valve 312 is provided at the connection between the tube 311 and the pressure accumulator tank 31, and prevents the hydraulic oil from flowing back into the tube 311 even when the hydraulic oil has been completely filled into the pressure accumulator tank 31 as shown in FIG.

[0034] On the other hand, when the weight portion 3 performs a relative movement in the first direction with respect to the first container portion 21, for example, in the second set of hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C212 and C213 and the fourth set of hydraulic pumps 4 arranged at C213 and C214, the pistons 42 are drawn out in accordance with the relative movement. This causes an increase in the volume of the cylinders 41, and the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 is supplied into the cylinders 41 of the hydraulic pumps 4 through the tubes 23. Note that a check valve is provided at the connection between the cylinders 41 and the tubes 23, and the flow of the hydraulic oil circulating through the tubes 23 is restricted to one direction, from the second container portion 22 to the cylinders 41.

[0035] In the above description, the second container section 22 is loaded vertically upward on the first container section 21, but the first container section 21 and the second container section 22 may be disposed apart from each other. In this case, for example, the first container section 21 including the weight section 3 may be disposed at the bottom of the marine vehicle. In this case, the first container section 21, which is relatively heavy, serves as ballast, and the center of gravity of the marine vehicle can be lowered. In this case, the second container section 22 may be disposed at any location, and the hydraulic oil filled in the second container section 22 may be supplied into the cylinder 41 of the hydraulic pump 4 via the tube 23 as described above.

[0036] According to the wave power engine 1 described above, the kinetic energy of the weight section 3, which moves relative to the first container section 21 as the marine mobile body is rocked by waves, can be suitably converted into pressure energy of the hydraulic oil. This pressure energy can then be stored in the pressure accumulator tank 31. In other words, according to the present disclosure, wave energy can be converted and suitably stored.

[0037] In this embodiment, the pressure energy stored in the accumulator tank 31 may be used to generate power. For example, the hydraulic oil stored in the accumulator tank 31 may be supplied to a known hydraulic motor to extract shaft power, and the shaft power may be input to a known generator to generate power. The pressure energy stored in the accumulator tank 31 may also be used to drive a hydraulic machine. If the high-pressure hydraulic oil stored in the accumulator tank 31 is used as a drive source for the machine, a large output can be extracted from the machine at a relatively high speed.

[0038] Then, by installing the above-mentioned wave engine on an offshore floating structure such as a megafloat, an offshore resource factory can be realized. Seawater contains sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, so hydrochloric acid and magnesium can be produced by electrolyzing seawater. Therefore, energy from the wave engine is used to generate electricity, and the electricity is used to electrolyze seawater to produce hydrochloric acid and magnesium. If the generated hydrochloric acid and magnesium are transported to land, they can be used as fuel for fuel cells and gas engines. For example, according to a gas engine system using hydrochloric acid and magnesium as fuel, hydrogen can be generated by injecting granulated magnesium into hydrochloric acid, and the hydrogen can be burned to drive a gas engine. Such a gas engine system can be used, for example, as a range extender for an electric vehicle. Since a gas engine system using hydrochloric acid and magnesium as fuel tends to continuously produce a relatively low output, this output is used to generate electricity using a generator, and the electricity is used to charge a battery, thereby extending the range of the electric vehicle. Furthermore, by further installing the above-mentioned hydrochloric acid and magnesium production device on a ship equipped with a wave engine, the produced hydrochloric acid and magnesium can be used as fuel for the ship's power source.

[0039] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned factory, a seawater desalination device may be operated using energy from the wave engine. Here, when a reverse osmosis membrane system is used for the seawater desalination device, high pressure is applied to the seawater using the pressure of the fluid stored in the pressure storage section of the wave engine (for example, by driving a piston with the pressure), so that only the pure water in the seawater can pass through the osmosis membrane to obtain fresh water. In this case, the seawater desalination device is operated using pressure energy converted from wave energy, so that the desalination device can be operated semi-permanently. In a similar manner, a filtration device that filters pollutants contained in seawater may be operated using energy from the wave engine.

[0040] Moreover, by installing the above-mentioned wave power engine on a floating breakwater, a breakwater that can convert wave energy and store the energy can be realized. Such a floating breakwater can provide wave protection near a quay where waves are strong, and can store a large amount of energy from strong waves.

[0041] In addition, the pressure storage unit of the wave engine may be transported to land, and the pressure of the fluid stored in the pressure storage unit may be used to realize a resource factory on land. In such a resource factory, for example, bio-coke and ammonia are produced. In the production of bio-coke, it is necessary to place the raw material plant under high temperature and pressure, but by using the high pressure due to the pressure of the fluid stored in the pressure storage unit and the high temperature that can be realized by the electric power generated using the pressure of the fluid stored in the pressure storage unit, it is possible to produce zero-emission fuel from renewable energy. In addition, in the production of ammonia, it is necessary to react nitrogen and hydrogen with an iron oxide catalyst at high temperature and high pressure, but by obtaining high temperature and high pressure from the pressure storage unit of the wave engine in the same manner as above, it is possible to produce ammonia from renewable energy. The ammonia produced in this way can be used as fuel for gas turbines and fuel cells, for example.

[0042] Moreover, by installing the above-mentioned wave engine on an offshore floating structure such as a megafloat and further installing a plurality of computers connected to a network on the offshore floating structure, an offshore information processing facility can be realized. In such an information processing facility, the energy from the wave engine is used to generate electricity, and the computers can be operated by the electricity. In such an information processing facility, for example, virtual currency mining can be performed.

[0043] <Second embodiment> In the above-described first embodiment, an example has been described in which the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 is supplied into the cylinder 41 of the hydraulic pump 4 via the tube 23. In contrast to this, in the present embodiment, the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 is once supplied to the first container portion 21. Then, the hydraulic oil in the first container portion 21, which has been made liquid-tight, is supplied into the cylinder 41 of the hydraulic pump 4. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0044] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the wave engine in this embodiment in comparison with the wave engine according to the first embodiment. Here, in Fig. 4, the hydraulic oil is represented by diagonal lines.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 4(a), in the wave engine 1 according to the first embodiment, the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 is supplied into the cylinder 41 of the hydraulic pump 4 via a tube 23. In contrast, in the wave engine 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4(b), a flow path 24 is provided for supplying the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 to the first container portion 21, and the hydraulic oil filled in the second container portion 22 is supplied to the first container portion 21 via the flow path 24 by gravity. In this way, the internal space of the first container portion 21 can become a liquid chamber that is maintained in a liquid-tight state with the hydraulic oil.

[0046] When the internal space of the first container portion 21 is made liquid-tight with hydraulic oil, the hydraulic oil around the cylinder 41 is supplied into the cylinder, for example, through a supply hole formed in the cylinder 41.

[0047] When the hydraulic oil is guided from the hydraulic pump 4 to the accumulator tank 31, the hydraulic oil in the first container portion 21 decreases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 241 is controlled so that the inside of the first container portion 21 can be maintained in a liquid-tight state with the hydraulic oil.

[0048] <Other Modifications> The above embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the processes and means described in the present disclosure may be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1. Wave power engine 2. Container 21... First container section 22...Second container section 3. Weight section 31 Accumulator tank 32. Housing 4. Hydraulic pump 41...Cylinder 42...Piston

Claims

1. A wave engine that is installed on an offshore moving body configured to be movable on the sea by its own power or by towing, and converts the motion of the offshore moving body into a predetermined energy, a first container section fixed to the marine vehicle and swaying in accordance with the swaying of the marine vehicle; a weight section that is accommodated in the first container section and configured to be movable within the first container section, thereby performing a relative movement with respect to the first container section; a pressurizing unit that applies pressure to a predetermined fluid by utilizing kinetic energy based on the relative motion of the weight unit; a pressure accumulator that accumulates the pressure of the fluid pressurized by the pressurizing unit by sealing the fluid; Equipped with The pressurizing unit is constituted by a hydraulic pump having a cylinder and a piston, The weight portion pushes the piston in accordance with the relative movement, whereby the piston slides within the cylinder in the hydraulic pump and pressure is applied to the fluid. Wave engine.

2. The pressurizing unit is composed of four hydraulic pumps, and each of the hydraulic pumps is installed at each of the four corners of the first container unit formed into a rectangular parallelepiped. The first container section includes a first rail extending in a predetermined first direction and a second rail extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, When the weight section moves relative to the first container section in the first direction in association with the motion of the marine moving body, the pistons of one of the hydraulic pump sets, which are two sets of hydraulic pumps facing each other in the first direction, are pushed in due to the relative motion, and the pistons of the other hydraulic pump set are pulled out due to the relative motion, When the weight section moves relative to the first container section in the second direction in association with the motion of the marine moving body, the pistons of one of the hydraulic pump sets, which are two sets of hydraulic pumps facing each other in the second direction, are pushed in due to the relative motion, and the pistons of the other hydraulic pump set are pulled out due to the relative motion.

2. A wave engine according to claim 1.

3. A shaft portion for supporting the pressurizing unit is provided at each of the four corners of the first container portion where the pressurizing unit is installed, The pressurizing portion is supported rotatably with respect to the shaft portion via an insertion hole formed in an end portion of the cylinder opposite to the piston side, into which the shaft portion is inserted.

3. A wave engine according to claim 2.

4. The weight portion has a coupling for connecting to the piston, The hydraulic pump has a biasing means for biasing the piston toward the coupling, When the hydraulic pumps are installed at the four corners of the first container portion, the coupling and the piston are in contact with each other in an unfastened state, so that the piston is slidable relative to the coupling at the contact surface.

4. A wave engine according to claim 3.

5. a second container section stacked vertically upward relative to the first container section; a tube that supplies the fluid filled in the second container portion into the cylinder of the hydraulic pump, A wave engine according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. a second container section stacked vertically upward relative to the first container section; a flow path that supplies the fluid filled in the second container portion to the first container portion, A wave engine according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

Images