Devices that harness wave energy to generate electrical energy, including amplification systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for using wave energy to convert wave energy into electrical energy via hydraulic energy, comprising: a free-floating elementing element that utilizes vertical sea level fluctuations caused by swells, installed on an offshore structure including a vertical wall and guided by a triple-rail lateral movement channeling system installed on the vertical wall, supports connecting the floating elementing element to a hydraulic system of cylinders that allows the conversion of mechanical energy into hydraulic energy in both up and down movement directions, an energy amplification system for optimizing the efficiency of the device, a hydraulic power plant, a pressure accumulator, an oil tank, and a hydroelectric turbine that allows the conversion of hydraulic energy into electrical energy.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The subject of this document is a device designed to be mounted on vertical barriers for coastal or harbour protection, allowing the generation of energy, and more precisely, the field of electrical energy generation from wave energy.

[0002] The field of the invention is the exploitation of wave energy contained in swell motion, i.e. from continuous waves generated by the effect of wind on the sea surface and propagating, in some cases, over very long distances. Various devices exist for exploiting this energy. Many systems are currently being investigated, some of which are already commercialized. [Background technology]

[0003] Harnessing wave energy to generate green electricity is an area of ​​extensive research around the world.

[0004] In the case of technologies based on floating elementing elements, the ones closest to the invention differ between: - having joints, which have the drawback of limiting the energy obtained by going through a rotational to translational conversion, which is detrimental to the performance of this solution, the inventors take as an example the solution WO2013054326A8, sold under the name Eco wave power, or also the semi-submersible platform WO2014162096A1. - with a central piston, which requires significant investments in fixing the piston on the seabed and in connecting it to the electrical network. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problems solved by our invention are as follows: - Operational limitations due to low loads and inclement weather conditions; - Electrical connectivity at sea for systems intended for remote offshore deployment; - Mooring, anchorage and accessibility in the marine environment; - Configuration of the device to mitigate the absorption of any incident energy, experiencing various forms of motion; - Substantial investment and maintenance costs.

[0006] The objectives of the present invention are as follows: - Optimizing the efficiency of conversion of wave energy into electrical energy; - Minimizing the energy transformation chain by staying in the same form of movement (translation); - Minimizing investment and operational costs; - Increasing the operating range of devices that depend on wave conditions; - Controlling the increase or decrease of energy going out; - Ensuring green energy supplies as close as possible to ports and coastal facilities. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The device that is the subject of the present invention has the particularity of directly capturing the vertical sea level changes caused by swells through the free-floating elementing elements, i.e. it directly exploits translational movements. By equipping vertical coastal or harbour protection barriers with the device, one benefits from the advantages of onshore (accessibility, connections, shelter, low investment and maintenance costs) while being offshore (undampened swells - total energy in the vicinity of the vertical protection barrier). Thanks to the triple rail system installed on the barrier wall, controlling the interaction with the fixed elements, the device makes it possible to expand the field of wave energy exploitation by being used for more significant wave amplitudes.

[0008] The device is equipped with an amplification system that allows for steering the incident swell and amplifying the energy incident on the device, which optimizes the performance and extends the operational life of the device.

[0009] The device is equipped with a self-balancing system based on a density distribution of floating elementing elements to limit parasitic movement, and a ballasting system for total submersion in severe storms. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a top view of the device installed on a vertical protective barrier including amplification. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a seaward side view of the device installed on a vertical protective barrier including amplification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The device is composed of a free-floating elementing element (1) that allows to directly exploit sea variations by capturing swell energy as potential energy. The floating elementing element has a minimum average density of 0.8 and a density after ballasting of up to a maximum of 1.05. The floating elementing element includes: - a self-balancing system (1-a) to ensure a weight distribution counteracting the indefinite overpressure of sea level fluctuations under the floating elementing element caused by the swell amplification system (4), by means of a valve controlling the filling of the inner chamber of the floating elementing element; - an automatic ballasting system (1-b) which allows the floating elementing elements to be submerged during storms or to be raised after the storm has ended;

[0012] The floating elementing element (1) is guided by a lateral moving channeling system (2) that includes three rails that utilize the support and verticality of the caisson walls to ensure horizontality and upward / downward movement tracking. The travel of the moving channeling system is designed to sweep all conditions including the exploitable swell energy. The utilization of the walls makes it possible to extend the operating range of the device up to significant amplitudes of swells. The absence of contact between the walls of the vertical barrier and the floating elementing element (1) is made possible thanks to the moving channeling system (2).

[0013] The rigid support (3) connecting the floating elementing element to the hydraulic system of the cylinder (5) allows the conversion of mechanical energy into hydraulic energy in both the up and down directions of movement, the support allowing the conversion of vertical translation into horizontal translation of the piston of the cylinder (5).

[0014] an energy amplification system (4) for optimizing the efficiency of the device, making it possible to direct the energy of the swells thanks to an inflatable structure supported on a vertical, flat wall caisson, a floating elementing element is installed in the central zone of energy conversion, for the vertical barrier that provides a form of this amplification, whether it is oblique or triangular, the device benefits directly from this amplification without needing an amplification system (4).

[0015] A cylinder (5) that converts mechanical energy into hydraulic energy by utilizing two directions of movement: upward and downward.

[0016] A hydraulic unit (6) for managing the connections and flows between the different cylinders.

[0017] A pressure accumulator (7) with controlled flow that receives variable hydraulic energy and delivers a continuous and uniform flow at the output with a capacity of up to 20 cycles of up and down movement (maximum 10 minutes).

[0018] An oil tank (8) to ensure the continuity of the high pressure oil-low pressure oil fluid chain leaving the turbine (9).

[0019] A hydroelectric turbine for converting a hydraulic energy flow into electrical energy (9).

[0020] A management interface (10) for output currents and injections in an electrical network, enabling harmonization of voltage and frequency.

[0021] Highly sensitive components are housed in conditions of optimum durability.

[0022] The present invention relates to: - Port facilities: protective barriers in caissons or vertical walls - Seaside tourist facilities: vertical protective walls - Coastal development with vertical walls connecting to the sea It can be used in the following cases.

[0023] It should be noted that the shape of the vertical wall may be flat or of another shape.

[0024] The aim is to revolutionise the role of ports or coastal protection facilities, moving from swell hunting to harnessing swells to generate green energy.

Claims

1. A device for harnessing wave energy by converting wave energy into electrical energy via a mechanical-hydraulic converter and optionally an electrical network, comprising: a free-floating element (1) adapted to float at different sea levels caused by swells and to move vertically along a triple rail installed on a vertical wall, allowing a limited rotation around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of the swells through a limited gap between said triple rail and said free-floating element (1), said free-floating element (1) being ballast filled with a liquid according to its density value in one or more inner chambers, with a weight distribution counteracting the overpressure that varies with the sea level fluctuations; a support (3) connecting said free-floating element (1) to a cylinder (5) for mechanical-hydraulic conversion, said cylinder (5) being configured to convert mechanical energy from said free-floating element (1) into hydraulic energy; an energy amplification system (4) for optimizing the efficiency of the device, said energy amplification system (4) being made up of an expandable structure supported on said vertical wall and having an adaptive geometry surrounding said free-floating element (1), directing said swell energy from the direction of said expandable structure and amplifying the energy by focusing the incoming swells through said adaptive geometry; a hydraulic unit (6) which manages the connections and flows of the cylinder (5), the pressure accumulator (7), the oil tank (8) and the hydroelectric turbine (9) and is used to convert hydraulic energy from the cylinder (5) into electrical energy, A device for harnessing wave energy, wherein a lateral movement channelling system (2) including said triple rails utilizing the support and verticality of said vertical walls ensures the tracking of the horizontality and upward / downward movement of said free-floating element (1) and ensures that there is no contact between said vertical walls and said free-floating element (1).

2. 2. A wave energy harnessing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free-floating element (1) allows to capture the energy of the swell in the form of potential energy (during the downward movement of the swell) and kinetic energy (during the upward movement of the swell) and to harness the vertical translational movement (fluctuations in the water level) directly.

3. 3. The device for harnessing wave energy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the self-balancing system (1-a) uses a valve to regulate the filling of a chamber in the free-floating element (1) to provide a weight distribution that counteracts the constant overpressure of sea level fluctuations below the free-floating element (1) caused by the energy amplification system (4).

4. A device for harnessing wave energy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an automatic ballasting system (1-b) enables the free-floating element (1) to be submerged (by ballasting) during stormy weather or raised (by draining or de-ballasting) after the storm has ended.

5. A device for harnessing wave energy as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the position of the end of the support (3) attached to the free-floating element (1) changes instantly according to the centre of application of force to the free-floating element (1).

6. A device for harnessing wave energy as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the energy amplification system (4) provides energy amplification by focusing incoming swells via the adaptive geometric shape.

7. 7. A wave energy harnessing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, utilizing a wave amplification system pre-placed within a vertical wall structure to produce electrical energy.

8. A device for harnessing wave energy as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the system of cylinders (5) utilizes two directions of movement, upward and downward, to convert the mechanical energy into hydraulic energy.

9. A device for harnessing wave energy as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the nominal force due to the cylinder (5) and the nominal energy absorbed by the cylinder (5) are servo-controlled according to the amplitude of the amplified swell.

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