Digital Load Control for Wave Energy Without Battery Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave energy conversion (WEC) devices are complex, fragile, and costly, making them less competitive with terrestrial energy sources, and they struggle to efficiently power steady-power-dependent devices like computers without expensive and short-lived energy storage devices.
Innovation Solution
A system that regulates the resistance of turbines to fluid flow and adjusts electrical load to match variable energy sources, allowing direct power consumption by steady-power-dependent circuits without energy storage, using a buoyant vessel and vertical water tube to harness wave energy and control turbine pressure drop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If complex devices are used to extract wave energy, then energy conversion capability is improved, but device cost and fragility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wave energy conversion system is divided into modular components: floating bodies that convert wave motion to pressure changes, air turbines that convert pressure to rotational motion, and generators that convert rotation to electricity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic coupling between floating bodies and air turbines. Wave-induced pressure changes in water are transmitted through air-filled chambers to drive air turbines, eliminating the need for direct mechanical connections and reducing system complexity and fragility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If energy storage devices are used to buffer stochastic power supply, then power stability is improved, but cost and operational lifetime are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the electrical load to match the instantaneous power availability from wave energy conversion. The load controller varies power consumption in real-time based on wave conditions, eliminating the need for energy storage devices while maintaining system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
A control system continuously monitors power generation from wave converters and adjusts the electrical load accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that power consumption matches power availability, allowing direct coupling of stochastic wave energy to steady-power-dependent digital circuits without energy storage.
3Productivity
If electrical load is increased to maximize power extraction, then energy harvesting efficiency is improved, but turbine damage from excessive conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air turbine operating conditions are dynamically adjusted based on real-time wave energy availability. The system optimizes power extraction by varying turbine load within safe operating limits, preventing excessive stress while maximizing energy harvest during favorable conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors turbine operating parameters and adjusts electrical load to maintain optimal operation. When wave energy exceeds safe turbine capacity, the system reduces load to prevent damage; when energy is abundant, it increases load to maximize harvesting efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient energy harvesting from stochastic sources like waves and wind, providing consistent power to digital circuits while optimizing turbine efficiency and preventing damage from excessive conditions, without the need for costly energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
Extracting energy from ocean waves is a difficult endeavor
Implementation Method 2
A wave energy converter (WEC) may be comprised of a hollow, buoyant vessel and a nominally vertical water tube
Implementation Method 3
Water from this reservoir tends to flow out of the buoy back to the body of water on which the embodiment floats via one or more turbines
Implementation Method 4
which cause operably connected generators to generate electricity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus that adapts the rate of its computational work to match the availability of energy harvested from a stochastic energy source; and, with respect to some types of energy harvesting, regulates the rate of energy capture, the rate of energy conversion, and the rate of consumption of stored potential energy, through its alteration, regulation, and/or adjustment, of that same computational work load.