Floating Attenuator for Wave Pool Caisson Turbulence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wave pools experience unwanted internal caisson water movements due to wave generation, leading to turbulence and uneven wave formation, which complicates the creation of smooth waves.
Innovation Solution
A floating attenuator device, made of durable, buoyant materials, is introduced within the caisson to stabilize the water surface and reduce internal wave action by acting as a plunger or piston mechanism, maintaining a flat water surface and preventing differential water velocities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wave generators force water down and forward to create waves, then wave production is achieved, but internal caisson water movements cause turbulence and unwanted wave action
Solution Approach 1:
A floating attenuator device is introduced as an intermediary element within the caisson to interact with the water column. This attenuator absorbs and dampens the harmful water movements and internal waves generated during wave production, while allowing the useful wave-generating function to continue. The attenuator acts as a mediator between the forcing mechanism and the water, filtering out the harmful oscillations.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating attenuator converts the harmful water movements and internal waves into beneficial damping effects. By allowing the water to move against the attenuator's resistance, the kinetic energy of the harmful movements is dissipated as useful damping, transforming the problematic sloshing and turbulence into a stabilizing force that improves wave quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wave generators are positioned side by side, then wave creation capability is enhanced, but differential forward water velocity vectors result from internal standing waves
Solution Approach 1:
The floating attenuator serves as a mediating element that interacts with the water column in each caisson to dampen internal standing waves and promote uniform water velocity distribution. This allows multiple wave generators to operate in parallel with improved velocity uniformity, enhancing overall wave creation capability while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The attenuator promotes homogeneity in the water flow by damping out variations and irregularities in the water column movement. This creates more uniform forward water velocity vectors across the width of each caisson, ensuring consistent wave generation from multiple side-by-side generators.
3Ease of operation
If air is pumped into the caisson to push water forward, then wave generation is enabled, but water sloshing and varied emission velocities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The floating attenuator acts as a mediator between the air pressure forcing mechanism and the water column. It absorbs the destabilizing effects of rapid air injection and water sloshing, while still allowing the useful wave-generating motion to proceed. This enables easy operation of the pneumatic system while maintaining water surface stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating attenuator provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-positioned in the water column to absorb and dampen the destabilizing water movements that occur when air is rapidly pumped into the caisson. This cushioning effect prevents water sloshing and maintains stability during the wave generation process.
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
The attenuator effectively minimizes internal caisson wave movements, resulting in more stable and uniformly shaped wave energy transfer to the pool, enhancing the formation of smooth waves.
Implementation Method 1
each caisson preferably comprises a floating attenuator device that acts as a plunger or piston mechanism within the caisson that helps reduce or even prevent the formation of unwanted wave movements inside the caisson compartment
Implementation Method 2
a floating attenuator device that acts as a plunger or piston mechanism within the caisson that helps reduce or even prevent the formation of unwanted wave movements inside the caisson compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A wave generator for a wave pool with a floating attenuator housed within a caisson compartment that has mass, density and weight characteristics that enable it to remain substantially in contact with the top surface of the water in the compartment. Additional mechanisms are provided which help to keep the attenuator in a substantially horizontal orientation within the caisson, such that unwanted wave motions and water movements within the caisson compartment can be substantially reduced or eliminated. These mechanisms include the adaptation of a vertical post within the compartment and cable and pulley systems that are designed to help control the up and down movement of the attenuator as it travels up and down within the compartment.