Integrated Monopile Wind Wave Tidal Energy System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore wave energy and tidal energy devices face challenges with low energy conversion efficiency, high power generation costs, and low reliability, limiting their commercialization, while monopile foundations are underutilized in offshore wind farms.
Innovation Solution
An integrated power generation system combining wind energy converters, oscillating water column wave energy converters, and horizontal-axis tidal energy converters on a shared monopile foundation, optimizing resource utilization and reducing costs by using a monopile-type wind turbine system, oscillating water column wave energy converter, and horizontal-axis tidal energy converter, with a conical air chamber design for enhanced efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wave energy converters and tidal energy converters are deployed separately, then each device can be optimized independently, but the overall power generation cost increases and land/offshore space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wind energy converters, wave energy converters, and tidal energy converters into a single integrated offshore platform. The wind turbine, oscillating water column wave energy converter, and horizontal-axis tidal energy converter share common support structures, power transmission systems, and control systems, achieving space optimization and cost reduction through merging multiple energy conversion functions into one unified system
Solution Approach 2:
The offshore platform is designed with multi-functionality to accommodate different types of energy converters. The monopile foundation and support structure serve multiple purposes: supporting wind turbines, wave energy converters, and tidal energy converters simultaneously. The power transmission system and control system are universal, handling electricity from all three energy sources through a single integrated network
2Ease of manufacture
If monopile foundation is used for wind turbines, then construction cost is reduced and installation is simplified, but wave energy and tidal energy devices cannot utilize this foundation
Solution Approach 1:
The monopile foundation is designed as a universal support structure that can accommodate multiple types of energy converters. The foundation's structural design allows it to support wind turbines, oscillating water column wave energy converters, and horizontal-axis tidal energy converters simultaneously, maximizing the utilization of the foundation's load-bearing capacity and spatial arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement around the monopile foundation to accommodate different energy converters. Wind turbines are positioned at different heights, wave energy converters are installed at intermediate levels, and tidal energy converters are placed at lower levels, creating a vertical and radial distribution that maximizes space utilization while maintaining foundation stability
3Productivity
If integrated power generation system is implemented, then space utilization and cost efficiency improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated system is segmented into modular components: wind turbine module, wave energy converter module, and tidal energy converter module. Each module operates semi-independently with its own energy conversion mechanism but connects through a unified power transmission system. This modular segmentation allows for easier installation, maintenance, and fault isolation while maintaining overall system integration benefits
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 system improves energy conversion efficiency, reduces costs, and increases the overall economy of offshore wind farms by sharing support structures and power transmission systems, enhancing the utilization of offshore renewable resources and reducing power generation costs.
Implementation Method 1
The oscillating water column wave energy converter comprises a cover body of the wave energy converter, wave inlet 8, air chamber 10, and an air turbine generator 11; the air chamber 10 is located inside of the cover body. When the wind energy, wave energy and tidal energy integrated power generation system based on monopile foundation starts to work, the integrated power generation system is put into the water. Under the action of waves, the water enter into the air chamber 10 through the wave inlet 8 to form an oscillating water column 9 that oscillates in vertical direction.
Implementation Method 2
The oscillating water column 9 moves up and down so that the air in the air chamber 10 reciprocates through the air outlet at the top of the air chamber 10, and then drives the air turbine generator 11 to generate electricity.
Implementation Method 3
The monopile-type wind turbine system comprises a wind turbine 1, tower 2, monopile foundation 6 and power transmission system
Implementation Method 4
The horizontal axis tidal energy converter comprises outrigger structure and tidal energy generator. Two tidal generator 12 are installed at the both ends of outrigger structure 14. By adjusting the plane of the tidal energy converter, the axial direction of the tidal energy generator 12 is consistent with the direction of the incoming flow.
Data Source
AI summary
A wind energy, wave energy and tidal energy integrated power generation system based on monopile foundation, in which the wind energy, wave energy and tidal energy will share the support structure and power transmission system, belongs to the technical field of ocean renewable energy utilization. An integrated power generation system which integrates wind energy converter, oscillating water column wave energy converter and horizontal-axis tidal energy converter is established based on the monopile support structure. The invention makes sufficient use of offshore renewable resources, so as to improve the utilization ratio of monopile foundation and reduce the total cost of power generation of integrated system. The novel integrated power generation system improves the effective utilization of the ocean areas, reduces the cost of construction and maintenance, makes full use of the existing mature wind energy technology, and promotes the commercialization of wave energy converters and tidal energy devices.