Method and apparatus for dampening waves in a wave pool
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cross-over wave pools face issues with rip currents and wave reflections, reducing surfable wave quality and increasing costs due to the need for larger sizes and reduced wave frequency to mitigate these problems, while also affecting spectator viewing and land usage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wave pool design incorporating a wave dampening chamber with a perforated raised floor downstream from the breaker line, which absorbs wave energy and reduces rip currents and reflections, allowing for larger and more frequent high-quality waves without increasing pool size or altering the floor design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If larger wave sizes are generated to accommodate expert surfers, then surfing wave quality is improved, but rip currents and wave reflections increase reducing overall wave quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful wave energy from the pool system by introducing porous beach sections that absorb and dissipate wave energy. The porous material acts as a filter that removes the harmful components (rip currents and reflections) while allowing the useful surfing waves to maintain their quality in the main pool area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different beach slope configurations to different locations within the pool. The shallow end features a porous beach with specific porosity (0.05-0.50) to absorb reflections, while the mid-section maintains a steeper slope for quality wave breaking. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of surfing quality and reduction of harmful effects in different zones.
2Productivity
If wave frequency is increased to improve throughput and revenue, then productivity is improved, but rip currents and wave reflections worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous wave generation at high frequency by eliminating the disruptive effects that would otherwise accumulate. The porous beach continuously absorbs wave reflections and dissipates energy, preventing the buildup of rip currents and reflections that would limit wave frequency. This allows the system to maintain steady-state operation at higher throughput levels.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wave frequency is reduced to decrease rip currents and wave reflections, then harmful factors are reduced, but productivity and revenue decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful wave reflections and rip currents into beneficial energy dissipation. The porous beach material transforms the harmful reflected wave energy into useful heat and turbulence within the porous structure, converting what would be a limiting factor into a mechanism for maintaining water quality and wave consistency that enables higher throughput.
4Ease of operation
If pool size is increased to accommodate larger waves, then wave quality is improved, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the beach section by introducing porous materials with controlled porosity (0.05-0.50). This parameter change allows the same pool volume to produce higher quality waves through improved wave breaking characteristics and reduced reflections, achieving better wave quality without increasing pool size or construction costs.
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 solution enables the production of larger and more frequent surfable waves with reduced rip currents and wave reflections, enhancing wave quality and pool throughput while maintaining safety and reducing construction costs, allowing for closer spectator viewing areas and efficient land use.
Implementation Method 1
the chamber preferably comprises a relatively shallow raised or 'false' perforated floor extending above a relatively deep chamber floor, wherein the combination of the raised floor over the chamber floor and the porosity of the raised floor help to cause the wave energy to be absorbed and waves to be dampened
Implementation Method 2
the porosity of the raised floor help to cause the wave energy to be absorbed and waves to be dampened
Data Source
AI summary
A wave pool for producing waves has a first wave-forming portion with an inclined section for causing the waves to begin breaking and a second wave-dampening portion with a raised floor with perforations extended above a bottom chamber floor. The raised floor is preferably adapted with a predetermined porosity such that a boundary layer of energy absorbing vortices and eddies is generated above and below the raised floor, resulting from water passing up and down through the openings, and the boundary layer effects on the raised floor help to dampen the waves.