Multiple Resonance Wave Energy Converter for Broad Wave-Frequency Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave energy converters have limited efficiency due to the inability to maintain resonance mechanisms across a wide range of wave frequencies, leading to high production costs and reduced commercial viability.
Innovation Solution
A multiple resonance wave energy converter with a submerged buoyancy module and specific geometric configurations that induce multiple resonance mechanisms, enhancing energy capture across various sea states by aligning natural frequencies with wave frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a buoyancy tank is used to provide floatation, then the device can maintain stability, but it prevents straightforward water flow entrance inside the chamber and causes destructive effects on performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the buoyancy function into separate modules positioned at the front and rear of the device, rather than using a single central buoyancy tank. This segmentation allows water to flow freely into the chamber while the buoyancy modules provide the necessary floatation and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the buoyancy function from the main chamber structure and places it in separate dedicated modules. This extraction resolves the conflict by allowing the chamber to be optimized for water flow intake while the buoyancy modules handle the floatation and stability requirements.
2Device complexity
If a plate structure is used to interact with waves, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot impose desired Harbor resonance mechanism due to high draft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the flat plate structure with curved buoyancy modules that have rounded or bulbous shapes. This curvature allows the modules to interact more effectively with water particles and impose the desired Harbor resonance mechanism, while the modules are positioned to work within the available draft space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional plate structure to three-dimensional buoyancy modules with volume. This dimensional change allows the structure to interact with waves in multiple ways (displacement, curvature interaction) and create the necessary resonance effects that a flat plate cannot achieve.
3Ease of manufacture
If a cubic buoyancy tank is used, then the device structure is simple to manufacture, but it causes significant drag force when interacting with waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved and streamlined shapes for the buoyancy modules instead of cubic forms. The curved surfaces reduce wave impact forces and drag, allowing the modules to cut through waves more efficiently while maintaining structural integrity and manufacturability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the buoyancy tank size is increased to improve roll stability, then roll stability improves, but it causes significant drop in efficiency curve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses separate front and rear buoyancy modules rather than a single large tank. This segmentation provides distributed stability that effectively counters roll motions while maintaining the efficiency characteristics of smaller, optimized modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention positions buoyancy modules at specific locations (front and rear) with optimized local characteristics. Each module is sized and shaped to provide appropriate stability contribution without the negative efficiency effects of a single large tank, creating local optimization that benefits overall performance.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Multiple resonance wave energy converter comprising an L-shaped compartment (1), delimited by the flotation module (3), the bottom plate (9), the side plates (13) and (14), the rear plates (10) and (11) and connected to a turbine (8) at the top, a compartment (2), delimited by the flotation modules (4), (5) and (6) of trapezoidal shape, the front plate (12), the rear plate (10) and connected to a turbine (7) at the top, two Electrical generators (15) and (16) coupled with the Turbines (7) and (8), respectively, a control unit (17) that controls the rotational speed of the turbines (7) and (8) and a power-transmission substation (18) to transmit the generated power to the grid by using underwater cable (19)and a single mooring element (20) attached to an anchor (21) at seabed configured so that the device rotates naturally around the anchor point.