Recirculating Inertial Pump With Inert Gas for Wave Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently extracting energy from ocean waves due to their slow movement and long periods, while also dealing with issues like biofouling and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A wave energy converter design incorporating upper and lower air pockets and inertial tubes that utilize pressurized gas pockets to oscillate liquid within inertial tubes, capturing and storing energy, which is then used to lift fluid through a turbine, with specialized fluids to minimize biofouling and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional wave energy converters are used, then energy extraction is attempted, but biofouling and corrosion occur on inner surfaces and components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an inert atmosphere (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) within the sealed chambers to prevent biofouling and corrosion on internal surfaces and components. This inert environment eliminates oxygen and moisture that would otherwise support biological growth and corrosive reactions, thereby protecting the turbine, pipes, and other components while maintaining energy extraction efficiency.
2Productivity
If specialized fluids are used to minimize biofouling and corrosion, then energy extraction efficiency improves, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an inert atmosphere (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) as a simple and effective solution to prevent biofouling and corrosion, avoiding the need for complex specialized fluid systems. This approach maintains system simplicity while achieving the desired protective effect on internal components.
3Productivity
If the liquid mass in the inertial tube is suspended by elevated pressure, then energy capture is improved, but the pressure differential between air pockets must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically maintains the required pressure differential between the upper and lower air pockets through wave-induced oscillations. As waves cause the floatation chamber to rise and fall, the trapped air pockets naturally expand and contract, creating and maintaining the pressure differential needed to suspend liquid in the inertial tube without requiring external pressure control mechanisms.
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 design efficiently captures and converts wave energy into usable forms, reducing biofouling and corrosion risks, and allows for the use of specialized fluids without leakage, enhancing energy extraction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid in the inertial tube tends to be 'suspended,' or elevated, by the elevated pressure of the lower air pocket (relative to the pressure of the upper air pocket)
Implementation Method 2
Wave-induced vertical oscillations of the embodiment cause the liquid mass thus suspended in the inertial tube to oscillate. As this mass, i.e., the liquid within the inertial tube, oscillates, it captures and stores energy (as kinetic and gravitational potential energy)
Implementation Method 3
As this mass, i.e., the liquid within the inertial tube, oscillates, it captures and stores energy (as kinetic and gravitational potential energy)
Implementation Method 4
As this mass, i.e., the liquid within the inertial tube, oscillates, it captures and stores energy (as kinetic and gravitational potential energy)
Implementation Method 5
the captured energy lifts fluid from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir where its elevated head pressure (relative to at least one reference reservoir within the embodiment) causes that fluid to flow through, and energize, a turbine
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include a buoyant wave energy converter. In an embodiment, the wave energy converter comprises an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, and a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket. In an embodiment, an injection tube is between and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, where the injection tube is to impel a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber and the injection tube oscillate about a waterline with the upper chamber adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber submerged below the waterline and vertically beneath the upper chamber. An effluent tube is fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, where the effluent tube is to return the fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the injection tube.