Variable Energy Piston Assembly for Wave Transducer Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wave energy conversion pistons suffer from declining efficiency when incident wave amplitudes deviate from an optimal average amplitude, due to their inability to adapt to varying wave conditions caused by weather and climate changes.
Innovation Solution
A variable energy piston assembly that adjusts its buoyancy forces and stroke length in response to changing wave amplitudes by dynamically altering the membership and area of piston-heads within the piston assembly, allowing for increased energy capture across a range of wave amplitudes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional piston is adapted for maximum efficiency at average wave amplitude, then conversion efficiency is optimized at that specific amplitude, but efficiency declines when incident waves have amplitudes other than the optimal amplitude
Solution Approach 1:
The piston assembly dynamically adjusts its stroke length and active piston-head area in response to varying wave amplitudes. The piston rod assembly can extend to engage additional piston-heads, and the active area of piston-heads can be adjusted, allowing the system to adapt its mechanical parameters to match the energy content of incident waves, thereby maintaining high conversion efficiency across a wide range of wave conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key operational parameters including stroke length, active piston-head area, and buoyancy forces based on wave amplitude conditions. By varying these parameters dynamically, the piston assembly optimizes its energy conversion efficiency for each specific wave condition, transforming from a fixed-parameter system to a variable-parameter system that responds to environmental changes
2Power
If wave amplitude increases, then wave energy increases (square relationship), but conventional pistons cannot increase buoyancy forces and stroke length to capitalize on this increased energy
Solution Approach 1:
The piston assembly is designed with dynamic capabilities to increase both buoyancy forces and stroke length in response to higher wave amplitudes. The piston rod assembly can extend to engage additional piston-heads, and the system can adjust the active area of piston-heads, allowing it to capitalize on the increased energy available from larger waves while maintaining optimal operational parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The piston assembly serves multiple functions across different wave conditions: it can operate with shorter strokes and lower buoyancy for small waves, and extend to longer strokes with higher buoyancy for large waves. This multi-functionality allows a single device to effectively capture energy across the full spectrum of wave amplitudes, from calm to agitated seas
3Productivity
If wave amplitude decreases, then wave energy decreases, but conventional pistons cannot decrease stroke length to match the smaller wave movements
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rod assembly can dynamically reduce its stroke length by disengaging additional piston-heads from the cylinder when wave amplitudes are small. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the piston movement matches the smaller wave movements, maintaining effective energy transfer and conversion efficiency even in calm sea conditions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a way to adapt a wave transducer to the actual amplitude of incident waves, so as to improve the efficiency of energy conversion. The adaptation includes a variable-energy piston assembly and a tapered float.