Wave Energy Recovery System with Adaptive Control Curves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave energy recovery systems face inefficiencies due to fluctuating ocean conditions, producing uneven power outputs and struggling to adapt to calm and stormy conditions, lacking a learning function to optimize energy capture and motion control in reciprocating wing systems.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a wave energy converter with a programmable computer unit, data storage, learning means, and sensor systems to adapt driving curves based on real-time and historical data, limiting wing motion, and utilizing pre-defined curves for different conditions, enabling efficient energy capture and conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If real-time sensor information and continuous calculations are used to maximize wave power capture, then energy capture efficiency is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores optimal driving curves for various wave conditions before operation. During actual operation, the controller simply retrieves and applies the appropriate pre-computed curve based on sensor input, eliminating the need for continuous complex calculations while maintaining optimal energy capture efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing continuous complex calculations, the system creates a simplified copy of the optimal control strategy in the form of pre-stored driving curves. These curves represent the essence of optimal control without requiring the computational machinery that generated them, thus reducing system complexity while preserving productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wing motion is not limited, then the system can respond freely to wave conditions, but the efficiency cannot be good enough in wave energy converter systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic motion limits for the wing that adapt to different wave conditions. The controller adjusts the operational boundaries of wing movement based on real-time sensor data and the selected driving curve, allowing maximum freedom when conditions permit while preventing excessive motion that would reduce efficiency or cause damage.
3Device complexity
If the same wave energy recovery system is used for both calm and stormy conditions, then system simplicity is maintained, but the total efficiency is very low due to inability to handle extreme conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single wave energy recovery apparatus that can operate across a wide range of conditions from calm to stormy. The multi-functionality is achieved not through multiple physical systems but through the controller's ability to select from multiple pre-computed driving curves, each optimized for different sea states, thus maintaining structural simplicity while achieving high efficiency across diverse conditions.
4Ease of operation
If the system produces converted power without limiting functions, then operational simplicity is maintained, but power output is uneven with too high outputs during high wave conditions and too small outputs during calm conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors wave conditions through sensor input and uses this feedback to select the appropriate driving curve and adjust the wing's motion characteristics. This feedback loop ensures that power output remains uniform across varying wave conditions by preventing both excessive outputs in high waves and insufficient outputs in calm conditions, while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
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 maximizes energy capture by quickly adapting to local conditions, improving efficiency over time, providing flexible and accurate control for various ocean scenarios, ensuring consistent power output.
Implementation Method 1
The oscillating movement is then converted with a wave energy converter system for instance to electric energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This invention relates to a wave energy recovery system comprising at least a wing (3b) hinged on its one edge to make a reciprocating motion in response to kinetic energy of waves or tidal currents, a wave energy converter (WEC) unit (6), a power-take-off (PTO) means (3b) and wave behavior monitoring means (8, 13). The wave energy recovery system comprises at least a control means (14) to instruct the PTO means (3b) to resist the reciprocating movement of the wing (3a) by a counter moment.