Wave Power Plant Float Rig with Windmill Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave power plants face challenges in efficiently harnessing energy from waves and wind across various weather conditions, with limitations in structural stability, energy absorption, and integration of wind power for enhanced energy production.
Innovation Solution
A wave power plant design featuring a float-supported construction with vertically moving floats connected to generators via transmission systems, anchored to the seabed, and integrated with a windmill to capture kinetic energy from waves and wind, ensuring energy production across all weather conditions through a robust and adjustable structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the float is designed to absorb wave energy through lateral movement, then energy capture is improved, but structural stability deteriorates as the float may move sideways and destroy the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful lateral wave forces that would normally cause unstable float movement into beneficial vertical motion. The float design minimizes sideways hitting between waves and float, preventing lateral movement that could destroy the structure, while still capturing wave energy through controlled vertical oscillation that drives the generator.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rig is designed to pivot to capture wind energy, then energy production versatility is improved, but structural stability deteriorates under strong environmental influences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic design where the rig can pivot to capture wind energy when wave activity is low, enhancing energy production versatility. The structure includes adjustable components and controlled movement mechanisms that allow the rig to adapt to varying environmental conditions while maintaining structural integrity through designed flexibility and stress distribution.
3Productivity
If the float moves vertically relative to the structure via a rod, then energy transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases compared to multi-directional joint movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex multi-directional joint movement system from the float attachment, replacing it with a simplified vertical rod connection. This extraction of unnecessary complexity maintains energy transmission efficiency through direct vertical motion while reducing mechanical complexity and potential failure points in the transmission system.
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 efficient energy production from both wave and wind power, maintaining structural stability and adaptability to varying environmental conditions, ensuring continuous energy generation even when wave activity is low and wind is high.
Implementation Method 1
a float which is brought to move back and forth via a transmission to drive a generator to produce energy for further exploitation... kinetic energy, which is created when a float is moved by wave action
Implementation Method 2
also be able to utilize wind power to enhance the effectiveness of energy catchers in the waves... also may be able to utilize wind power in a windmill design so that it can produce power when there are less waves and more wind
Data Source
Figure 1~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
It referred to a device of a power plant for the production of useful energy in the waves by the use of float devices the motion of which are used to power generator to produce energy for further exploitation, and means of conveyance of energy to further use, and it is characterised by a rig that is directed to float in the sea by means of a float supporting construction with the floats in the water line so that these may be affected by wave motion in the sea, and where the floats are arranged in a ring shape around the rig's circumference with spacing between the floats, which floats independently of each other are oriented to engage their respective generators via a transmission system, and the rig is anchored to the seabed via a cable (15): A float construction is also discussed.