Wave Power Floating Apparatus Mooring Safety Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave power generation systems face limitations in efficiency and installation costs due to their design, particularly in coastal topography and water depth, and lack effective methods for converting kinetic wave energy into usable energy.
Innovation Solution
A floating apparatus for wave power generation that includes a floating unit, an energy unit, and a transfer unit, where the floating unit is moored using a wire anchored to the sea bottom, allowing for efficient energy absorption and conversion of kinetic energy into electric or hydraulic energy, utilizing a barge as the floating unit to reduce costs and facilitate installation and dismantling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a floating unit is moored using a wire to the sea bottom, then installation and construction costs are reduced, but the system must handle excessive tension during storms
Solution Approach 1:
A safety coupling device is pre-installed in the wire connection between the floating unit and anchoring unit. This device includes a release mechanism that automatically disconnects when excessive tension is detected, preventing wire failure during storms while maintaining normal operation during regular wave conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the floating unit is fixed to the sea bottom, then position stability is improved, but movement freedom for wave energy absorption is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic mooring approach where the wire allows controlled movement of the floating unit in response to wave conditions. The safety coupling provides conditional constraints - maintaining connection during normal operation for stability while allowing automatic disconnection during extreme conditions, adapting the system's freedom of movement based on environmental conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If a barge is used as the floating unit, then cost is reduced and installation is simplified, but the structure must handle various directional movements
Solution Approach 1:
The wire-safety coupling system serves multiple functions: it provides mooring during normal operation, allows controlled movement for wave energy absorption, and automatically releases during storms. This single system handles both routine operational requirements and extreme condition protection, simplifying the overall design despite the barge's complex movement patterns.
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 floating apparatus reduces initial installation and construction costs, enhances energy absorption efficiency by converting various movements into energy, and safely evacuates during storms, providing a high-efficiency and cost-effective means of generating energy from waves.
Implementation Method 1
tension of wire that changes to all directions where the floating unit performs a translational movement or a rotational movement can be converted to an energy
Implementation Method 2
an anchoring unit fixing a distal end of the wire to a sea bottom surface
Data Source
AI summary
The floating apparatus for wave power generation according to the present invention includes; a floating unit floating on a sea surface; an energy unit configured to convert a kinetic energy of the floating unit to an electric or hydraulic energy; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the kinetic energy of the floating unit to the energy unit.