Wave Power Station Segmented Floating Body Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave power stations face challenges such as low utilization during low wave heights, complexity in design, and lack of intermediate energy storage, leading to inefficiencies and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A wave power station design featuring a toroidal floating body with an energy absorbing unit connected to a counterweight via a drive line and drive wheel, incorporating a power generating unit with opposite-acting electric generators and a power accumulating unit with chargeable battery cells or compressed air storage, allowing for efficient energy conversion and storage, and modular construction for easy maintenance and expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a wave power station uses a traditional design with large floating bodies and drive lines connected to bottom foundations or counterweights, then it can convert wave energy, but it suffers from large inertia leading to low utilization during low wave heights
Solution Approach 1:
The wave power station is divided into multiple independent floating bodies (first floating body for energy absorption, second floating body for power generation and storage). This segmentation allows each module to operate independently with smaller mass, reducing inertia while maintaining overall functionality. The drive line connects only the first floating body to the second, decoupling the large inertia problem from the power generation unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The power generation unit and energy storage unit are extracted from the energy-absorbing floating body and placed in a separate second floating body. This extraction removes the heavy components that contribute to inertia from the wave-responsive first floating body, allowing it to respond more efficiently to low wave heights while the second floating body remains relatively stationary.
2Power
If a wave power station uses multiple drive lines connecting floating bodies to bottom foundations and counterweights, then it can generate power, but the design becomes complex and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The power generation unit, energy storage unit, and drive wheel are merged into a single integrated second floating body. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and connections needed, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining full power generation capability. The drive line from the first floating body directly drives the drive wheel in the second floating body, eliminating the need for multiple intermediate connections.
3Productivity
If a wave power station lacks intermediate energy storage facilities, then it has simpler design, but it cannot even out variations in wave height and intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The second floating body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a platform for power generation (housing electric generators), energy storage (containing battery cells or compressed air vessels), and mechanical transmission (with the drive wheel). This multi-functionality provides intermediate energy storage and smoothing capability without requiring separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in design complexity.
4Reliability
If a wave power station uses conventional designs, then it can be built, but investment costs are very high
Solution Approach 1:
The wave power station is segmented into modular units (first floating body, second floating body, drive line) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This modularity enables standardized production techniques, reduces material waste, and allows for economies of scale, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating bodies utilize buoyant shell structures that are lightweight yet strong, reducing material costs compared to traditional heavy-duty constructions. The use of thin-walled buoyant chambers provides the necessary structural integrity for ocean deployment while minimizing material usage and manufacturing expenses.
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 achieves high utilization across varying wave heights, enables intermediate energy storage, and simplifies maintenance and scalability, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
wave power station for conversion and storage of wave energy from a water system
Implementation Method 2
a drive line (7) connected to said power generating unit (3) via a drive wheel (15)
Implementation Method 3
two opposite-acting electric generators (27), with opposite direction of rotation relative to each other, arranged on the drive shaft, for alternate generation of electric current
Implementation Method 4
at least one power accumulator (11) comprising at least two chargeable battery cells (23) for storage of electric current
Implementation Method 5
said at least one power accumulator comprises three outer pressure vessels (32) for storage of compressed air
Implementation Method 6
a first floating body (5) connected to a vertically hanging counterweight (6) via a drive line
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wave power station (1) for conversion and storage of energy from waves in an ocean or a sea, which wave power station comprises a wave energy absorbing unit (2) comprising a first floating body (5) connected to a vertically hanging counterweight (6) via a drive line (7) and a drive wheel (15), a power generating unit (3) comprising at least one power generation unit (9) for conversion of wave energy, connected to a drive shaft (10), and a power accumulating unit (4) comprising at least one power accumulator (11) for storage of generated wave power, wherein the power generating unit (3) and the power accumulating unit (4) are arranged in a second floating body (12) firmly anchored under the first floating body (5) to the ocean bed or sea bed, wherein the drive line (7) is connected to said at least one power generation unit (9) via the drive wheel (15), and a coupling and transmission unit (16) arranged on the drive shaft (10) for driving of said at least one power generation unit (9) via the up and down movements of the drive line (7) in time with the wave movements.