Wave-Propelled Vehicle Hull with Hydrofoil Thrust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave-propelled vehicles face challenges such as large size requirements for thrust generation, high drag from elongate members, limited suitability for underwater operations, and inefficiencies due to separate components for wave response and thrust production.
Innovation Solution
The design integrates a blended body with a non-planar hydrofoil structure that combines wave-responsive and thrust-producing functions, minimizing the need for moving parts and optimizing hydrodynamic efficiency for both surface and underwater operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a floating body is designed to produce oscillatory motion for thrust generation, then wave energy conversion is improved, but the vehicle size must be very long (e.g., 25m for 4s waves) which increases device complexity and reduces adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into two functional segments: an upper hull portion that interacts with surface waves to generate oscillatory motion, and a lower hull portion that remains submerged and produces thrust through hydrofoil structures. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire vehicle to be extremely long.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimensional surface-skimming approach to a three-dimensional configuration where the upper hull portion extends above the surface and the lower hull portion extends below, utilizing vertical dimension to decouple wave interaction from thrust production, thereby reducing the required horizontal length.
2Power
If an elongate member is introduced to ensure vertical velocity differential, then thrust production is improved, but drag increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The upper hull portion and lower hull portion are merged into a single integrated vehicle structure, eliminating the need for separate elongate members to connect wave-responsive and thrust-producing components. This integration removes the drag penalty associated with long connecting members while maintaining the necessary velocity differential through the vertical separation of functional zones.
3Ease of operation
If a flexible elongate member is used, then deployment is easier, but fouling between system elements occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the upper and lower hull portions into a single rigid structure, the invention eliminates flexible elongate members entirely, thereby preventing fouling issues while maintaining ease of deployment through the modular functional design of the blended body configuration.
4Strength
If a rigid elongate member is used, then structural integrity is improved, but bending and torsional failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of upper and lower hull portions into a single rigid blended body structure eliminates the need for separate elongate connecting members, thereby avoiding both the fouling problems of flexible members and the bending/torsional failure modes of rigid members while maintaining structural integrity.
5Use of energy by moving object
If separate components are used for wave response and thrust production, then functional optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the wave-responsive upper hull portion and the thrust-producing lower hull portion into a single integrated blended body structure, thereby maintaining functional optimization while significantly reducing device complexity compared to separate component configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The blended body structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: the upper hull portion interacts with waves for energy capture, the lower hull portion generates thrust through hydrofoil structures, and the integrated design provides structural stability, thereby achieving multi-functionality without increasing complexity.
6Productivity
If a conventional surface hull shape is used, then surface operation efficiency is improved, but underwater performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is segmented into an upper hull portion optimized for surface wave interaction and a lower hull portion with hydrofoil structures optimized for underwater operation, allowing the same vehicle to efficiently perform both surface propulsion and underwater gliding modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle can dynamically transition between surface-skimming mode and underwater gliding mode by adjusting the immersion depth of the lower hull portion, thereby adapting to different operational requirements and environments.
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
This integrated design enhances the vehicle's ability to efficiently convert wave energy into thrust, reduces drag, and allows for versatile operation modes, including surface propulsion and underwater gliding, while simplifying the vehicle's structure and reducing noise.
Implementation Method 1
the upper hull portion of any of the vehicles according to the examples experiences dynamic immersion under the action of waves, the vehicle will experience time-varying hydrodynamic and hydrostatic forces
Implementation Method 2
wave-propelled vehicles, in particular, to vehicles that generate forward thrust from the action of surface gravity waves present at the surface of a body of fluid
Implementation Method 3
the lower hull portion comprises a hydrofoil structure comprising one or more than one hydrofoil portion
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples relate to wave-propelled vehicles adapted to float at the surface of a body of fluid, wherein a vehicle comprises a hull; the hull comprising an upper hull portion and a lower hull portion; the lower hull portion comprising a hydrofoil structure defining an upward facing concavity; the vehicle generating thrust in response to waves on the body of fluid.