In an Ocean environment, irregular and severe wave conditions may occur that can damage a wave energy system. However, over-engineering a wave energy system will render it less optimal for nominal sea-states. There exists a need for a wave energy converter to avoid transferring high forces into more delicate components such as gearboxes and generators, and avoid over-engineering of the system as a whole. There also exists a need to allow for aversion of said severe conditions without affecting the proper oscillating excitation and restorative motion of the wave energy converter. Therefore, the present invention introduces a means to avert high forces, induced by an ocean wave, in a passive manner using non-physical magnetic coupling, whilst not affecting a restorative mechanism in said aversion.
In the past, many wave energy converters (WECs) have been proposed as a means to generate electricity or desalinate seawater. Some such proposals have included means of dissipating high forces sustained by the WECs, such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,352,291 B2 by Oscilla Power, wherein a hydraulic method of peak load dissipation is discussed. However, this method requires active controls via manipulation of moving parts such as valves and/or pistons. Such moving parts can corrode or biofoul in sea conditions, and such active controls are complex to design and build.
The present invention solves the problem by using a passive magnetic coupling that uncouples when the source force is too high. The present invention also describes the location with respect to other WEC components wherein said magnetic coupling needs to be placed, as well as the use of magnetic patterns such as the Halbach array to increase the magnetic force of the magnetic coupling.
Wave energy systems generally comprise of:
The present invention strategically places a magnetic coupler between these components so as to not adversely affect the motion of the buoy whilst keeping the more delicate PTO safe from damage.
Peak load averting magnetic coupling of a wave energy converter needs to be located strategically. Most wave energy converters have a restoration method: a method that restores the WEC to an equilibrium position, such as a spring. In the present invention's exemplary embodiment, a rotatory body such as a reel or sheave, is physically coupled to a restorative mechanism such as a spring. The sheave is also physically coupled to a first magnetic unit of a magnetic coupler; the sheave is not however physically coupled to the power-takeoff (gearboxes if any and generator) of the wave energy converter, instead a second magnetic unit of the magnetic coupler is physically coupled to the power takeoff, and the second magnetic unit is non-physically and magnetically coupled to the first magnetic unit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system to passively decouple motion transfer in a wave energy converter when the wave force surpasses a threshold, which causes an exceedance at the magnetic coupling beyond a net magnetic coupling strength.
It is an advantage of the present invention to avoid peak loads in a passive manner instead of using complex active controls with moving parts.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a Halbach array to increase magnetic coupling force.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide adequate magnetic coupling force using less magnetic material, saving costs and weight.
It is a feature of the present invention to physically couple a restorative mechanism, such as a spring or a counter-weight, to a rotatory body (sheave, reel or gear) that physically receives motion due to a wave energy absorber body motion relative to a reaction body, whilst not physically coupling said rotatory body to a power take-off.
It is an advantage of the present invention to allow the restorative mechanism (spring or counter-weight) to get energized by the wave to then subsequently restore the buoy to an equilibrium position once the wave subsides, even during high wave forces, whilst not energizing the PTO mechanism during said high wave forces.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide magnetic shielding material, such as MuMetal, to mitigate magnetic interference among magnetic and/or induced magnetic components.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide passive magnetic decoupling at moments when external forces on a wave energy system surpass stress limits of any components of said system.
The present invention is an apparatus and system for magnetically transferring motion in a selective manner which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in accordance with the claims, in a sense that magnetic forces are involved in stated transfer of force and motion.
Accordingly, the present invention is a method to inhibit transmission of an input load exceeding a threshold, to a power-takeoff system in a wave energy converter, the method comprising the steps of:
transferring a relative motion, between an absorber body and a reaction body, to a rotatory body;
wherein the reaction body is at least one of solid earth and a body that is less responsive to a water wave motion than the absorber body;
providing a magnetic coupler comprising a first magnetic unit and a second magnetic unit, with each magnetic unit comprising at least one magnet,
wherein the first magnetic unit and second magnetic unit, combined, comprise a maximum net magnetic strength, wherein a net load exerted on the coupler that is above said maximum strength causes the first magnetic unit to move substantially independently from the second magnetic unit;
wherein the first magnetic unit substantially transfers motion, via magnetic force, to the second magnetic unit, only if the net load exerted on the coupler is at or below said strength;
transferring the input load from the rotatory body to the first magnetic unit through a physical medium, wherein the input load is caused by at least one of
transferring motion from the rotatory body to a power takeoff, via the coupler, when the input load does not exceed the threshold, and at the same moment, transferring motion between the rotatory body and a restorative mechanism;
allowing an increasing input load, when said input load does not exceed the threshold, to increase the power takeoff's power conversion, thus causing an increase in a power takeoff resistive load, which in turn contributes to the increase in a net resistive load at the second magnetic unit, with said increase in power takeoff's power conversion continuing until said the net resistive load at the second magnetic unit equals the net magnetic strength of the coupler;
wherein the power takeoff resistive load is at least partially formed as a result of energy conversion of the power takeoff; and
allowing the net resistive load at the second magnetic unit to surpass the net magnetic strength when said input load exceeds the threshold, thus causing the first magnetic unit to move independently of the second magnetic unit, while at the same moment, transferring motion between the rotatory body and a restorative mechanism.
Additionally, the present invention is a method to convert water body wave motion to usable energy, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an absorber body that is allowed to move relative to a reaction body;
wherein said motion of the absorber body is in response to a water wave motion;
wherein the reaction body is at least one of solid earth and a body less responsive to said water wave motion than the absorber body;
physically transferring the relative motion of the absorber body, with respect to the reaction body, to a rotatory body;
wherein the rotatory body is physically coupled with a first magnetic unit;
wherein the rotatory body is, at least in part, substantially non-physically coupled with a second magnetic unit by a net magnetic force, while said rotatory body being physically coupled with a restorative mechanism;
wherein the restorative mechanism provides restorative force to bring the absorber body toward an equilibrium after a wave force, which displaced the absorber body away from said equilibrium, substantially subsides;
wherein the second magnetic unit is physically coupled to a power takeoff system;
wherein the first magnetic unit comprises at least one magnet;
wherein the second magnetic unit comprises at least one magnet; and
wherein the power takeoff converts at least a portion of a motion of the second magnetic unit to usable energy.
Additionally, the present invention is an apparatus that converts water body wave motion to usable energy, the apparatus comprising:
an absorber body that is allowed to move relative to a reaction body (20);
wherein said motion of the absorber body is in response to a water body's wave motion;
wherein the reaction body is at least one of solid earth and a body less responsive to said water body wave motion than the absorber body;
a means to transfer the relative motion of the absorber body, with respect to the reaction body, to a rotatory body;
wherein the rotatory body is physically coupled with a first magnetic unit (6);
wherein the rotatory body is, at least in part, substantially non-physically coupled with a second magnetic unit by a net magnetic force and physically coupled with a restorative mechanism;
wherein the restorative mechanism provides restorative force to bring the absorber body toward an equilibrium after a wave force, which displaced the absorber body away from said equilibrium, substantially subsides;
wherein the second magnetic unit is physically coupled to a power takeoff system;
wherein the first magnetic unit comprises at least one magnet;
wherein the second magnetic unit comprises at least one magnet; and
wherein the power takeoff converts at least a portion of a motion of the second magnetic unit to usable energy.
The invention may be more fully understood by reading the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:
The details below should be viewed as examples of many potential variations of the present invention which are protected hereunder.
The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents; it is limited only by the claims.
Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any one or any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used in this paper, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As stated herein, a load is at least one of a force and a torque.
The present invention is a method and related apparatus for magnetically providing a non-physical motion link that can uncouple without causing physical wear, or other damage whilst allowing the wave energy converter to retain restorative dynamic properties via an uninterrupted connection to a restorative mechanism. An advantage of the present invention is to minimize maintenance requirements of wave energy converters (WECs) that can occur due to wear and stress, as well as provide storm damage protection.
Referring to
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The first magnetic unit 6 and the second magnetic unit 7 of the magnetic coupler 16 comprise a maximum net magnetic attractive strength, which is the maximum torque within which the first magnetic unit and second magnetic unit are coupled to each other via magnetic attractive forces. Once said net magnetic attractive strength is exceeded by some external load (source external to coupler), the first and second magnetic units decouple and move relative to each other. In some embodiments, strength is defined by the level at which the component has the ability to accommodate a load without decoupling.
In order to turn a generator to produce electricity, a resistive torque has to be overcome. In other words, work needs to be done against a resistive torque produced by the generator as it turns, to produce electricity. In some embodiments, this is known as generator back torque, and this load is in addition to friction in the generator and any inertial effects. A power takeoff converting energy, including desalinators, will produce a back load (force and/or torque) that opposes the load that is causing the energy conversion. This back load is a resistive load of the power takeoff.
Now referring to
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material gaps 416; and
reduced thickness connection members 415 that connect the inner ring 400 to the outer ring 420.
In other words, in some embodiments, there may not be a material gap 416 but the interim region comprises material that is of lower thickness than the inner and outer ring. This practice allows the use of less material to construct the magnetic unit. Material gaps also allow for less material usage.
In some embodiments, referring back to
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In some embodiments, the magnet 10 is an electromagnet.
In some embodiments, a mechanical coupler can be included in the wave energy system, wherein the coupler comprises a threshold after which the coupler passively decouples. In some embodiments, the mechanical coupler comprises a type of ratcheting gear that further comprises collapsible or retractable teeth that are kept erect by corresponding springs. When a force threshold is surpassed, the springs can no longer keep the teeth erect, causing the teeth to collapse and prevent motion transfer between the coupler. In some embodiments, the mechanical coupler stated herein replaces the magnetic coupler stated herein.
Back to the magnetic coupling invention, a physical connection or a physical couplement, between two or more components, is one that has a physical motion transfer medium between said components, without any exclusively non-physical motion transfer interruption in said path.
In some embodiments, the reaction body is the seafloor 20. In some embodiments, the reaction body is a body that is less responsive to water body wave motion compared to the absorber body, and is not the seafloor.
This application is a non-provisional patent application which claims the benefit of US provisional patent applications having Serial Numbers: U.S. 63/262,636, which was filed on Oct. 17th, 2021, U.S. 63/269,106, which was filed on Mar. 9th 2022, U.S. 63/365,486, which was filed on May 28th 2022, and U.S. 63/366,625, which was filed on Jun. 17th 2022, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference. This application is a continuation-in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/388,559, filed Jul. 29, 2021. This application is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63366625 | Jun 2022 | US | |
63365486 | May 2022 | US | |
63269106 | Mar 2022 | US | |
63262636 | Oct 2021 | US | |
63136284 | Jan 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17388559 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 18046929 | US |