Patent Application
20100058754
This invention generally relates to wave energy machine for converting energy from water wave into electricity. As fossil fuel supply diminishes, accompanied by an increasing and detrimental environmental impact from the by-products of consumption of fossil fuel, utilization of renewable energy becomes imperative.
The objectives of this invention are:
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a cylindrical float fitted with fins is disposed on the end of a forked arm, wherein the forked arm is affixed to a gear equipped with unidirectional drive device and mounted on an auxiliary shaft. The potential energy of the wave is harvested by translating the float's vertical motion into the rotation of the power output shaft which is connected to a generator.
The kinetic energy of the wave is harvested by transferring the float's rotation induced by the propagation of waves, then feeding to the power output shaft by gearing.
The technology used to build the wave energy machine presented by this invention involves basic mechanical principles. All necessary components are readily available, therefore the initial investment is low.
This wave energy machine is mounted above a framework anchored to the sea bed. Maintenance access is above water, therefore no diving is required to conduct maintenance operations. This is an advantage over those machines with under-water installations.
Energy is stored in the vertical and horizontal motion of waves. U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,454 by Lucia harvests the energy in the down-phase of the wave. U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,843 by Lamberti and U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,547 by Michael Danihel harvests the vertcial phases of waves. All three prior arts do not harvest the energy in the horizontal motion. Since the specific weight of water is quite heavy, the horizontal motion energy is no less important than the vertical motion energy. Being able to harvest the energy stored in both of the wave's motions is what makes this idea unique.
Refer to
For the kinetic energy conversion, the wave pushes on the fins forcing the float to rotate. This rotation is transmitted to the auxiliary shaft by pulleys, and the kinetic energy is transferred to the power output shaft. To avoid conflict, one of the pulleys is also fitted with unidirectional drive to prevent the braking effect in case the float rotates too slowly.
Extended from the float is a shaft carrying pulley 9 which is chained to pulley 10 mounted on the auxiliary shaft 11. Pulley 10 is also fitted with unidirectional drive.
Gear 5 with unidirectional drive is mounted on the power output shaft. Chained to gear 5 is a gear 6 which is affixed to the auxiliary shaft 11.
When the wave lifts up float 1, arm 2 swings upwards. Gear 3 drives gear 4, the unidirectional drive on gear 4 engages and power output shaft rotates. But the auxiliary shaft is unaffected by the up swing of the arm because the unidirectional drive on gear 3 is not engaged during the up swing of the arm.
During the down swing of the arm, the unidirectional drive on gear 4 disengages; but the unidirectional drive on gear 3 engages and the auxiliary shaft 11 rotates. The rotation of the auxiliary shaft is further transferred to the power output shaft 7 through gear 6 and gear 5.
The rotation of the float 1 is transferred to the power output shaft 7 through gear 9, gear 10, auxiliary shaft 11, gear 6, and gear 5.
Multiples of the above basic units can be ganged together to scale up the energy conversion capacity. Furthermore, the floats can be disposed on both the upwind and downwind sides of the anchoring columns for better utilization of the site.
The outline above is of a basic unit. Variations can be achieved by using numerous various components. Such variations should be considered within the scope this invention. Below are some examples of variations:
