WO2002075151A1

WO2002075151A1 - Wave power plant

Info

Publication number: WO2002075151A1
Application number: PCT/TR2001/000013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ali Metin Cokan
Original assignee: Ali Metin Cokan
Priority date: 2001-03-15
Filing date: 2001-03-15
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Also published as: EP1370767A1

Abstract

The wave power plant converts the hydro mechanic energy of the waves of sea by means of the sensor tanks (1) connected to the chassis (2) via of bearings (3) that will transfer the energy produced by their movements on the waves, to the hydro motor (7) by pumping mineral oil through pumps (4). Low-pressure hydro accumulator (5) on the suction line of the pump, controls the necessary pressure and flow. The high-pressure hydro accumulator (6) on the pump's pressure line controls the circuit pressure by means of pressure regulators depending on last of the alternator. At the same time the high-pressure hydro accumulator (6) creates the required volume for compensation in the circuit and smoothen the flow. The pressurized mineral oil supplied by the system flows through the hydro motor (7) which drives the alternator (8) to produce electrical energy.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Wave Power Plant

This invention is to produce electrical energy from of hydro mechanical force of the waves on the surface of sea using pumps to store this energy as pressurized mineral oil in accumulators. The flow-rate and the pressure of mineral oil will be balanced first, and then be used to drive the alternator by means of a hydro motor.

Wave Power Plant consisting of following parts; main steel construction, sensor tanks fixed to main steel construction by means of joints, pumps, and mineral oil. Hoses, non-return valves, valves, throttle valves, pressure control valves, pressure regulators, potential hydraulic energy accumulators, hydro motor, alternator, voltage regulator, control panel, conductors.

An investigation based on search in Internet shows us that wave energy stations constructed up to now have a capacity of less than 0,5 MW. Ace to the same investigation; In Australia [doc 1], in England University of Edinborough Wave Power Group, in Islay Island/Scotland Limpet Research Team's first model plant [doc2], Japanese Marine Science and Technology Center, Norwegian Wave Power Group, in Germany Mannesmann-Rexroth and in Denmark [doc 3-4] there are still studies on wave energy.

They are studying on driving turbines using kinetic energy of horizontal movement of shore waves or on filling a stationary reservoir with sea water by using so-called "TAPCHAN" system through the kinetic energy of the moving waves. This causes to increase the level of the water in reservoir and resulting energy because of height difference will be converted to electrical energy by means of Kaplan type turbines.

Mannesmann Rexroth in Hvidovre, Danish Wave Power and Danish Ramboll are cooperating in studying on new systems dealing with water power. They are anchoring a cylinder to the sea bottom through fiber ropes to use buoyant force of water. The floating unit moves up and down relative to the cylinder and this relative movement will be used to produce electrical energy. However their studies are limited with these simple temporary solutions. These systems are not suitable for high capacity power stations, because such systems near to the coastal line need wide reservoirs and areas and therefore the energy to be produced is limited. For this purpose it will be more convenient to use the unlimited hydro mechanical energy at the surface of the seas to construct bigger wave power plants.

The aim of this invention is constructing environment-friendly and clean electrical plants to fulfill world energy demands by using natural wave energy through hydro mechanical control mechanisms to produce electrical.

In order to reach this target it is needed to install so-called sensor tanks in needed number to obtain the hydro mechanical energy of surface waves, mineral oil pumps driven by sensor tanks, accumulators, hydro motors and alternators. The number of sensor tanks is to be selected ace to the amount of required energy and obtainable hydro mechanical energy of the surface waves at a given area. The energy of surface waves will be taken by the mineral oil pumps, flow of the oil will be dampened by accumulator and it will drive the alternator through the hydro motor to produce electrical energy.

By adding or removing modules in order to increased or decreased the capacity of the system ace to demand and/or efficiency of the area where the system is to be installed.

Figure 1 : Wave power plant working schematics Figure 2: Hydro accumulator cross-section

In the wave energy plant (figl ), the sensor tanks (1 ) connected to the chassis (2) by means of bearings (3), will transfer the energy produced by their movements on the waves, to the hydro motor (7) through mineral oil pumps (4). Low-pressure hydro accumulator (5) on the suction line of the pump, controls the necessary pressure and flow. The high-pressure hydro accumulator (6) on the pump's pressure line controls the circuit pressure by means of pressure regulators depending on last of the alternator. At the same time the high-pressure hydro accumulator (6) creates the required volume for compensation in the circuit and smoothen the flow. The pressurized mineral oil supplied by the system flows through the hydro motor (7) which drives the alternator (8) and produces the electrical energy.

In this way the hydro mechanical energy of waves will be converted to electrical energy by means of the Wave Power Plant that has no additional cost except the initial investment and maintenance costs. The hydro accumulator (fig2), keeps pressurized mineral oil necessary for the system in its cylindrical steel body (1 ), the piston (2) separates the mineral oil and gas, the non-return valve (3) stores the mineral oil at maximum pressure and various volume, the line (4) feeds the oil to the hydro motor.

As the system implies equipment suitable for every kind of wave height, it can be designed for even minimum wave dimensions and produces the required energy. There is no restriction for the wave dimensions for this system. This system is a perfect solution for natural, clean and cheap energy, due to its low cost; even it will encourage the use of electricity in domestic heating in high-populated cities.

By connecting the wave energy plants to the interconnected lines, the water sources in hydro electrical plants can be kept as energy reserve. The wave energy plant costs are limited to its initial investment's amortization and maintenance costs. As there is no polluting agent in this plant, it is totally environmental, clear and unlimited energy.

Claims

1- The sensor tanks (1 ) connected to the chassis (2) by means of bearings (3) will transfer the energy produced by their movements on the waves, to the hydro motor (7) by pumping mineral oil through pumps (4). Low-pressure hydro accumulator (5) on the suction line of the pump, controls the necessary pressure and flow. The high- pressure hydro accumulator (6) on the pump's pressure line controls the circuit pressure by means of pressure regulators depending on last of the alternator. At the same time the high - pressure hydro accumulator (6) creates the required volume for compensation in the circuit and smoothen the flow. The pressurized mineral oil supplied by the system flows through the hydro motor (7) which drives the alternator (8).

2- The hydro accumulator is the pressurized mineral oil accumulator of the system claimed under (1.) above, keeps pressurized mineral oil necessary for the system in its cylindrical steel body (1), the Piston (2) separates the mineral oil and gas, the non-return valve (3) causes to store the mineral oil at maximum pressure and the gas enables variable volume, on the other hand. The line (4) feeds the oil to the hydro motor.