WO2015144956A1

WO2015144956A1 - Device for generating electricity from wave energy

Info

Publication number: WO2015144956A1
Application number: PCT/ES2015/070209
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alejandro GONZÁLEZ ANDREU; Alberto PIZA SEÑAS; Enrique MUÑOZ ARJONA; Francisco Javier MARÍN RODRÍGUEZ; Remy Pascal; Ángel MARTÍN - BEJARANO SÁNCHEZ; Cristina RODRÍGUEZ BORDALLO; Alejandro Torres Molina; Antonio CAMPOS MARÍN; Antonio Luis RUIZ MONTERO; Francisco MONTERO CHACÓN; Franciso Javier MARÍN RODRÍGUEZ; César VIDAL PASCUAL; Raúl GUANCHE GARCÍA
Original assignee: Abengoa Seapower, S.A.
Priority date: 2014-03-27
Filing date: 2015-03-23
Publication date: 2015-10-01
Also published as: ES2549369B1; ES2549369A1

Abstract

Device for generating electricity from wave energy comprising a floating body (1) with an internal space (1a) containing an inertial mass (7, 7a, 7b, 7', 7'', 10) connected to a power extraction system and an anchoring device (15), in which the external face (5) of the stern (2) of the floating body has a convex shape in the form of the surface of a first transverse rectangular cylinder segment that extends between opposing sides of the stern (2), while the external face (6) of the bow (3) of same has a convex shape in the form of the surface of a second transverse rectangular cylinder segment that extends between opposing sides of the bow (3), the external face (5) of the stern (2) extending along a first arc (α) of at least 180° and the external face (6) of the bow (3) extending along a second arc (β) of no more than 90°.

Description

ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATOR DEVICE FROM ENERGY

The present invention falls within! field of marine electricity generating devices and, particularly, in the field of electric power generating devices from wave energy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electric power generating devices from wave energy use the energy inherent in waves in seas and oceans to generate electricity. Contrary to tidal devices do not take advantage of the energy difference between low tide and high tide, but the continuous movement of sea waves.

Modern research on the means of conversion of gravitational waves due to wind began in 1974 with a publication by Saíter (Saíter, SH (1974). Wave power. Naíure, 249 (3), 720-724. Doi: 10.1049 / esej: 20000303). In this article, a device called DUCK is presented. This is a device that converts wave energy into a rotary pitch movement. The energy is extracted from the pitching movement. Since this first publication, a large number of wave energy conversion devices were conceived. Among the most relevant devices are the so-called PELAMIS described in "Yemm, R., Pizer, D., Retzler, C, & Henderson, R. (2012). Pelamis: experience from concept to connection. Phiiosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: athematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 370 (1959), 365-380. Doi: 10.1098 / rsta.201 1.0312 ", the device called OYSTER described in" Whíttaker, TJ, Coliier, D., Foiíey, M., Osterried , M., Henry, A ,, & Crowley, M, (2007). The development of Oyster-A shallow water surging wave energy converter; Proceedings of the 7th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference. Porto, Portugal ", and plants type OWC described in "Heath, TV (2012). A review of oscillating water coíumns. Phiiosophical transactions. Series A, Maíhemaíical, physica !, and engineering sciences, 370 (1959), 235-45. doi: 10.1098 / rsta.201 1.0184. There are many other systems with different levels of development. Different classifications and types of technology can be found in the publication Faicáo, AFDO (2010). Wave energy utilization: A review of the technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14 (3), 899-918. doi: 10.1018 / j.rser.2009.1 1.003 ".

Among the electric power generating devices from wave energy there are inertial devices such as those described in patent documents US8289365B2 (Clemenf et al.), US2013 / 033039A1 (Gordilio) and US2010 / 01 1539A1 (Paakinen), such such as the WELLO PENGUIN device of the Finnish firm WELLO OY and the SEAREV device, both inertial devices with solid internal masses, or devices with reference mass constituted of water such as devices such as the so-called UGEN described in "Fonseca, N. , & Pessoa, J. (2013). Numerical modeling of a wave energy converter based on U-shaped interior oscillating water column. Applied Ocean Research, 40, 60-73. Doi: 10.1016 / j.apor. 2013.01 .002 ", in document PT105368B, and in the desalination version of the device called DUCK described in "Sa! ter, SH, Cruz, J., Lucas, J., & Pascal, R. (2007). Wave powered desalination; Proceedings of the International Conference on Inte grated Sustainable Energy Resources in Arid Regíons. Abu Dhabi. "

Conventionally, wave devices extract energy from the waves by damping the movement of the device excited by the waves. For this, a kinetic reference is needed in order to obtain a relative movement between this body and a second body.

Inertial devices usually refer to a category of wave device that uses the energy generated by the damping of the relative movement between the main body of the device and an internal mass associated with the device that acts as an inertial reference. This mass can be a solid or a liquid, and energy can be used to generate electricity or other products to be exported (desalinated water in the case of the DUCK device). AND! document PT105388B relating to the aforementioned UGEN device, describes a device provided with a chamber with a water column for producing energy, and mention is made of a specific geometry of the floating body, this being described as asymmetric. Thanks to this geometry, the floating device allows coupling with drift and pitch movements.

Document US20130033039A1 describes a device that uses the mechanical movement of a pendulum for energy production. This document mentions the three possibilities of energy extraction, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic, although it does not mention the possibility of a device with the combination of all methods.

In most current devices, the power extraction system (PTO - Power Take Off system) and auxiliary equipment are in contact with the marine environment. This increases the chances of corrosion, thereby increasing the cost of operation and maintenance (O&M) of the device.

On the other hand, the state of the art has floating bodies whose external geometry is improved in terms of extracting the power inherent in wave energy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to improve the qualities of the wave devices of the state of the art by means of an electric power generating device from wave energy comprising

a floating body with a stern, a bow, a bottom bottom that extends between the stern and bow, a width, an interior space and an upper base that extends between the stern and bow and a defined length between a foreground transverse that, seen in profile, passes through a rear end point at an intermediate height of the stern, as well as a second transverse piano that passes through a front end point in an upper part of the bow;

a mass inertia! selected between solid inertial masses and masses inertia! is liquid, and combinations of such masses, housed in the interior space of the floating body so that it is capable of maintaining an inertial position inside the floating body when performing oscillating movements in response to sea waves;

a power extraction system connected to an electricity generating system mounted on the floating body, capable of generating electrical energy from relative movements between the inertial mass and the float device;

at least one anchoring device connectable to a anchoring system that allows the floating body to keep its bow facing the waves and prevents translation of the floating body beyond a distance of a predetermined anchoring position; wherein the stern comprises an outer face that has a convex contour in the form of a surface of a first segment of rectangular transverse cylinder extending between opposite sides of the stern;

the external face of the stern comprises a lower convex section and an upper convex section which, seen in lateral profile, are joined at the rear end point at the intermediate height of the stern and extend from there each in the direction of the bow; the bow comprises an external face having a surface-shaped convex contour of a second segment of rectangular transverse cylinder extending between opposite sides of the bow;

the outer face of the bow extends between the front part of the lower section and, seen in lateral profile, the front end point at the top of the bow; the external face of the stern and the external face of the bow extend between a lower piano and a coplanar upper plane with the upper base of the floating body; the outer face of the stern extends along a first arc of at least 180 ° and the external face of the bow extends along a second arc of at most 90 °,

The mass inertia! located in the interior space of the floating body can represent between 20% and 40% by weight of the volume of seawater displaced by the device generator.

These characteristics allow the movement of the floating body in any degree of freedom. Particularly, the geometry of the floating body maximizes the pitching movements, while ensuring longitudinal stability and minimizing the generation of waves caused by the floating body, so that the dissipation of energy inherent in the waves is reduced and the energy is maximized of the waves transmitted to the inertial mass, The shape of the stern minimizes the resistance to the longitudinal oscillation of the floating body, minimizing the generation of waves radiated by the ship. The closed shape of the floating body allows the essential components to be accommodated in its interior space, which allows to reduce the effect of corrosion caused by the marine environment. The anchoring system is designed to allow an anchoring of the floating body at the bottom of the sea. The anchoring system is adapted so that the floating body maintains its position while limiting as little as possible its ability to convert wave energy into movement of altered, balancing and pitching, that is, the floating body is anchored at the bottom of the sea , but with freedom of movement. With the anchor, what is to avoid is excessive movement or displacement of the device in the plane (translations greater than 3 meters).

The inertial mass acts as a reference so that, when the floating body moves in pitch, a relative movement is generated between the reference mass and the floating body. Energy is extracted from this relative movement and converted into electricity.

According to an embodiment of the anchoring system, this comprises three flexible linear elements, such as chains or ends, whose upper ends are connected to a common anchoring device located at the point of rotation of the floating body, and whose lower ends are subject to each other. anchoring blocks, such as concrete blocks, arranged at the bottom of the sea in radial positions spaced apart from 120 °. In an embodiment of the invention, the stern of the floating device has a maximum longitudinal extension between said first transverse piano and a third transverse piano that passes through a first intermediate point that delimits the bottom bottom in front of the stern of the floating body and a second intermediate point that delimits the back of the upper base in front of the stern. The upper base of the floating body extends between the third transverse plane and the second transverse piano. The bow has a maximum longitudinal extension between the second transverse plane and a fourth transverse plane that passes through a third intermediate point that delimits the bottom bottom in front of the bow and a fourth intermediate point that delimits the upper base in front of the bow. On the other hand and according to this embodiment, the bottom bottom has a defined length between the third and the fourth transverse piano.

The longitudinal extension of the bow can be between 80% and 150% greater, preferably between 90% and 120% greater, and more preferably 100% greater, than the maximum longitudinal extension of the stern, while the length The bottom bottom may be between 80% and 30% smaller, preferably between 60% and 40% less, and more preferably 50% smaller, than the maximum longitudinal extension of the stern.

The lower convex section of the stern's outer face may have a height greater than the upper convex section or, alternatively, a height smaller than the upper convex section. This allows the convex sections of the outer face of the stern to be asymmetrical with respect to their shapes.

Preferably, the lower convex section of the external side of the stern has a height equal to the upper convex section, which leads to a symmetrical shape of the convex sections of the external face of the stern. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the external side of the stern has a semicircular longitudinal section with a first radius corresponding to the maximum longitudinal extension of the stern and the external face of the bow has a longitudinal section of a quarter-quarter segment. circle defined by a second corresponding radius a! a maximum longitudinal extension of the bow. In turn, according to this embodiment, the first radius is less long than the second radius, while the length of the bottom bottom is less than the first radius. This dimensional relationship between the radii and the bottom, which determines the external geometry of the floating body, can be represented by the following equations: 2 = n * R1 d - R1 / n

L-R2 ÷ d ÷ R1 for 1 <n <2 L- R1 ÷ d ÷ R2 * sin (years (1 -2 / n)) for 4> n> 2

where Ri is e! first radius, R2 is ef second radius, d is the length of! bottom bottom, L is the length and n is a real number greater than or equal to 1 and less than 4.

These equations allow to calculate the external geometry of the floating body from any value of n and based on a preset value of its length, its first radius, its second radius or the length of its bottom. This embodiment is particularly advantageous since it maximizes the boat's pitching movements, guaranteeing longitudinal stability and minimizing the generation of waves. This phenomenon allows to dissipate energy not transmitted to the pendulum or water column. The shape of the boat is so that it can absorb the greatest amount of energy transmitted by the waves due to its circular shape on the bow, and the circular shape of the stern minimizes the resistance to the boat's oscillation, minimizing the generation of irradiated waves by the ship The closed shape will ensure that the components remain inside the vessel or vessel, reducing the corrosion effect. Preferably, the first radius is 50% less iargo than e! second radius Also preferably,

the length of the bottom bottom is shorter, preferably 50% shorter, than the first radius. These values would correspond to n = 2 in the equations indicated above.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the solid inertial mass comprises at least one main pendulum connected to a transverse axis arranged in the interior space of the floating body. This transverse axis is in turn connected to the power extraction system.

According to an alternative of this particular embodiment, the inertia mass! it can comprise two main pendulums of equal masses, or a main pendulum and at least one additional pendulum of greater or lesser mass than the main pendulum.

According to another alternative of this particular embodiment, the main pendulum can be arranged between at least one pair of additional pendulums, which guarantees the transverse stability of the device, arranged in the interior space of the floating body, each of the additional pendulums connected to a individual transverse axis connected in turn to the power extraction system. Each pendulum of each pair of additional pendulums can have a mass less or greater than the main pendulum that will be established according to the resonance period that is to be achieved, that is, for small masses resonances will be achieved at large frequencies and for large masses will be achieved a resonance at smaller frequencies. When several pairs of additional pendulums are provided, each additional pendulum of a pair may be arranged next to one of the additional pendulums closest to the main pendulum.

Each pendulum can be connected to an individual axis, or some or all of the pendulums can share a common axis. In another embodiment some pendulums may be connected in group to a common axis and others in another group to another common axis or to individual axes. Each axis can be individually connected to its own electricity generator, or some or all axes can be connected to one or more shared electricity generators. According to another particular embodiment of the invention, the inertial mass comprises a single main pendulum free to move in any degree of freedom and connected to the power extraction system, by means of a converter mechanism, so that the single main pendulum transmits the movements of the floating body caused by waves to the converter mechanism.

According to the invention, the inertial mass can also comprise at least one complementary pendulum connected to a longitudinal axis arranged in the interior space of the floating body. The power extraction system may be electro-mechanical, such as an electro-mechanical system with a rotation axis of the electricity generator perpendicular to the oscillation axis of the pendulum in which case the oscillation axis is physically connected to the generating device, or a hydraulic system, such as a hydraulic system in which the rotation axis of the electricity generator is jointly and severally connected to a hydraulic pump, preferably of oil, connected on the one hand to the oscillation axis of the pendulum and, on the other, to a motor hydraulic.

The oscillating movement of the floating body due to the waves causes the pendulum to move, whose axis activates the electro-mechanical generator or the hydraulic pump. In the first case, electric power is produced directly, while in the second case the hydraulic fluid would be pumped to a hydraulic motor of the electricity generator. In both cases the generated electrical energy is poured into the network through a cable that connects the device to the mainland power grid. In order for the relative speed between the pendulum and the vessel to be as high as possible, it is desirable that the center of gravity of the pendulum be as far as possible from the center of gravity of the ship. Because the center of gravity of the pendulum is a constant variable over time, the only variable that can be modified is the center of gravity of! ship. This can be achieved by a change of ballast through pumps specially included in the generating device for this purpose. This ballast can comprise ballast water chambers. In another particular embodiment of the invention, the liquid inertial mass comprises a mass of liquid confined in at least one tank module with an annular closed circuit comprising an underpass and an overpass as well as a rear passage and a forward passage through from which the underpass and the overpass communicate. The mass of the liquid forms a column leaving the underpass completely filled and partially the front and back passage are completely filled. Similarly, the overpass will be filled with gas along with the parts of the front and rear pass that do not contain liquid. According to this embodiment, the annular circuit extends longitudinally in the interior space of the floating body between the stern and the bow, which allows the mass of liquid to move in the annular closed circuit towards the stern or towards the bow of the floating body , depending on the oscillating movements made by the floating body in response to sea waves. The power extraction system may comprise at least one turbine selected from pneumatic turbines arranged in pneumatic connection with an overpass of the annular closed circuit that is filled with gas, hydraulic turbines arranged in hydraulic connection with an underpass of the annular closed circuit, and combinations of such turbines. In the case of both types of turbines the electricity generator can be located inside or outside the closed circuit. In the case of the pneumatic turbine, an arrangement can be used in which two or more annular closed circuits share the turbine. This can be done by connecting the overpasses of said circuits through a conduit and introducing the turbine into that conduit.

Also, when, according to this other particular embodiment, a plurality of tank modules is provided, at least one of them may contain a mass of water greater than the mass of water contained in other tank modules, so that the The volume of water mass contained in each tank module is adapted to a particular type of swell whose waves cause oscillating movements of the floating body. In the case of pneumatic turbines, it is convenient that the liquid does not come into contact with the pneumatic turbine, so to avoid this problem a membrane or plate could be coupled between the liquid and the gas.

The pneumatic connection may comprise a pneumatic connection system selected between individual pneumatic connection systems that connect a tank module with a single individual pneumatic turbine, common pneumatic connection systems that connect several tank modules with a shared pneumatic turbine, and combinations of Such pneumatic connection systems. In turn, the hydraulic connection may comprise a hydraulic connection system selected from individual hydraulic connection systems that connect a tank module with a single individual hydraulic turbine, shared hydraulic connection systems that connect several tank modules with a shared hydraulic turbine , and combinations of such hydraulic connection systems. The physical location of the liquid mass distribution will be that in which the resonance period of the water column coincides with the maximum resonance frequency of the location where the device is installed. This means that in each engineering phase of the generating device, an adjusted design must be carried out taking into account the location. When the floating body moves, the liquid is forced to move in the opposite direction, creating a current within the annular closed circuit, and displacing the air that closes the circuit.

The height at which the liquid column has to reach in the annular closed circuit depends on the draft of the floating body, that is, the part of the floating body submerged in seawater. The draft influences the total weight of the generating device and the location of its center of gravity. The draft depends on the height of the wave. For small waves, smaller than 4 m, the draft must be greater than the operating draft (10 m in a preferred embodiment), being lower for the opposite case (heights of waves greater than 4 m).

The shape of the floating body and the distribution of the weights of the generating device are designed to maximize pitching movement over a wider range of incident wave periods. Additionally, the ability to extract energy from the device to convert the energy from the incident wave can Be controlled in multiple ways.

Thus, by means of the ballast system described above, the distribution of weights in the floating body can be altered to adapt to the typical period of the sea state. For this, at least one chamber with ballast water is added to modify the center of gravity of the floating body.

Also, the inertia of the inertial mass can be regulated to vary its resonance periods.

In the case of a solid inertial mass, this can be achieved, for example, by varying the radius of inertia of the pendulum of its connecting element to its oscillation axis. In this way this length can vary, for example, depending on the type of sea. In seas with a low peak period (Tp <7 sg), such as the Mediterranean Sea, the interaction between the floating body and the pendulum can be maximized, increasing the length of the radius of the pendulum, while in seas with a period of High peak (Tp> 1 1 sg), such as the Pacific Ocean, the length of the pendulum can be reduced to maximize that interaction between the floating body and the pendulum.

In the case of a liquid inertial mass in a generating device in which pneumatic turbines are used, the gas pressure inside the annular closed circuit can be regulated, to adapt the characteristics of the turbines to the hydrodynamic needs of the generating device, for which valves can be arranged to regulate the gas pressure in the circuit. Normally the gas pressure in the circuit is the atmospheric pressure, but it could be given some pressure to extract more energy (the higher the pressure, the more energy can be obtained from the turbine). This pressure increase has to reach a balance with the size of the device. As can be deduced from the above, the generating device according to the present invention is very versatile in terms of the use of wave energy for the generation of electrical energy. Thus, on the one hand, this allows, based on the external geometry of its floating body, to capture energy, by choosing the arrangement of its inertial mass in parallel or perpendicular to the direction of the waves, the device being able to absorb most of the degrees of freedom, such as forward movement in the direction of the waves corresponding to the X axis in the coordinate system, altered corresponding to the Z axis in the coordinate system, pitch corresponding to rotations with respect to the X axis, and balancing corresponding to rotations with respect to the Y axis, perpendicular to the direction of the waves.

To complement the description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to an example of practical implementation thereof, a set of figures in which with character is accompanied as an integral part of the description Illustrative and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 is a schematic profile view showing the external geometry of a first embodiment of the floating body of a device according to the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic rear perspective view of the floating body shown in Figure 1, inside which a first embodiment of an inertial mass is arranged.

Figure 3 is a schematic rear perspective view of the floating body shown in Figure 1, in which a second embodiment of an inertial mass is arranged.

Figure 4 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the illustrated floating body in figure 2,

Figure 5 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the floating body illustrated in Figure 1, in which a third embodiment of an inertial mass is arranged.

Figure 6 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the floating body illustrated in Figure 1, in which a fourth embodiment of an inertial mass is arranged,

Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view along the line l-l that can be seen in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view along the line Π-Π that can be seen in Figure 8.

Figures 9A-9C show a sequence of movements of the floating body shown in Figure 1 floating in waves of the sea. Figure 10 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the floating body illustrated in Figure 1, in which a fifth embodiment of an inertial mass is arranged.

Figure 1 1 is a schematic view in iongitudinal section of the floating body illustrated in Figure 1, in which a sixth embodiment of an inertial mass is arranged.

Figure 12 is a side plan view of an embodiment of the mooring system for the floating body illustrated in Figure 1.

These figures include reference signs that identify the following elements: 1 floating body

1st to inner space

1 b upper base

2 stern

3 bow

4 bottom bottom

5 external face from aft

5th lower convex section

5b upper convex section

6 external face of the bow

6th lower convex section

6b upper convex section

7 main pendulum

7th additional pendulum

7b additional pendulum

T complementary pendulum single main pendulum

8, 8 ', 8 "wand

9 transverse axis

9 'longitudinal axis

9 "converter device

10 body of water

10th level of water body

1 1 tank module

1 1 at underpass

1 1 b overpass

1 1 c rear step

1 1 d front step

12 pneumatic turbine

13 hydraulic turbine

14 elastic linear element

15 anchoring device

16 anchoring block 17 power cord

Floating body width

d bottom bottom length

F seabed

L length of the floating body

Or wave

OI wave crest

02 valley between waves

Lower plane pl

PE _D front end point

PE _T rear end point

Ph first intermediate point

PÍ2 second intermediate point

Pl ₃ third intermediate point

PU fourth intermediate point

PS flat top

PTi transverse foreground

PT ₂ transversal background

PT ₃ third transversal plane

PT ₄ fourth transverse plane

R1 first radio

R2 second radius

S sea surface

α first arc

β second arc

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The floating body -1 - shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises an interior space -1 a-, an upper base -1 b, a stern -2-, a bow -3-, and a lower bottom -4- which extends between the stern -2- and the bow -3-, AND! floating body has a siora -L- defined between a transverse foreground! -ΡΤΊ- vertical that passes through a rear end point -ΡΕτ- at an intermediate height of the stern -2-, as well as a second transverse plane -PT ₂ - vertical that passes through a front end point -PED- at the top from the bow -3-, The floating body -1- has a uniform width -A- along its length -L-.

The stern -2- is defined longitudinally between the first transverse plane -PTi- and a third transverse plane -PT3- vertical that passes through a first intermediate point -PI ₁ - which delimits the rear part of the bottom bottom -4- of the stern -2- and by a second intermediate point -Pl ₂ - which delimits the rear part of the upper base -1 b- in front of the stern - 2-. The upper base -1 b- of the floating body -1- extends between this third transverse piano -PT3- and the mentioned second transverse plane -PT2-. In turn, the bow -3- is defined longitudinally between the second transverse plane -PT ₂ - and a fourth transverse piano -PT ₄ - vertical that passes through a third intermediate point -PI3- that separates the front part of the bottom bottom - 4- from the bow -3- and by a fourth intermediate point -Pl ₄ - which separates the upper base -1 b- from the floating body - 1- from the bow -3-.

The bottom bottom -4- has a length -d- defined between the third -PT3- and the fourth transverse plane -PT ₄ -.

The stern -2- comprises an outer face -5- which has a convex contour in the form of a surface of a first segment of rectangular transverse cylinder that extends between opposite sides of the stern -2-, and which has a lower convex section - 5a- and an upper convex section -5b-. On the other hand, the bow -3- comprises an outer face - 6- which has a convex contour in the form of a surface of a second segment of rectangular rectangular cylinder that extends between opposite sides of the stern -2-, and which also has a lower convex section -6a- and an upper convex section - 6b-.

As you can see, the lower convex sections -5a, 6a-and the convex sections upper -5b, 8b- extend between a lower plane -Pl- coplanar with the bottom -4- of the floating body -1 - and an upper plane -PS- coplanar with the upper base -1 b- of the floating body -1 - . The lower convex section -5a- of the outer face -5- of the stern -2- extends from the first transverse plane -ΡΤΊ- downwards in the direction of the third transverse plane -PT ₃ - until joining the bottom -4- of the floating body -1 -, while the upper convex section -5b- of the external face -5- of the stern -2- extends from the first transverse piano -PTi- upwards towards the third transverse plane -PT ₃ - until joining the upper base -1 b- of the floating body -1 -. Thus, the first circular cylinder segment corresponding to the outer face -5- of the stern -2- has a semicircular section with a first radius -R1 -, and extends in correspondence with a first arc of a first angle- α- 180 °. Thus, the lower convex section -6a- of the outer face -8- of the bow -3- extends-, starting from the bottom bottom -4-, from the fourth vertical plane -PT ₄ -upwards towards the base upper -1 b- of the floating body -1 - moving away from the bottom bottom -4-, while the upper convex section -6b- of the outer face -8- of the bow -3- extends from the lower convex section -6a - until reaching the second transverse plane -PT ₂ - at the height of the upper plane -PS- of the floating body -1 -. In this way, the second arc is defined between the upper plane -PS- and the fourth transverse plane -PT4-. With this, the second circular cylinder segment corresponding to the outer face -8- of the bow -3- has a quarter circle section with a second radius R2, and extends in correspondence with a second arc with a second angle - β- of 90 °,

The angles -α, β - of the respective convex contours of the external face -5- of the stern -2- and of the bow -3- total a total of 270 °. The external geometry of the embodiment of the floating body -1 - illustrated in Figure 1 is defined by the first radius -R1 -, the second radius -R2-, the length -d- of the bottom bottom -4- and the length -L - related according to the equations already indicated above: 2 = n * R1

d ~ R1 / n

L = R2 ÷ d ÷ R1 for 1 <n <2

L-R1 ÷ d ÷ R2 * (ssn (acos (1-2 / n)) for 4> n> 2 where n is a reaf number greater than or equal to 1 and less than 4.

The width -A- of the floating body -1 - is determined based on the energy to be absorbed. If the wave front is larger, a wider width is convenient for greater energy extraction. The width -A- will also give stability to the floating body -1 -.

The total length L of the floating body -1 - can be, for a preferred case of the invention, between 20m and 40m, while the permissible width -A- could be at least 15 m for a length of 40 m.

Preferably, n = 2. To calculate the dimensions of the radii R1 and R2 and the length -d- of the lower section -4- according to the embodiment of figure 1 in which n = 2, for a floating body with a length -L- is, by For example, of 28 m, applying the equations indicated above, the following results:

28m = 2 * R1 + R1 / 2 + R1 → 3.5R1 = 28 m → R1 = 28/3, 5m → R1 = 8m d = 8m / 2 → d = 4m

R2 = 2 * 8m → R2 = 16m

As you can see, the equations allow to calculate the external geometry of the floating body -1 - from any value of n and based on a preset value of its length -L-, its first radius -R1 -, its second radius -R2 - or of the length -d- its bottom -4-. Figures 2 and 4 show an embodiment of! generating device, in which the inertial mass is formed by a set of pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- arranged in the interior space -1 a- of the floating body -1-, These figures show (like figures 5- 8 and 10-12) the floating body -1 - floating in a resting state on the surface -S- of! seawater.

The set of pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- comprises a main pendulum -7- of greater mass, a first pair of additional pendulums -7a- of medium mass and arranged on both sides of the central pendulum -7-, as well as a second pair of additional pendulums - 7b- of reduced mass and arranged on respective sides of the first pair of the second additional pendulums -7a-. The pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- are connected through individual rods -8- to respective individual transverse axes -9- mounted on the floating body -1-, Each transverse axis -9- is connected, in a conventional way , to an energy extraction system ("Power Take Off" = "PTO" - not shown in the figures) to convert kinetic energy generated by relative displacements between the pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- and the floating body -1 - which cause the reciprocating movement of the transverse axis -9-, in propellant energy to propel an electricity generator (not shown in the figures), also in a conventional manner. All these elements are within the interior space -1 b- of the floating body -1-. There is a possibility that the pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- are connected to the same transverse energy extraction line or to the same turbine in the case of cameras. The pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- are arranged in such a way that the center of gravity of the device is at the point that allows the relative velocity between the pendulum -7, 7a, 7b- and the floating body -1- to be as much as possible For this, it is necessary that the center of gravity of the mass of each pendulum -7, 7a, 7b- be as far away from the center of gravity of the floating device -1-. Because the center of gravity of the pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- is a constant variable over time, the only possible variable that can be modified is the center of gravity of the floating body -1-. It is possible to modify the center of gravity of the floating body -1- in a conventional way, by means of a change of liquid ballast, for example water, through hydraulic pumps (not shown in the figures) mounted on the floating body -1 - for this purpose. This ballast can comprise water chambers (not shown in the figures). The pitching of the floating body -1- due to the incident waves causes relative movements between the pendulum -7, 7a, 7b-, and its transverse axis -9-. These relative movements are used to drive, for example, an electro-mechanical generator that produces electric power directly, or a hydraulic pump that pumps oil to propel an electro-mechanical generator, or a multiplier device connected to an electricity generator (not shown in the figures).

The different sizes of the pendulums -7, 7a, 7b-allow that of each size (larger, medium, reduced) to adapt to the different wave states responding to the different resonance frequencies of the same. As a rule, the adaptation to the wave brake incident on the floating body of the generating device occurs depending on the number of pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- and the size of each of them, in order to allow a maximum of power of the pendulum assembly -7, 7a, 7b-.

Figures 3 to 8 show an embodiment of the generating device, in which the inertial mass is formed by a mass of liquid -10-, such as seawater, fresh water or other type of liquid, confined in three tank modules - 1 1- independent. Each tank module -1 1- comprises an annular closed circuit with an underpass -1 1 a-, an overpass -1 1 b- that are connected to each other by a rear passage -1 1 c- and a forward passage - 1 1 d-. The mass of liquid -10- is contained in the lower passage -1 1 a- and up to a liquid level -10a- in the lateral rear-1 1 c- and forward -1 1 d- side steps, due to the effect of ¡ The communicating vessels. Above the liquid level -10a-, the steps ¡atera¡es -1 1 c- and the upper step -1 1 b- are filled with a gas, such as air. The transition elbows between the respective steps -1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c, 1 1 ~ are preferably rounded to reduce flow losses, although they can be bevel bevels.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, a pneumatic turbine -12- connected to an electric generator is intercalated in an intermediate part of overpass -1 1 b- in a plane normal to the main direction of the swell. The pneumatic turbine -12- limits the movement of the gas displaced by the liquid -10- caused by the swell incident on the floating body -1-. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, when, in response to an incident wave, the bow -3- of the float body -1- rises from its stern -2-, the liquid level - 10a- will progressively occupy a proportion greater than the rear passage -1 1 c- and a smaller proportion of the front passage -1 1 d-, so that the gas contained between the liquid level -10a- in the rear passage -1 1 c- and the pneumatic turbine - 12- is compressed to then flow under pressure through the pneumatic turbine -12-, propelling it, towards the forward passage -1 1 d ~. On the other hand, when, after the wave has passed and the bow -3- descends into a valley between waves and descends from the stern -2- of the floating body -1-, the mass of liquid -10- will progressively occupy a greater proportion of the front passage - 1 d- and a smaller proportion of the rear passage -1 1 c-, so that the gas contained between the liquid level -10a- and the pneumatic turbine -12- is compressed to then flow under pressure through the pneumatic turbine -12-, propelling the air for rotor movement and generating energy in this way,

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, a hydraulic turbine -13- connected to an electricity generator, is interspersed in an intermediate part of the underpass - 1 1 a- in a plane normal to the main direction of the swell. The hydraulic turbine -13- limits the movement of the liquid -10- with respect to the annular closed circuit, caused by the swell incident on the floating body -1-. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, when, in response to an incident wave, the bow -3- of the float body -1- rises from its stern -2-, the liquid level - 10a- will progressively occupy a proportion greater than the rear passage -1 1 c- and a smaller proportion of the forward passage -1 1 d-, so that a flow of liquid occurs through the hydraulic turbine -13-, producing the movement of the turbine rotor to Power generation On the other hand, when, after the wave has passed and the bow -3- descends into a valley between waves and descends with respect to the stern - 2- of the floating body -1 -, the mass of liquid -10- will progressively occupy a greater proportion of the front step - 1 d- and a smaller proportion of the rear step - 1 1 c-, so that there is a flow of liquid towards the forward passage -1 1 d- that propels the hydraulic turbine -13-.

Tank modules -1 1- can be designed to have different sizes to accommodate different volumes of water masses in their closed circuits -10-, In this way and analogously to what is described above with reference to Figures 2 and 4, it allows each water body -10- to act in a different optimal way depending on the wave train that arrives. Not all bodies of water will be optimal for the same wave, but as a whole they will achieve an optimum for the use of the energy of all the incident waves in the floating body -1-

Pneumatic turbine systems -12- are especially useful in rough seas and, therefore, very energetic with greater swell frequency, while hydraulic turbine systems -13- are especially useful in quieter and therefore less seas Energetic with less frequency of waves, since the hydraulic turbines -13- require lower flow velocity of the water masses -1 1- than the pneumatic turbines -12-.

Figures 9A-9C illustrate three stages of the pitching movement of the float body -1- against the swell that moves in the direction of the arrow with white fill shown in both these figures and in Figures 4-8, 8 and 10-12 .

Thus, in Figure 9A it can be seen that, when a wave -O- hits the floating body -1-, its bow -3- emerges from the water and remains in an elevated position with respect to the stern -2-. As the wave passes -O- along the floating body -1-, the bow -3- descends again until leveling with the stern -2-, as shown in Figure 9B, when the floating body -1- is found on the crest -OI - of the wave -O. Then, according to the wave -O- goes through the floating body -1-, its bow -3- descends into a valley - 02- between waves -O- and is in a lower position with respect to its stern -2-, as Figure 9C shows, and the bow -3- is faced with a new wave -O-, Due to the specific geometry of the float body -1- previously described, the pitching movements of the floating body -1- are maximized, guaranteeing its longitudinal stability and minimizing the generation of wake waves thus minimizing energy dissipation not transmitted to the inertial mass.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment of the generating device comprising, in addition to the pendulums -7, 7a, 7b- described above with reference to Figures 2 and 4, a complementary pendulum -T- connected through its rod -8'- to a longitudinal axis -9'-. The function of this complementary pendulum -7'- is to take advantage of the balancing movements of the floating body -1- for the generation of electrical energy, for which its longitudinal axis -9'- can be connected, for example and in analogy to the above described with respect to the transverse axis -9-, for example to an electro-mechanical generator that produces electric power directly, or a hydraulic pump that pumps oil to propel an electro-mechanical generator, or a multiplier device connected to a generator of electricity (not shown in the figures). Figure 1 1 shows another embodiment of the generating device comprising a main pendulum -7 "- unique with a rod -8" connected to a conventional conversational device -9 "- which in turn is connected to, for example, a generator electromechanical that produces electricity directly, or a hydraulic pump that pumps oil to propel an electro-mechanical generator, or a multiplier device connected to an electricity generator (not shown in the figures).

According to the embodiment, the single pendulum -7 "- is free to move in any degree of freedom and transmits the movements of the floating body -1- caused by the swell through its rod -8" - to the converter device -9 "- .

Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment of a funding system whereby the floating body -1- is anchored at the bottom -F- of the sea. According to this embodiment, the anchoring system comprises three flexible linear elements -14-, such as chains or ends, whose upper ends are connected to a common anchoring device -15- located at the point of rotation of the floating body -1-, and whose lower ends are subject to two anchoring blocks -16-, such as concrete blocks, arranged at the bottom -F- in radial positions spaced apart from each other at 120 °. Figure 12 also shows an electrical cable -17- through which the electrical energy generated by the electricity generator is transmitted, in a conventional manner, to an electrical network that connects to the ground.

In this text, the word "understand" and its variants (such as "understanding", etc.) should not be interpreted in an exciting way, that is, they do not exclude the possibility that what is described includes other elements, steps, etc.

On the other hand, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments that have been described but also covers, for example, the variants that can be made by the average person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within what follows from the claims.

Claims

1.- Electrical energy generating device from wave energy that includes

a floating body (1) with a stern (2), a bow (3), a lower bottom (4) that extends between the stern (2) and the bow (3), a width (A), an interior space (1 a) and an upper base (1 b) that extends between the stern (2) and the bow (3), and a length (L) defined between a first transverse plane (ΡΤΊ) that, seen in side profile, passes through a rear end point (ΡΕτ) at an intermediate height of the stern (2), as well as a second transverse plane (PT ₂ ) that passes through a forward end point (PED) at an upper part of the bow (3) ;

an inertia mass! (7, 7a, 7b, 7', 7", 10) selected from solid inertial masses (7, 7a, 7b, 7', 7") and liquid inertial masses (10), and combinations of such masses, housed in the interior space (1 a) of the floating body (1), so that it is capable of maintaining an inertial position inside the floating body (1) when it makes oscillating movements in response to sea waves (O);

a power extraction system connected to an electricity generating system mounted on the floating body (1), capable of generating electrical energy from relative movements between the inertia mass! (7, 7a, 7b, 7', 7", 10) and the float device (1);

at least one anchoring device (15) connectable to an anchoring system (14, 16) that allows the floating body (1) to keep its bow (3) facing the waves (O) and prevents translations of the floating body (1 ) beyond a distance from a predetermined anchoring position;

characterized because

The stern (2) comprises an external face (5) that has a convex contour in the form of the surface of a first transverse rectangular cylinder segment that extends between opposite sides of the stern (2);

The external face (5) of the stern (2) comprises a lower convex section (5a) and an upper convex section (5b) which, seen in side profile, join at the rear end point (ΡΕτ) at the intermediate height from the stern (2) and extend from there each in the direction of the bow (3);

The bow (3) comprises an external face (6) that has a convex contour in the form of a surface of a second transverse rectangular circular segment that extends between opposite sides of the bow (3);

The external face (6) of the bow (3) extends, seen in side profile, between the front part of the lower section (4) and the front end point (PED) at the top of the bow (3);

The outer face (5) of the stern (2) and the outer face (6) of the bow (3) extend between a lower plane (Pi) and an upper plane (PS) coplanar with the upper base (1 b) of the floating body (1);

The external face (5) of the stern (2) extends along a first arc (a) of at least 180° and the external face (8) of the bow (3) extends along a second arc (β) of maximum 90°.

2. - Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that

The stern (2) has a maximum longitudinal extension between the first transverse plane (ΡΤΊ) and a third transverse plane (PT ₃ ) that passes through a first intermediate point (P) that delimits the lower bottom (4) in front of the stern ( 2) and by a second intermediate point (Pi ₂ ) that delimits the rear part of the upper base (1 b) in front of the stern (2);

the upper base (1 b) of the floating body (1) extends between the third transverse plane (PT ₃ ) and the second transverse plane (PT ₂ );

The bow (3) has a maximum longitudinal extension between the second transverse plane (PT ₂ ) and a fourth transverse plane (PT ₄ ) that passes through a third intermediate point (Pl ₃ ) that delimits the lower bottom (4) in front of the bow (3) and by a fourth intermediate point (Pl ₄ ) that delimits the upper base (1 b) in front of the bow (3);

The lower bottom (4) has a length (d) defined between the third (PT ₃ ) and the fourth transverse plane (PT ₄ ).

3. - Device, according to claim 2, characterized in that the longitudinal extension of the bow (3) is between 80% and 150% greater, preferably between 90% and 120% greater, and more preferably 100% greater , than the maximum longitudinal extension of the stern (2).

4 - Device, according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the length (d) of the lower depth (4) is between 80% and 30% smaller, preferably between 60% and 40% smaller, and more preferably 50% smaller, than the maximum longitudinal extension of the stern (2).

5.- Device, according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the lower convex section (5a) of the external face of the stern (2) has a height selected between higher heights and lower heights and a substantially equal height, which the upper convex section (5b).

6.- Device, according to claim 2, characterized in that

The external face of the stern (2) has a semicircular longitudinal section with a first radius (R1) corresponding to the maximum longitudinal extension of the stern (2); the external face of the bow (3) has a longitudinal section of a segment of a quarter circle defined by a second radius (R2) corresponding to the maximum longitudinal extension of the bow (3);

the first spoke (R1) is less long, preferably 50% less long, than the second spoke (R2),

7. Device, according to claim 6, characterized in that the length (d) of the lower bottom (4) is shorter, preferably 50% shorter, than the first radius (R1).

8-. Device, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inertial mass represents between 20% and 40% by weight of the volume of seawater displaced by the generating device.

9-, Device, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mass inertia! solid comprises at least one main pendulum (7) connected to a transverse axis (9) arranged in the interior space (1 a) of the floating body (1), the transverse axis (9) being in turn connected to the extraction system of power.

10.- Device, according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one additional pendulum (7a, 7b) that has a mass less than the main pendulum (7') connected to the power extraction system, each pendulum (7, 7a, 7b) connected to the power extraction system, through a transverse axis (9) selected from individual transverse axes for each pendulum (7, 7a, 7b), common transverse axes that group the connection of at least two pendulums (7, 7a, 7b) , and combinations of such transverse axes.

eleven . - Device, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that

The main pendulum (7) is arranged between at least one pair of additional pendulums (7a, 7b) arranged in the interior space (1 a) of the floating body (1),

each of the additional pendulums (7a, 7b) is connected to the power extraction system;

Each pendulum (7a, 7b) of each pair of additional pendulums (7a, 7b) has a smaller mass than the main pendulum (7).

12. - Device, according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a single main pendulum (7 ^" ) free to move in any degree of freedom and connected to the power extraction system, by means of a converter mechanism -9"- , so that the single main pendulum -7"- transmits the movements of the floating body -1 - caused by the waves to the converter mechanism -9"-.

13.- Device, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one complementary pendulum (7') connected to a longitudinal axis (9') arranged in the interior space (1 a) of the floating body (1).

14.- Device, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

The liquid inertial mass comprises a mass of liquid (10) confined in at least one tank module (1 1) comprising an annular closed circuit (1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c, 1 1 d) comprising a lower pass (1 1 a) and an upper pass (1 1 b) as well as a rear pass (1 1 c) and a front pass (1 1 d) through which the lower pass (1 1 a) communicate and the upper step (1 1 b);

The mass of liquid (10) forms a column of water contained in the lower passage (1 1 a), a lower part of the front passage (1 1 d) and a lower part of a rear passage (1 1 c) up to a level of liquid (10a); Above! liquid level (10a), the front passage (1 1 d) and the rear passage (1 1 c) and the upper passage (1 1 b) are filled with gas;

the annular circuit (1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c, 1 1 d) extends longitudinally in the interior space (1 a) of! floating body (1) between the stern (2) and the bow (3);

The mass of liquid (10) moves in the closed annular circuit (1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c,

1 1 d) towards the stern (2) or towards the bow (2) of the floating body (1), depending on the oscillating movements made by the floating body (1) in response to sea waves (O);

The power extraction system includes a! at least one turbine selected from pneumatic turbines (12) arranged in pneumatic connection with an upper passage (1 1 b) of the annular closed circuit that is filled with gas; hydraulic turbines (13) arranged in hydraulic connection with a lower passage (1 1 a) of the annular closed circuit, and combinations of such turbines.

15.- Device, according to claim 14, characterized in that

comprises a plurality of tank modules (1 1);

at least one tank module (1 1) contains a mass of water (10) greater than the mass of water (10) contained in at least another tank module (1 1);

The volume of the mass of water (10) contained in each of the respective tank modules (1 1) is adapted to a particular type of wave whose waves (O) cause the oscillating movements of! floatbody (1);

The pneumatic connection comprises a pneumatic connection system selected from individual pneumatic connection systems that connect a tank module (1 1) with a single individual pneumatic turbine (12), common pneumatic connection systems that connect several tank modules (1 1 ) with a shared pneumatic turbine (12), and combinations of such pneumatic connection systems; and

The hydraulic connection comprises a hydraulic connection system selected from individual hydraulic connection systems that connect a tank module (1 1) with a single individual hydraulic turbine (13), shared hydraulic connection systems that connect several tank modules (1 1) with a shared hydraulic turbine (13), and combinations of such hydraulic connection systems.