METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXTRACTING KINETIC ENERGY FROM SURFACE WAVES OF A WATER
First Claim
1. A method for extracting kinetic energy from surface waves of a water, said waves moving in a horizontal wave movement direction along the water surface of the water, wherein:
- at least one float is kept floating in the area of the surface waves, with partly restricted freedom of floating movements of the float, such that the float is moved by the surface waves at least in reciprocating upward and downward strokes of the float;
a working fluid is held in a reservoir structure;
the float is connected to a fluid displacement structure in such manner that for at least one individual surface wave of said surface waves the corresponding upward stroke of the float, which corresponding upward stroke is caused by said individual surface wave having reached the float, moves, via the fluid displacement structure, the working fluid within the reservoir structure in such manner that the potential energy of the working fluid increases, whereby, accordingly, via the float and via the fluid displacement structure, kinetic energy is extracted from said individual surface wave and converted into increased potential energy of the working fluid;
with the aid of at least one sensor said individual surface wave is detected before said individual surface wave has reached the float;
with the aid of at least one calculator, and based on said detection, there is calculated a prediction being indicative of the amount of kinetic energy available in said individual surface wave for realizing said conversion into increased potential energy of the working fluid during said corresponding upward stroke of the float; and
with the aid of at least one controller, and tuned to said calculated prediction being indicative of the amount of the kinetic energy available in said individual surface wave, an energy transmission structure of the fluid displacement structure is adjusted for realizing said conversion into increased potential energy of the working fluid during said corresponding upward stroke of the float.
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Abstract
The invention relates to extracting kinetic energy from surface waves. Therein, at least one float (8) is kept floating in the area of the surface waves, while a working fluid is held in a reservoir structure (2, 3). The float is connected to a fluid displacement structure in such manner that an individual surface wave, which causes an upward stroke of the float, moves the working fluid within the reservoir structure in such manner that the potential energy of the working fluid is increased. Before the wave has reached the float, the wave is detected by a sensor (7). Based on said detection, a prediction is calculated of the amount of kinetic energy available in the wave. Tuned to said prediction, an energy transmission structure of the fluid displacement structure is adjusted for realizing the energy conversion.
5 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for extracting kinetic energy from surface waves of a water, said waves moving in a horizontal wave movement direction along the water surface of the water, wherein:
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at least one float is kept floating in the area of the surface waves, with partly restricted freedom of floating movements of the float, such that the float is moved by the surface waves at least in reciprocating upward and downward strokes of the float; a working fluid is held in a reservoir structure; the float is connected to a fluid displacement structure in such manner that for at least one individual surface wave of said surface waves the corresponding upward stroke of the float, which corresponding upward stroke is caused by said individual surface wave having reached the float, moves, via the fluid displacement structure, the working fluid within the reservoir structure in such manner that the potential energy of the working fluid increases, whereby, accordingly, via the float and via the fluid displacement structure, kinetic energy is extracted from said individual surface wave and converted into increased potential energy of the working fluid; with the aid of at least one sensor said individual surface wave is detected before said individual surface wave has reached the float; with the aid of at least one calculator, and based on said detection, there is calculated a prediction being indicative of the amount of kinetic energy available in said individual surface wave for realizing said conversion into increased potential energy of the working fluid during said corresponding upward stroke of the float; and with the aid of at least one controller, and tuned to said calculated prediction being indicative of the amount of the kinetic energy available in said individual surface wave, an energy transmission structure of the fluid displacement structure is adjusted for realizing said conversion into increased potential energy of the working fluid during said corresponding upward stroke of the float. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for extracting kinetic energy from surface waves of a water, said waves moving in a horizontal wave movement direction along the water surface of the water, the system comprising:
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at least one float, which is kept floating in the area of the surface waves, with partly restricted freedom of floating movements of the float, such that the float is moved by the surface waves at least in reciprocating upward and downward strokes of the float; a reservoir structure for holding a working fluid therein; a fluid displacement structure, which comprises an energy transmission structure and which is connected to the float in such manner that for at least one individual surface wave of said surface waves the corresponding upward stroke of the float, which corresponding upward stroke is caused by said individual surface wave having reached the float, moves, via the fluid displacement structure, the working fluid within the reservoir structure in such manner that the potential energy of the working fluid increases, whereby, accordingly, via the float and via the fluid displacement structure, kinetic energy is extracted from said individual surface wave and, via said energy transmission structure, converted into increased potential energy of the working fluid; at least one sensor, configured, arranged and effective to detect said individual surface wave before said individual surface wave has reached the float; at least one calculator, which is communicatively connected to said at least one sensor and which is configured, arranged and effective to calculate, based on said detection, a prediction being indicative of the amount of kinetic energy available in said individual surface wave for realizing said conversion into increased potential energy of the working fluid during said corresponding upward stroke of the float; and at least one controller, which is communicatively connected to said at least one calculator and which is configured, arranged and effective to adjust, in a manner tuned to said calculated prediction being indicative of the amount of the kinetic energy available in said individual surface wave, said energy transmission structure for realizing said conversion into increased potential energy of the working fluid during said corresponding upward stroke of the float. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification