Wave power plant

• US 8,915,077 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wello Oy
• Original Assignee: Wello Oy
• Inventors: Paakkinen, Heikki
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEBEA, JESSICA L
• Application Number:
  US13/119,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20110265468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 60495-507, 290/42, 290/53
• US Class Current: 60/499
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/20 wherein both members , i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/93 on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/44 one element moving inside another one, e.g. wave-operated member (wom) moving inside another member (rem)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

The invention relates to a wave power plant, comprising at least one floating power plant body and means for converting movement of the floating power plant body into a rotary motion for power take off. The floating power plant body (1) is adapted to perform a gyrating motion in response to waves. For generating or enhancing the gyrating motion, the power plant body (1) is provided with one or more of the following elements: a flange-shaped weight (2), which is eccentrically suspended to the floating power plant body (1) and which lies below a waterline (13) of the floating power plant body at a substantial distance from the waterline; one or more transverse flanges (4), which is or are mounted on the floating power plant body in a substantially crosswise position relative to a propagation direction (A) of waves; and a flywheel (11), whose rotating axis lies substantially on a gyraion shaft (5) of the floating power plant body or on a separate vertical shaft and whose gyro force deflects the turning motion of the floating power plant body.

Claims

1. A wave power plant, comprising:

at least one floating power plant body having a forward end, intended to face the propagation direction of the waves, a rearward end and a middle section therebetween,

a weight, which is eccentrically suspended from the floating power plant body and which lies below a waterline of the floating power slant body at a distance from the waterline so as to oppose up and down movement of the body,

a system for converting movement of the floating power plant body into a rotary motion for power takeoff comprising a rotator, which is bearing-mounted for rotation around an upright gyration shaft and which as its center of gravity at a distance from the gyration shaft, and

a computer-controlled system configured to optimize output energy by having the rotator follow behind an inclination of the gyration shaft,

wherein the floating power plant body is adapted to perform a gyrating motion in waves with the cooperation of a swinging motion generated by the buoyant force of waves,

the gyrating motion is a combination of swinging motions in lateral and longitudinal directions of the power plant body caused by the swinging motion generated by the buoyant force of waves, and

the floating power plant body is provided with further comprises

one or more transverse flanges, which is or are mounted on outside the floating power plant body in a crosswise position relative to a propagation direction of waves, said transverse flange or -flanges is or are located at a distance from the ration shaft downstream of the gyration shaft in the propagation direction (A) of waves.

2. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cross section profile of the power plant body is obliquely inclined in a first direction at the forward end and then in a second direction opposite to the first direction at the middle section and again in the first direction at the rearward end, whereby the buoyant force of waves results in the pitching and rolling of the power plant body for generating a gyrating motion directly in response to waves.

3. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cross section profile inclining obliquely in the first direction is present at the forward and rearward ends of the power plant body as viewed from the forward end, and said cross section profile inclining obliquely in the second direction is present at the middle section of the power plant body.

4. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer-controlled system is further configured to stabilize a rotating speed of the rotator.

5. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wave power plant body is a pontoon or float, which is elongated and arcuate.

6. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein a suspension chain or cable for the weight is adjustable in terms of its length.

7. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the floating power plant body is weighted asymmetrically, such that the weighting compensates for an inclination inflicted by the weight, whereby in calm water the rotator'"'"'s shaft, and respectively the gyration shaft, is in an upright position.

8. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the floating power plant body constitutes a shell type housing for the wave power plant, wherein the rotator is located in the shell type housing.

9. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer-controlled system is further configured to receive advance information about an incoming wave from a wave height or acceleration measuring buoy/sensor positioned in front of the wave power plant in the incoming direction of waves.

10. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wave power plant body further comprises a flywheel, whose rotating axis lies on the upright gyration shaft of the floating power plant body or on a separate upright shaft and whose gyro force deflects the turning motion of the floating power plant body in the longitudinal direction thereof, which caused by the swinging motion generated by the buoyant force of waves, into the lateral direction of the power plant body.

11. A wave power plant as set forth in claim 10, wherein the floating power plant body constitutes a shell type housing for the wave power plant, wherein the flywheel is located in the shell type housing.