HK1151568B - Wave power for desalination and electricity - Google Patents

Description

Sea wave energy for desalination and electric power

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from Israel (IL) patent application 190,300, filed on 19/3/2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into the present application.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an energy utilization system. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a system: it has a buoyancy device, one or more pistons connected to a closed loop hydraulic system, and a motor designed to convert the linear kinetic energy of the incoming and outgoing undercurrents and the rise and fall of sea waves into rotational kinetic energy. The energy produced by this system is up to four times that produced by many prior art solutions. The system can utilize rotational energy for seawater desalination and other uses.

Background

The complex and diverse nature of ocean waves-their pattern of folding back on the beach and other factors-are not always considered for the purpose of achieving an effective system that will make full use of the ocean's energy (and especially wave power).

Some systems installed near the ocean are not environmentally friendly and may produce pollution from burning fuel. This becomes extremely relevant for remote desalination systems that require energy to operate and desalinate seawater. The dependence on non-renewable energy sources can be a problem in desalination environments.

There are many coastlines worldwide with water shortages and a need for such a desalination system: it does not produce any pollution; will be built at a reasonable price; and no fuel operation is required.

Many different methods are known to operate pumps for seawater desalination. However, most of the prior art methods are energy inefficient and maintenance costly. For example, systems that are submerged and thus exposed to the harsh weather conditions of a multi-storm sea.

Some prior art systems do not have adequate control and thus can hardly take advantage of the unidirectional motion of wave surges. The shortage of potable water is apparently due to the absence of a cost-attractive system for desalination of seawater. Furthermore, for systems that are substantially submerged, there is a considerable risk of accelerated corrosion and failure due to storms and variable weather conditions.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention describes a system for producing potable fresh water and exploiting the waves in four different situations: wave entry; the waves move away; the wave rises; and the waves fall, so that the system is designed to capture energy from the waves.

The system is environmentally friendly: it is pollution-free, does not burn any fuel and utilizes renewable energy (ocean waves). The invention aims to solve the problem of water shortage in coastal areas, has no pollution and rather low price-no fuel cost!

A new method enables a more efficient desalination pump to be operated at a practical cost. The system and/or the pieces of equipment implemented in this way can be outside the ocean and can therefore be protected from inclement weather conditions.

The system is capable of extracting energy from wave motion in a variety of ways. An attractive and feasible solution for supplying drinking water is achieved. The system includes buoys that can be attached to stationary objects such as columns that are fixed to the sea floor or to tidal retaining walls. Between the buoy and the stationary object, a hydraulic piston is mounted, such that the piston compresses the hydraulic oil in reaction to any wave motion.

Adjusting motion from any direction causes the piston to move in and out of the coupled cylinder, respectively, and thereby causes fluid inside the piping connected to the cylinder to compress toward an accumulator/pressure vessel that can contain a hydropneumatic device that is partially filled with gas and partially filled with fluid, with a diaphragm separating the gas and fluid. The piston receives spent fluid from a specially prepared fluid (i.e., oil) reservoir, thereby creating an annular fluid flow. When the fluid is pressurized in the pressure chamber, the compressed fluid is transferred through the regulator and the valve to the hydraulic motor that generates the rotational motion. Hydraulic energy can be used for water desalination.

Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration and example only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a desalination system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a system for converting ocean wave energy into mechanical energy according to a variation of the present invention;

fig. 3a and 3b show side and top views, respectively, of a mechanical suspension system for efficient use of ocean wave energy according to other variants of the invention; and

fig. 4 provides details of a piston in a desalination system in an embodiment according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The methods and examples provided herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

Reference is now made to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a multi-stage system for energy conversion and desalination according to an embodiment of the invention. The system exploits the motion of ocean waves 1, for example, by using one or more buoys 21. Buoy 21 includes a top surface 211 and a bottom surface 212 of buoy 21 forming an effective structure.

Piston 22 generates hydraulic fluid pressure as buoy 21 moves. Piston 22 and buoy 21 are connected by shafts 23 and 24, respectively, wherein shafts 23 and 24 are attached to a fixed structure 27. The one-way switching valve 31 is connected on one side to the piston 22 and on the other side to the outlet pipe of the hydraulic fluid 21. This allows pressurized fluid to flow from the piston 22 to the pressure vessel 33. The plurality of pressure vessels 33 may be capable of storing energy in the form of pressurized hydraulic fluid and/or gas (i.e., air or nitrogen) that enables compression. In this form, the pressure is maintained in the container 33: ocean wave energy is transferred to move buoy 21 and thereby piston 22 and store the captured energy in container system 33 and maintain the energy in container system 33 using one-way valve 31.

The opening of the tap 312 enables pressure to pass through the one-way valve 313 in the outflow pipe. The check valve 313 also includes a regulator valve. The hydraulic motor 34 is capable of converting oil pressure into rotary motion, which may then be converted into another form of energy, such as electrical energy. The electrical energy may then be utilized to operate the water desalination unit. The check valve 314 is able to transmit pressure back in the reversing tube. Excess pressure or fluid will be stored in the excess pressure vessel 36. Flow may be transmitted to/from reservoir 36 via one-way valve 315 toward piston 22.

This dynamic structure allows: using the motion of buoy 21; communicating pressure in the shaft system to the annular flow path; the wave motion is utilized and the extracted wave energy is stored. Buoys 21 are connected as needed to stationary objects such as columns or concrete blocks such as rigid tidal retaining walls. A hydraulic piston 22, which compresses hydraulic oil in the motion of any wave 1, is connected between the buoy 21 and the stationary object 27.

In a variation of the invention, when the piston 22 is extended or retracted, fluid inside the piston 22 floods the piping leading to the hydropneumatic storage compartment. The compartment is partially filled with gas and partially filled with fluid, and the diaphragm separates the gas and the fluid.

Piston 22 receives spent liquid from reservoir 36 to form an annular oil flow path. When the oil is pressurized in the pressure vessel 33, the oil is transferred to the hydraulic motor 34 via the regulator and the valve. The hydraulic motor 34 generates a rotational motion that produces a combined action for converting hydraulic energy into a rotational cycle.

It should be noted that the system of the present invention can be built on tidal walls, wooden decks or logs. The logs are connected to other elements and they collectively act as a "road" on the ocean. Furthermore, buoys that oscillate vertically in response to wave motion are attached.

The system of the present invention can be used to operate desalination systems as well as for other uses. Which can convert the wave energy into cyclic mechanical kinetic energy. The latter may be used in desalination systems that do not consume electrical and/or fuel energy from an external source.

The wave motion may create oil pressure in the piston 22, and the hydraulic oil pressure in turn operates the hydraulic motor 34. The valves and oil pressure regulators disposed therebetween will allow oil to flow in a desired direction to achieve the desired effect. Pressure relief means may be connected between them and the valve. A tracker may be installed in front of the hydraulic motor 34 to automatically lower the mast.

Fig. 2 shows a system for converting sea waves 1 into mechanical kinetic energy according to a variant of the invention. In this embodiment, second buoy 25 is connected to first buoy 21 via a rotation shaft 251 and to first arm 253 via a rotation shaft 252. First arm 253 is connected to piston 22 and to second arm 216 via a rotary shaft 254, and second arm 216 is also connected to a rotary shaft 255 attached to first pontoon 21.

In this way, rows of pontoons may be formed in parallel or varying directions, with each row being operatively connected to a single hydraulic system and/or several rows being connected to one hydraulic system.

The attachment system changes the composition of buoy 21. In one aspect, buoy 21 is filled with air to maximize the efficiency of the wave energy. In another arrangement, buoy 21 is filled with water to protect the system in case of high tides or storms. Intermediate situations between the above two extremes may occur in which buoy 21 is partially filled with water. Thus, the components of the inner bay buoy 21 are mechanically coupled to the amplitude (magnitude) of the sea wave 1. A system can be built with a plurality of buoys 21 as shown in detail in fig. 2 and 3 (multi-buoy system).

Fig. 3a and 3b show a side view and a top view, respectively, of an embodiment of a buoy system for sea water energy collection with an additional piston 26 connecting the first buoy 21 to the second buoy 25. The piston may have different shapes (profiles) to improve the conversion efficiency. Each piston may accommodate two one-way valves to create oil flow in one direction when desired.

Fig. 4 shows details of an example structure of the piston 22 in the desalination system according to an embodiment of the invention. The piston 22 includes a camshaft 28 and a cylinder 29. The piston 22 also includes valves 221 and 224 in the front and rear of the cylinder 29 of the piston 22, respectively. Front and rear valves (221 and 224) are attached to inlet pipes 223 and 226 and outlet pipes 222 and 225, respectively. In this way two parts of the piston 22 are utilized to create a circular flow and control the pressure generated by the wave motion of the changing direction.

The pressure vessel may be mounted externally to store high pressure oil and filter out fluctuating pressures. The container will optimally contain oil and gas, such as air, to allow compression thereof.

It should be noted that the pontoon of the invention preferably has an aerodynamic shape and thus minimizes the resistance of the pontoon to wave motion.

Thus, while the invention has been described in terms of embodiments and examples, it will be apparent that the invention may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (14)

1. A system for converting wave energy into rotational motion and for desalination of sea water, comprising:

a) a buoyant apparatus on ocean waves, wherein the buoyant apparatus moves according to ocean wave motion;

b) a piston containing a liquid, wherein the piston is pivotally attached to the buoyancy device, thereby converting mechanical kinetic energy into hydraulic pressure of the fluid;

c) a hydraulic system, comprising:

i. a tube;

one or more one-way valves for allowing pressure in the hydraulic system to be maintained even after the piston is released; and

d) a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the hydraulic system,

wherein the tube operatively connects the piston to the hydraulic motor to transfer the hydraulic pressure from the piston to the hydraulic motor; and is

Wherein the hydraulic pressure generates a flow of fluid that operatively rotates the hydraulic motor.

2. The energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

a pressure vessel containing a gas and a fluid, wherein the gas and the fluid are isolated in separate compartments by a flexible isolator,

wherein a first tube operatively connects the piston to the pressure vessel, thereby transferring the hydraulic pressure from the piston to the pressure vessel;

wherein a second tube operatively connects the pressure vessel to the hydraulic motor, thereby transferring the hydraulic pressure from the pressure vessel to the hydraulic motor and wherein the hydraulic pressure generates a flow of liquid that operatively rotates the hydraulic motor; and is

Wherein the flexible isolator is freely movable inside the pressure vessel such that by closing a coupled one-way valve, hydraulic pressure can be built up in the fluid compartment by compressing the gas.

3. The energy conversion system according to claim 2, wherein the flexible isolator is a diaphragm.

4. The energy conversion system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

additional pipes and valves, forming a circulating hydraulic system.

5. The energy conversion system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a storage container is operatively attached to the hydraulic system on one side and to the piston on the other side, thereby allowing bi-directional transfer of hydraulic fluid depending on the valve state of the one or more one-way valves.

6. The energy conversion system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydraulic motor is operatively connected to a desalination system.

7. The energy conversion system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the buoyancy device comprises one or more pontoons, wherein each of the pontoons comprises one or more internal compartments.

8. The energy conversion system according to claim 7 wherein the internal compartment is filled with a liquid or gas.

9. The energy conversion system of claim 8, wherein one or more of the pontoons further comprises a pump for filling the one or more interior compartments of the pontoons with a liquid or gas.

10. The energy conversion system of claim 9, wherein the pump is used to remove liquid or gas from the one or more interior compartments of the buoy.

11. The energy conversion system of claim 7, wherein each of the buoys is coupled to one of the pistons having two ends, wherein a first end of the piston is pivotally attached to the coupled buoy and a second end of the piston is pivotally attached to a stationary object.

12. The energy conversion system of claim 7, wherein the buoyancy device comprises one or more rows of the pontoons attached to each other, each row having a first end pontoon and a second end pontoon,

wherein in each said row, each said pontoon is interconnected to an adjacent pontoon by one of said pistons;

wherein at least the first end buoy of each of the rows is operatively connected to the pressure vessel; and is

Wherein the second end buoy of each of the rows is pivotally connected to a stationary object by one of the pistons.

13. The energy conversion system of claim 7, wherein the buoyancy device comprises one or more rows of the pontoons attached to each other, each row having a first end pontoon and a second end pontoon,

wherein in each said row, each said pontoon is pivotally interconnected with an adjacent pontoon;

wherein the second end buoy of each of the rows is pivotally attached to a stationary object;

wherein the piston is attached at one end to a stationary object; and is

Wherein in each of said rows, each of said pontoons is pivotally connected to a second end of said piston.

14. The energy conversion system according to claim 6, further comprising a generator for converting rotation of the hydraulic motor into electrical energy, and wherein the electrical energy is operatively connected to the desalination system.