Wave energy conversion system with capitulating bodies and novel installation
View Patent ↗The invention introduces a wave energy conversion system that utilizes the kinetic energy of water body waves, transforming it into usable energy. The system is innovatively designed with two buoyant bodies that, through their multi-dimensional non-parallel arrangement, form a recess optimized for capturing wave energy from. One of the system's distinctive features is its capacity to passively modify the relative orientation of the buoyant bodies, to become more parallel, in response to large wave forces, which serves to maintain stability under varying sea conditions. Concurrently, the system boasts advancements in the realm of installation and maintenance, presenting a streamlined approach that significantly alleviates the challenges traditionally associated with deploying and upkeeping marine energy converters. These aspects together underscore the system's novel contributions to enhancing the operational efficiency and sustainability of wave energy conversion technology.
1 . A system for converting kinetic energy from water body waves to usable energy, the system comprising:
a first buoyant body;
a second buoyant body;
wherein at least the first buoyant body and the second buoyant body in combination form a recess;
wherein at least one of said first buoyant body and the second buoyant body is configured to harness kinetic energy from water waves;
wherein a plane of best fit of the first buoyant body and a plane of best fit of the second buoyant body are non-parallel to each other when a force of a water wave does not exceed a threshold value;
wherein when the force of a water wave imparted onto the system exceeds said threshold value, the first buoyant body and the second buoyant body move relative to each other such that the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body and the plane of best fit of the second buoyant body become closer to parallel with each other compared to their orientation when the force of a water wave imparted onto the system did not exceed said threshold value; and
wherein the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body is a virtual plane that minimizes the sum of the squared orthogonal distances between itself and all the points representing the geometry of the first buoyant body; and
wherein the plane of best fit of the second buoyant body is a virtual plane that minimizes the sum of the squared orthogonal distances between itself and all the points representing the geometry of the second buoyant body.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein a movement that causes the first buoyant body and second buoyant body to become more parallel to each other, and a corresponding reverse motion, are not primary motions that are converted to usable energy.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body is neither parallel to a horizontal plane nor perpendicular to said horizontal plane.
4 . The system according to claim 1 ,
further comprising at least one spring mechanism that, at least in part, forms a connection between the first buoyant body with the second buoyant body, with said at least one spring mechanism being at least one of a magnetic spring, hydraulic spring, mechanical spring and pneumatic spring; and
wherein when said force, from a wave, that exceeds said threshold value reduces to below said threshold value, said at least one spring mechanism causes the first buoyant body and second buoyant body to move relative to each other such that the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body and the plane of best fit of the second buoyant body become further from parallel with each other.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first buoyant body is characterized by having a greater volume in an upper half of said first buoyant body than in a lower half of said first buoyant body, when oriented in its normal operational position.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second buoyant body is characterized by having a greater volume in an upper half of said second buoyant body than in a lower half of said second buoyant body, when oriented in its normal operational position.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising two or more cylinders that crisscross each other;
wherein at least one of said cylinders comprises at least one of a linear generator, pump that drives a turbine, pump for desalination, pump for mineral extraction and pump for uranium extraction;
wherein said at least one of said cylinders is tethered with a body of significantly higher inertia than said system for converting kinetic energy from water body waves to usable energy; and
wherein the motion of said at least one of said cylinders relative to said body of significantly higher inertia is, at least in part, converted to usable energy.
8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of said cylinders is able to rotate relative to the first buoyant body and second buoyant body.
9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said cylinders is able to rotate relative to another one of said cylinders.
10 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein at least some of said cylinders are outside the first and second buoyant bodies.
11 . The system according to claim 7 , further comprising crisscrossing springs that are comprised within said two or more cylinders, wherein the springs are at least one of a magnetic spring, hydraulic spring, mechanical spring and pneumatic spring.
12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein at least some of said crisscrossing springs are outside the first and second buoyant bodies.
13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the extent of capitulation of the recess corresponds to the force of a water wave.
14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein any of the first buoyant body and the second buoyant body comprises a fin that is responsive to the regional water flow during a trough of a wave, in a manner so as to pitch the system to reduce at least one of
the system's drag coefficient, and
the system's added mass coefficient,
when compared to those of the system during the peak of the wave.
15 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first buoyant body ( 101 ) comprises fundamental planes ( FIG. 10 ; 401 . xy , 401 . zx , 401 . yz ) that are three mutually perpendicular imaginary planes, and wherein one of said fundamental planes of the first buoyant body is coplanar with the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body;
the second buoyant body ( 102 ) comprises fundamental planes ( FIG. 10 ; 402 . xy , 402 . zx , 402 . yz ) that are three mutually perpendicular imaginary planes, and wherein one of said fundamental planes of the second buoyant body is coplanar with the plane of best fit of the second buoyant body; and
the first buoyant body ( 101 ) and the second buoyant body ( 102 ) are configured in a manner such that each of the fundamental planes ( FIG. 10 ; 401 . xy , 401 . zx , 401 . yz ) of the first buoyant body ( 101 ) intersect, to form a unique line, with each of the fundamental planes ( FIG. 10 ; 402 . xy , 402 . zx , 402 . yz ) of the second buoyant body ( 102 ), when the fundamental planes of the first buoyant body and the fundamental planes of the second buoyant body are extended infinitely.
16 . A method for converting kinetic energy from water body waves to usable energy, the method comprising:
providing a first buoyant body;
providing a second buoyant body;
arranging at least the first buoyant body and the second buoyant body in combination to form a recess;
wherein at least one of said first buoyant body and the second buoyant body is configured to harness kinetic energy from water waves;
positioning the first buoyant body and the second buoyant body such that a plane of best fit of the first buoyant body and a plane of best fit of the second buoyant body are non-parallel to each other when a force of a water wave does not exceed a threshold value;
allowing the first buoyant body and the second buoyant body to move relative to each other, when the force of a water wave exceeds said threshold value, such that the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body and the plane of best fit of the second buoyant body become closer to parallel with each other compared to their orientation when the force of a water wave imparted does not exceed said threshold value;
wherein the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body is a virtual plane that minimizes the sum of the squared orthogonal distances between itself and all the points representing the geometry of the first buoyant body; and
wherein the plane of best fit of the second buoyant body is a virtual plane that minimizes the sum of the squared orthogonal distances between itself and all the points representing the geometry of the second buoyant body.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of arranging the first buoyant body such that the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body is neither parallel to a horizontal plane nor perpendicular to said horizontal plane.
18 . The method according to claim 16 ,
further comprising a step of connecting the first buoyant body with the second buoyant body via at least one spring mechanism, with said at least one spring mechanism being at least one of a magnetic spring, hydraulic spring, mechanical spring and pneumatic spring; and
allowing said at least one spring mechanism to move the first buoyant body and second buoyant body relative to each other such that the plane of best fit of the first buoyant body and the plane of best fit of the second buoyant body become further from parallel with each other, when said force from a wave, that exceeds said threshold value, reduces to below said threshold value.