Prime-mover dynamo plants – Tide and wave motors
Patent
1996-08-30
1999-06-01
Enad, Elvin G.
Prime-mover dynamo plants
Tide and wave motors
290 43, 290 44, 290 42, 290 54, 417330, 417332, 417333, F03B 1310, F03B 1312
Patent
active
059090600
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an installation for extracting energy from a liquid in which swell occurs relative to a bottom.
Such an installation is particularly suitable for use in extracting energy from waves of water at sea.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known of waves at sea that they can occur in a wide range of amplitudes and frequencies. Extracting energy from swelling sea-water is of particular interest when the waves occurring in the-swelling water have been subjected to wind over very great distances (from hundreds to thousands of kilometers). Such waves may be present practically continuously at determined locations along a sea or ocean coast, wherein the wave length may amount to for instance 60 to 120 meters and the amplitude to for instance 1-3 meters.
It is generally known that variations in the pressure of swelling water decrease from the liquid surface in downward direction such that, at a depth corresponding with roughly half the wave length of the occurring waves, pressure variations are practically no longer detectable. This means that waves with a relatively small wave length have little influence on the dynamic hydrostatic pressure of the underlying water mass. Waves occurring during gales with a wave length of about 30 meters will for instance not penetrate to a depth further than about 15 meters. Pressure variations caused by a swelling water mass, wherein the wave length of the occurring waves amounts to for example about 130 meters will however be felt to a depth of about 65 meters.
It is an object of the invention to provide an installation of the type stated in the preamble, wherein the installation has a high performance, can extract energy from a swelling liquid with large wave lengths and can be placed on for instance the sea-bed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is achieved with an installation of the type stated in the preamble of claim 1, comprising mutual distance at least partially under the surface of the liquid, each provided with a closed upper side directed toward the liquid surface, closed side walls and an open underside directed toward the bottom for enclosing a gas under the liquid surface, wherein the gas is bounded to the underside of the container by a quantity of liquid entering via this underside, which quantity of liquid varies as a result of the swell, container and vice versa, and least one of the containers for generating energy from this variation.
In addition to the stated advantages, an installation according to the invention provides the advantage that when placed at comparatively great depth under water it is not very vulnerable, while placing under water already provides per se an aesthetic advantage.
The determined first distance between the first and the second container of an installation according to the invention is in preference substantially equal to half the wave length of the waves occurring in the swelling liquid.
With such a relation between the said first distance and the wave length of the occurring waves the performance with which energy can be extracted from the waves is highest.
The containers are more preferably movable in vertical direction through a determined second distance relative to the bottom by the effect of the upward forces exerted by the swelling liquid.
With such an installation it is possible to generate extra energy from the movement of the containers through the determined vertical second distance.
In an embodiment of an installation with containers movable in vertical direction through a determined second distance, this determined distance is smaller than the difference in height between a ridge and a depression of the waves occurring in the swelling liquid.
It has been found in such an installation that the second distance is sufficiently small to cause an up and downward movement of a container to take place through this distance within a period of one swelling wave at that location.
An embodiment of an installation according to the
Enad Elvin G.
Teamwork Techniek B.V. I.O.
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