Adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device and control method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11536242-B1
Application number	US-202117556951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2021
Priority date	Jul 16, 2021
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

An adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device includes at least three wave energy conversion devices arranged in parallel and with adjustable spacing. Each wave energy conversion device includes a wave energy conversion component, a direction adjustment component for adjusting a wave-facing direction of the wave energy conversion component, and a height adjustment component for adjusting a height of the wave energy conversion component. The wave energy conversion component includes a mounting base plate, a transmission shaft arranged on the mounting base plate, a wave energy flap that can drive the transmission shaft to rotate, a generator connected to the transmission shaft, a hydraulic oil cylinder positioned on a back surface of the flap for pushing the flap to reset, and a wave monitor arranged on the mounting base plate for monitoring a draught and a wave direction angle of the flap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device, comprising at least three wave energy conversion devices arranged in parallel and with adjustable spacing, wherein each of the wave energy conversion devices comprises a wave energy conversion component for converting wave kinetic energy into electric energy, a direction adjustment component for adjusting a wave-facing direction of the wave energy conversion component, and a height adjustment component for adjusting a height of the wave energy conversion component sequentially arranged from top down,
wherein the wave energy conversion component comprises a mounting base plate, a transmission shaft with two ends thereof arranged on the mounting base plate through transmission shaft supports, a wave energy flap that arranged vertically through the transmission shaft and is able to drive the transmission shaft to rotate under an action of wave kinetic energy, a generator connected with the transmission shaft through a first gear set, a hydraulic oil cylinder positioned on a back surface of the wave energy flap and configured for pushing the wave energy flap to reset, and a wave monitor arranged on the mounting base plate and configured for monitoring a draught and a wave direction angle of the wave energy flap.

2. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the first gear set comprises a first gear and a second gear meshed with each other, the first gear is arranged coaxially with the transmission shaft, and the second gear is arranged coaxially with an input shaft of the generator.

3. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the wave energy conversion component further comprises a sealing box, the first gear set and the generator are positioned in the sealing box, and the transmission shaft extends into the sealing box to be connected to the first gear set.

4. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the direction adjustment component comprises a shell body positioned on the height adjustment component, a first servo motor fixed on the shell body, a worm positioned in the shell body and connected to an output shaft of the first servo motor through a second gear set, a third gear positioned in the shell body and meshed with the worm, and a chuck extending into the third gear and moving synchronously with the third gear, and the chuck is connected to the wave energy conversion component.

5. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 4 , wherein the second gear set comprises a fourth gear and a fifth gear positioned in the shell body and meshed with each other, the fourth gear is coaxially arranged with an output shaft of the first servo motor, and the fifth gear is coaxially arranged with the worm.

6. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment component comprises an upper base plate and a lower base plate configured for setting the direction adjustment component, a motor mounting base positioned on the lower base plate, a second servo motor fixed on the motor mounting base, a lead screw connected to an output shaft of the second servo motor through a coupling and vertically arranged, a lead screw nut positioned on a lower surface of the upper base plate and matched with the lead screw, and shearing and inserting type lifting components symmetrically arranged between the upper base plate and the lower base plate.

7. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 6 , wherein each of the shearing and inserting type lifting components comprises an upper slide rail fixed on the upper base plate, a lower slide rail correspondingly arranged on the lower base plate, roller members that are positioned in the upper slide rail and the lower slide rail and is movable back and forth, and a shearing and inserting type support connected to the roller members and arranged in a crossed manner.

8. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 1 , wherein a hydraulic oil cylinder with adjustable spacing is connected between the adjacent wave energy conversion devices.

9. The adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the direction adjustment component controls the wave energy conversion component to rotate rightwards until a wave direction angle between the wave energy flap and waves is equal to a set angle when the wave monitor monitors that the wave direction angle is larger than the set angle, the direction adjustment component controls the wave energy conversion component to rotate leftwards until the wave direction angle between the wave energy flap and the waves is equal to the set angle when the wave monitor monitors that the wave direction angle is smaller than the set angle, the height adjustment component controls the wave energy conversion component to rise until the draught of the wave energy flap is equal to a set value when the wave monitor monitors that the draught of the wave energy flap is smaller than the set value, the height adjustment component controls the wave energy conversion component to fall until the draught of the wave energy flap is equal to the set value when the wave monitor monitors that the draught of the wave energy flap is larger than the set value, and the height adjustment component controls the wave energy conversion component to rise until a bottom of wave energy flap is above the water surface when facing rough sea conditions, which are judged by whether the wave energy flap encounters a danger from slamming loads of bigger waves.

10. A control method for the adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device according to claim 1 , the control method comprising the following steps:
step (1): placing the adjustable multi-functional bottom-hinged flap-type wave energy utilization device in a working sea area with a water depth of 10-20 m, and starting the wave monitor to monitor the draught and a wave direction angle of the wave energy flap;
step (2): adjusting the hydraulic oil cylinder to increase a spacing between a front one of the wave energy conversion devices and a rear one of the wave energy conversion devices when a wave height or a wave length is larger, and adjusting the hydraulic oil cylinder to reduce the spacing between the front one of the wave energy conversion devices and the rear one of the wave energy conversion devices when the wave height or the wave length is smaller;
step (3): starting a first servo motor of the direction adjustment component and controlling a chuck to rotate with a cooperation of a second gear set, a worm and a third gear so as to drive the wave energy conversion component to rotate if the wave direction angle is larger than a set angle, wherein the wave energy flap is controlled to rotate rightwards until the wave direction angle of the wave energy flap is equal to the set angle;
step (4): starting the first servo motor of the direction adjustment component and controlling the chuck to rotate with the cooperation of the second gear set, the worm and the third gear so as to drive the wave energy conversion component to rotate if the wave direction angle is smaller than the set angle, wherein the wave energy conversion component rotates leftwards until the wave direction angle o

Assignees

• Univ Jiangsu Science & Tech

Inventors

• Sun Shiyan
• Wang Meng
• Cui Jie

Classifications

• Y02E10/30

  Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient · CPC title

• F03B13/182 Primary

  with a to-and-fro movement · CPC title

• F05B2270/1077

  Storm protection · CPC title

• F03B11/00

  Parts or details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the preceding groups (controlling F03B15/00), {e.g. wear-protection couplings, between turbine and generator} · CPC title

• F03B13/20 Primary

  wherein both members {, i.e. wom and rem} are movable relative to the sea bed or shore · CPC title