Hybrid wave-current power system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9371816-B2
Application number	US-201414527727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2014
Priority date	Jan 20, 2014
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

A hybrid power system including one or more base members configured to be installed at the seabed, one or more connecting members each coupled to a corresponding base member so as to be slidable in a vertical direction which is perpendicular to a top surface of the corresponding base member, a buoy configured to move in the vertical direction by receiving at least one of the wave force and current force, the buoy coupled to the top of the connecting member to move in conjunction with the one or more connecting members, and a power generation unit configured to generate electricity using vertical movement of the connecting members, the power generation unit installed in at least one of the one or more base members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid power system installed in littoral sea and using at least one of wave force and current force to generate electricity, the hybrid power system comprising:
a plurality of base members configured to be installed at a seabed;
a plurality of connecting members each coupled to a corresponding base member and slidable in a vertical direction which is perpendicular to a top surface of the corresponding base member;
a buoy configured to move in the vertical direction by receiving at least one of the wave force and current force, one end of the buoy is coupled to a top of one of the connecting members and another end of the buoy is coupled to a top of another connecting member to move in conjunction with the connecting members; and
at least one of power generation unit configured to generate electricity using vertical movement of the connecting members, the power generation unit installed in at least one of the base members,
wherein a guide portion is recessed from the top surface of each of the base member in the vertical direction to guide a sliding motion of a connecting member received in each of the base members.

2. The hybrid power system of claim 1 , wherein within the guide portion, a bearing member is installed to reduce a frictional force between the base member and the connecting member.

3. The hybrid power system of claim 1 , wherein a magnet is provided at a lower end of each of the connecting members, and
in the power generation unit, a coil surrounding the magnet is provided to form an electric field.

4. The hybrid power system of claim 1 , wherein the buoy is detachably coupled to the connecting members using one or more coupling members.

5. The hybrid power system of claim of 1 , where the buoy has a circular cross-sectional shape so as to be more influenced by the current force than the wave force.

6. The hybrid power system of claim 1 , wherein the buoy has an oval or airfoil shaped cross-section to increase influence by the wave force relative to the current force.

7. The hybrid power system of claim 1 , wherein a coil spring is provided between each of the connecting members and the corresponding base member to restrict a vertical movement of the connecting members.

Assignees

• Korea Advanced Inst Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Cho Yeunwoo
• Jeong Seungyong
• Lee Gibbeum

Classifications

• F03B13/1855 Primary

  where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression (F03B13/187, F03B13/1875 take precedence) · CPC title

• F05B2220/707

  of the linear type · CPC title

• Y02E10/28

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02E10/38

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02E10/30

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