Oceanbase
DEVELOP A DEMONSTRATION MODEL FOR A WAVE-CONVERTER THAT OUTPUTS
ELECTRICITY (Proof of concept).
Specifications:
a. Scaled model
b. Converts waves into electricity
c. Constructed with anything available. However, later the full scale
demonstration should allow to use cheaply available materials
d. Constructed from known technologies
e. Can hold geographical position on the ocean
f. Modular construction: Internal = exchangeable modules with varying
life-times / External = can be linked up with similar units to form
larger units with synergetic effects if linked, but maintain
independence when unlinked.
g. (Efficiency = cost of operation (including depreciation) /
electrical output = M/kWh) This spec needs to be kept in mind, but
not necesseraly yet achieved in the scaled model.
/PumpandTurbine/tworafts
DEVELOP A DEMONSTRATION MODEL FOR A WAVE-CONVERTER THAT OUTPUTS
ELECTRICITY (Proof of concept).
Specifications:
a. Scaled model
b. Converts waves into electricity (charges a truck-battery)
c. Constructed with anything available. However, later the full scale
demonstration should allow to use cheaply available materials
d. Constructed from known technologies
e. Can hold geographical position on the ocean
f. Modular construction: Internal = exchangeable modules with varying
life-times / External = can be linked up with similar units to form
larger units with synergetic effects if linked, but maintain
independence when unlinked.
g. (Efficiency = cost of operation (including depreciation) /
electrical output = M/kWh) This spec needs to be kept in mind, but
not necesseraly yet achieved in the scaled model.
TS/qOceanbase/WCRD/WD/d/PumpandTurbine/tworafts
TS/qOceanbase/WCRD/WD/d/ElectricPiston/catamaran
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TS/qOceanbase/WCRD/WD/d/ElectricPiston/catamaran
The Catamaran-Waveconverter using Electric Pistons
(*Copyright: General Public Licence (copyleft), ie. the ideas here may
be used freely, provided that whatever is developed from these ideas
will also be under General Public Licence, and the full length of this
provision (between *...*) must be attached to whatever new results
emerge from using these ideas*).
See .JPEG graphic
How it works:
Think of two long pontoons configured like a catamaran, pointing into
the direction from where the waves come.
Between the pontoons cylindrical floats are arranged parallell to the
the crests of the waves.
When the waves pass through, they lift the floats and drop them.
This up-down kinetic action is harvested by the electric pistons which
convert it into DC.
Some considerations:
How large are the pontoons?
Length: Well, they have to be longer than two wave-lengths. This means
they always span at least two wave-peaks. This ensures, that they stay
stable and can act against the up-down of the floats. Breadth: As
narrow as possible
Depth: The deeper they are, the more stable against wave-action.
The ideal form of the pontoons probably is a slab laying vertically in
the water. This would mean that they are joined at the bottom (deeper
than 2 wave-amplitudes) with cross-bars.
Floats
Waves on the ocean are never just one frequency and amplitude. Usually
there are smaller waves on the bigger ones. The sequence of the floats
allows the first floats to react to the smaller waves, while the floats
further back react to the bigger waves. This is the main reason why the
floats are cylinders (presumably 1-2m diameter).
Should they be light, or should they be heavy? Light would make them
react fast to the lift from a wave. Heavy would allow to gain
electricity also on the drop. Presumably their weight can be tuned to
optimal reaction with the wave. So they may be hollow, but flooded to
the right weight.
Construction:
The surface of the ocean is a highly corrosive environment. Therefore
metals should be used as little as possible, or then encased in
non-corrosive material.
- For the pontoons this means their walls might be made of reinforced
concrete, and their insides either hollow (problem of leaks), or filled
out with flotation. How about shut bottles and cans and cannisters from
the junk-piles of humanity? A pontoon might therefore be closed at the
top with a solid deck, but open at the bottom, where all the flotation
goes in and pushes up against the deck.
- For the electric pistons, we have a challenge. Each piston has three
moving parts, ie. at the top where it is attached to the pontoon, and
at the bottom where it is attached to the float, and finally its own
stretch and push. Protecting these points from corrosive splash and
spray and wind - hm, need some ideas on that!
Navigation:
One of the specifications is, that the thing can hold its geographical
position. But ocean currents, wind, and possibly wave-action will push
the pontoons around. Therefore some of the energy will have to be used
to keep pushing it at a slow and steady rate, and to keep pointing it
in the direction from where the waves come.
Steps to reach here:
1.
../ElectricPiston/var1
Figure out how to build efficient electric pistons, where the metal
parts are coated as far as possible in plastics (recycled
polythene?)...
2.
../catamaran/ProofOfConcept
Build a configuration with two improvised pontoons and 2-3 floats.
Improvised pontoons are anchored (ie. no navigational push). Install
electric pistons and try to charge a battery.
3.
../catamaran/prototype1
Build a scaled demo-model of the whole configuration (though pontoons
may have to already have final length), incl. navigational push. Go for
maximum electrical charging of batteries. Construction materials may
still be conventional (ie. no corrosion-strategy)
4.
../catamaran/prototype2
As in prototype 1, but build pontoons in reinforced concrete and
junk-floats. Corrosion-resistant Piston-assemblies... Maybe
already go for full-scale version for testing.
Okay, here we go! A first go at a wave-converter. I don't really
knowhow a wave works. I don't even know how to calculate the energy of
awave passing underneath me. But I get a hunch it is quite impressive
-the only challenge is how to capture it on the high oceans.Okay, so
let's take a "standard" sinous wave (away from any land,waves will be
sinous):Wavelength: 10 mHeight of wave (amplitude): 1mSpeed: No idea...
I have a hunch this probably depends on theviscosity of the medium, ie.
saltwater.A floating body on a wave describes an up-and-down movement
(probablyalso some lateral movement, ie. a circle?). Let's try to tap
into theup-and-down!Use the up-and-down movement of a float to pump
water into a raisedtank, from which it flows through a turbine that
generateselectricity. But how???Okay, here goes...We're talking two
rafts.../tworafts/fix
: One is the fixed raft. It's length is 2 timesthe wavelength (never
mind how broad): 20m. This in effect keeps itrigidly stable inspite of
the 10m waves passing beneath it. We'dalways at least two wave-peaks
and wave-throughs beneath it,balancing each other out.../tworafts/move
: The other is the movable raft, attached with ahinge to the fixed
raft. It's length is 0.5 times the wavelength. Itflaps up and down as a
10m wave approaches it.How to convert this movement into potential
energy...?../tworafts/pump/hinge
: A pressurisable compartment in the hingepushes water into a raised
tank on the fixed raft../tworafts/pump/cylinder/../fixraft
: An upright A-frame stands on the leading edgeof the movable raft. The
top of the A moves back and forth. A furtherpole activates a simple
cylinder-with-walves pump located on thefixed raft. The pump pushes
water into a raised tank on the fixedraft.../moveraft
: The cylinders are placed near the tip ofmovable raft. A gallows
reaches from the fixed raft from which polespush the pistons in the
cylinders as they rise with each wave, tankagain on fixed raft.Storing
potential energy...?../tworafts/tank/../pool
: A kind of swimming pool on the fixed raft, where thewater level is -
say - 2m higher than the ocean.../pneumatic
: A closed compartment with a trapped air-bubblein the top, that acts
as a pressure-buffer (what do you call thesethings in english? German:
Windkessel)Making electricity...?../tworafts/elec../turbine
: A simple off-the-shelf low-head turbine. Theremaining velocity of the
outflowing water is directed underwaterwith a nozzle that can be turned
in all horizontal directions. Thisallows to automatically always
position the rafts towards the waves,or maintain position if there is
drift - or even change position onthe ocean, if that's required (bypass
the turbine to gain speed!).../linear
: A linear DC-generator that converts the back-and-forth?Challenges
with "tworafts"
Speed?One headache I have is, that waves are so damn fast. From one
wave-peak to the next, it's just seconds!! That's even true for
longswells. Lot's of energy passes through, but there is damn little
timefor all the weight of a movable raft to react, pump, then fall
backinto the next trough. But maybe that doesn't matter: Just reduce
theload on the pumps. That will reduce physical efficiency, but
thatdoesn't matter either. Efficiency is bucks to operate the thing
overkWh-output. Is it possible to carefully optimize by adding
orshutting off cylinders that pump?