Tubular wave power device
| DWPI Title: Tubular wave power device for providing autonomous power to e.g. oceanographic research sensor, has impeller driven by oscillating pressurized air flow in and out of tubular structure caused by action of surrounding water wave field |
| Abstract: A tubular wave energy converter configured to remain afloat near the surface of a wave field and trap a water column oscillating asymmetrically to the wave field in which the converter is located. Water column oscillations create a pressure flux providing motive power for a generator. The converter, generator and a powered payload making up an autonomous wave powered device are packaged to fit within and be deployed by a torpedo launcher. The autonomous device may be deployed above or beneath the surface. Device buoyant characteristics are configured to maintain the device afloat and self-righting toward an upright oriented for operation in the wave field. |
| Use: Tubular wave power device for being loaded with a torpedo launcher on surface and subsurface marine vessels or aircraft in a body of water. |
| Advantage: The wave energy converter is designed to fit within a standard torpedo hull and provide autonomous power. The wave energy converter utilizes an oscillating water column type primary converter. The coupled dynamic model based on the theory of oscillating pressure distributions within floating bodies is used to derive the hydrodynamic coefficients and forcing terms needed. The antisymmetric relative oscillation enables the power transfer to the WEC from the surrounding wave field to be highly efficient. The placement of a preferred air turbine at the power take-off end and the turbine slip ratio are such that power transfer from the turbine from the air flow excited by the relative water column oscillation is also maximized. The WEC-powered autonomous device may be configured with integral active means to seal openings and protect sensitive portions of the payload and power output system during launch which reposition to allow the autonomous device to function. The payload may be externally configured to streamline the WEC autonomous device for undersea deployment. |
| Novelty: The device has a tubular structure (110) comprising a power take-off internal to the tubular structure that comprises an impeller and a power output system connected to the power take off, where the geometric distribution of the tubular structure mass and buoyancy may be tuned to wave characteristics at an operation location. The impeller is driven by oscillating pressurized air flow in and out of the tubular structure caused by action of surrounding water wave field and buoyant oscillations of the tubular structure. The power take-off comprises an oscillating water column style wave energy converter drivetrain. |
| Filed: 9/21/2022 |
| Application Number: US17949818A |
| Tech ID: SD 15949.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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