WO2008038825A1 - Wave energy storage device and power generator employing it - Google Patents

Abstract

When wave energy is utilized for electric power generation or the like, it is stored efficiently at a low cost by a simple device, and can be utilized for electric power generation at any time. The wave energy storage device comprises a floating structure floating on the surface of the sea, a flexible long body hanging into the sea from the floating structure with a weight being fixed to the lower end, and a means for hoisting the long body to the floating structure side by one of the upward and downward movements of the floating structure incident to rise or fall of the surface of the sea due to the wave to raise the position of the weight and hold the hoisted up position, thus storing wave energy as the potential energy of the weight. Furthermore, descending motion produced when hoisting/holding of the long body is released and the weight is lowered is transmitted as rotation motion to a generator, thus generating electric power.

Description

 2007/069319

Wave energy storage device and power generator using it

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a wave energy storage device for storing up and down energy of sea surface caused by waves and making the energy available at any time, and to generate power using the energy stored by the storage device. It is related with the electric power generating apparatus for.

Book Background Art As is well known, Japan is said to be a low-resource country because of its limited fossil resources. Therefore, there is an urgent need to use natural energy that does not depend on fossil resources such as oil and coal. On the other hand, recently, there has been an increasing demand for prevention of global warming, and so the use of so-called clean energy is strongly desired. By the way, our country is an island country, and the surrounding area is surrounded by the sea. In the surrounding waters, typhoon attacks, seasonal winds, or high waves caused by developed low pressures frequently occur. The energies of the waves brought are enormous. Therefore, it is strongly desired to recover and utilize wave energy, which is a kind of clean natural energy. Various techniques for utilizing such wave energy have been proposed, and the typical one is to capture the wave energy as air energy and use the air energy to power the generator turbine. There is a method of rotating and generating electricity. An example of applying this method to a floating structure on the ocean is a generator for a navigation sign buoy. As an example of application as a fixed structure such as a coast, there is a Quaison generator that also functions as a breakwater. In addition, various methods are considered, such as a method in which wave energy is directly converted into mechanical energy to rotate the turbine of the generator.

 Wave energy is a tremendous amount on a global scale, but from the energy density point of view, it cannot be said that it is a very large energy density. There is a fundamental problem that the fluctuation of the energy amount is extremely severe. Therefore, when actually using wave energy for power generation, it is necessary to efficiently capture wave energy with low energy density and generate power efficiently, and to smooth or store the converted energy. is there.

 However, as described above, it is extremely difficult to effectively capture wave energy with low energy density and generate power efficiently, and there are also devices and equipment for smoothing or storing the converted energy. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the size of the power generation equipment, and as a result, the cost of the power generation equipment becomes extremely expensive, making it economically unattractive. There is a problem that it becomes inappropriate to apply. Because of these problems, the actual application to the floating structures on the ocean is, as described above, only a small one such as a generator for a traffic sign buoy. As described above, there are caisson-type generators that also function as breakwaters as described above, but this is also extremely structurally large for output and enormously costly. The fact is that I had to say that I would not be able to inquire.

In particular, conventional wave energy generators store unstable power output. For this reason, an electric energy storage device such as a storage battery has to be used. However, such an electric energy storage device such as a storage battery is remarkably increased in size and weight for the electric energy that can be stored. It will increase and the cost will be significantly higher.

 For these reasons, therefore, the research heat of power generation using wave energy has been declining in recent years, and its practical application is far behind compared to wind power generation, which is the same natural energy.

 The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, focusing on wave energy, which is natural energy, and storing wave energy with low cost and simple equipment by a completely different method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wave energy storage device and a wave energy utilization power generation device that can generate electric power using stored wave energy at low cost and with stable output. Disclosure of the invention

In the conventional wave energy power generation system, the wave energy is captured as air energy as mechanical energy and immediately converted into electrical energy. However, in such a conventional system, the wave energy is captured as a different form of energy (that is, the wave energy is converted into another form of energy). Since it is immediately converted into electric energy, it must be stored in electric energy as a form of energy storage. However, the present inventor considers a method that is completely different from the conventional method described above, and develops a system that directly captures sea surface fluctuations caused by waves and stores the energy as potential energy of heavy objects. did. Such a system can efficiently capture and store wave energy. In addition, the stored potential energy can be output as needed as electrical engineering energy.

 Specifically, the wave energy storage device according to the invention of claim 1 has a floating structure that floats on the sea surface, a flexible structure that is suspended from the floating structure into the sea, and a heavy object is attached to the lower end. Of the elongate body and the up and down movement of the floating structure that accompanies the rise and fall of the sea surface due to waves, the elongate body is lifted to the floating structure side by one direction of movement, and the position of the heavy object is raised. And a hoisting and holding means for holding the hoisting and raising position, wherein the wave energy is held as the energy of the position of the heavy object.

 The wave energy storage device according to claim 1 is characterized in that in the wave energy storage device, the lifting and holding means includes a reel that lifts a long body and a vertical movement of the floating structure, and a direction of the vertical movement. Conversion means for converting into a rotational motion as a rotation direction according to the rotation direction, and among the rotational motions obtained by the conversion means, the lifting reel is moved in the direction of lifting the long body by the rotational motion in one rotational direction. And a rotation transmitting means for preventing the hoisting reel from being rotated by the rotational motion in the other rotational direction.

Furthermore, the invention of claim 3 is the wave energy storage device according to claim 2, wherein the conversion means is a hanging rotating body attached to the floating structure so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. A long object hooked on the hanging rotating body, an anchor attached to one end of the long object, a weight lighter than the anchor and attached to the other end of the long object, The length of the chain is set so that when the anchor is thrown, the weight is positioned above the bottom of the sea and when the anchor is thrown, The weight moves up and down with the movement The rotation transmitting means rotates so that only the rotation in a certain direction is transmitted to the lifting reel to lift the long body. It is characterized by being comprised.

 Further, the invention of claim 4 is the wave energy storage device according to claim 3, wherein the floating structure is provided with a horizontal shaft, and the hanging rotating body is provided at a predetermined position of the shaft. The hoisting reel is mounted concentrically so that it can rotate in a concentric manner, and the hoisting reel is mounted so as to be concentrically rotatable at other parts of the shaft. The rotation is transmitted to the shaft, while the rotation of the winding rotator in the opposite direction is such that the hanging rotator can freely rotate with respect to the shaft, and the shaft is in the predetermined direction. The rotation of the shaft is transmitted to the lifting reel when rotated, and the lifting reel can freely rotate with respect to the shaft when the lifting reel rotates in the opposite direction. It is.

 Further, the invention of claim 5 is the wave energy storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the uplifting holding means is lifted up by the uplifting holding means. It is characterized in that it has a release function for releasing the holding of the body at the lifting position, and feeding and lowering the long body by its own weight.

Furthermore, the invention of claim 6 includes the wave energy storage device according to claim 5, and a floating structure of the wave energy storage device is provided with a generator, and the wave energy storage device is provided. The apparatus is configured to transmit the descending and descending movement of the long body at the time of release by the release means in the apparatus to the rotating shaft of the generator as a rotary movement to generate power. According to the wave energy storage device and the power generation device of the present invention, since the wave energy is stored as the potential energy of the heavy object without being captured and converted as air energy or mechanical energy, the wave energy is captured. The storage efficiency is extremely high, and there is no need for a device for converting air energy into mechanical energy. Therefore, the equipment is greatly reduced in size and weight, and the equipment cost is significantly reduced. Since it is temporarily stored as potential energy of heavy objects without immediately generating power due to wave energy, the stored energy can be taken out as needed to generate electricity. Large, heavy, and expensive equipment for storing energy is no longer needed. While being smaller and lighter in, the cost is greatly reduced. Moreover, as described above, since it is reduced in size and weight, it is particularly effective when applied to floating bodies on the ocean. , Brief description of the drawings

 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic configuration of the wave energy storage device and the power generation device of this embodiment of the present invention.

 FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire configuration of the wave energy storage device and the power generation device of the embodiment of the present invention.

 FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

 FIG. 4 is a right side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the collar portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of a wave energy storage device and a power generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG. 1 merely shows the basic configuration for explanation, and does not limit the specific arrangement or structure of each device.

Floating structure 1 in FIG. 1, the specific gravity is a ¹ in those made in any shape sufficiently small Kunar so than seawater, such as good metallic seawater corrosion resistance of the outer wall portion Ya as a whole It is made of resin and has a structure in which air or foamed resin is sealed inside. Here, the levitation structure 1 has sufficient buoyancy so that it floats on the sea surface F as a whole, including various devices, chains, weights, heavy objects, etc., which are attached to the inside and the top surface as described later. It shall be

 On the floating structure 1, a hanging rotary body, for example, a chain wheel 7 is attached so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. A long strip, for example, a chain 8 is wound around the chain wheel 7. One end of the chain 8 is provided with an anchor 9 and a weight 10 which is much lighter than the anchor 9 is attached to the other end. The anchor 9 is grounded or connected to the seabed G. On the other hand, the length of the chain 8 is determined so that the weight 10 is located above the seabed G.

Further, on the floating structure 1, a reel 11 is disposed so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. The reel 11 is brazed with a long body 14 made of a lightweight cloth, a sheet, a string, a chain, or the like that is lightweight, thin, and excellent in tensile strength, such as polyester fiber. Here, one end of the long body 14 is fixed to the casing or inner surface of the reel 11, and the other end is suspended in the sea. Heavy objects such as concrete 1 5 is installed.

 Furthermore, a generator 3 2 is fixed to the floating structure 1.

 Here, the reel 11 lifts the long body 14 to the floating structure 1 side by either one of the up and down movements of the floating structure 1 accompanying the elevation of the sea surface due to the waves. Thus, a lifting and holding means for raising the position of the heavy object 15 in the sea and holding the lifting position is configured.

 On the other hand, dredging rotary body (chain wheel) 7, long strip (chain) 8, anchor 9, weight 10 are used to move the floating structure 1 up and down as the sea level rises and falls due to waves. A conversion means for converting into a rotational motion as a rotational direction according to the direction of motion is configured.

 And the connection relationship (rotational transmission means) between the lifting rotor (chain wheel) 7 and the reel 11 is the rotational motion in two directions of the lifting rotor 7 accompanying the raising and lowering of the floating structure 1. Rotational motion in one direction (counterclockwise rotational motion in the example of Fig. 1) is transmitted to the reel 1 1 and the reel 1 1 is moved in the direction of lifting the long body (counterclockwise in the example of Fig. 1). The reel 11 is not rotated by the rotational movement of the lifting rotary member 7 in the other direction (clockwise in the example of FIG. 1).

 Furthermore, the relationship between the reel 1 1 and the generator 3 2 is that the holding of the reel 1 1 (rotation prevention state) is released and the reel 1 1 lowers the heavy object 1 5 (in the example of FIG. The rotation is transmitted to the drive shaft of the generator 32, so that power generation occurs.

The following describes the functions and functions of the above-mentioned principle configuration when, for example, storing energy from sea surface waves in a sea area with a depth of about 100 m and taking out the stored energy to generate electricity. . First, the process of storing wave energy will be described.

 The floating structure 1 and various devices and members fixedly attached to the floating structure 1 are kept floating on the sea surface by buoyancy, the anchor 9 is grounded or engaged with the seabed G, and the floating structure 1 is Extreme movement due to wind is prevented. In this state, the weight 10 is suspended in the middle of the sea between the sea surface F and the seabed G, and the weight 10 causes tension on the weight 10 side portion of the chain 8. State is maintained. The long body 14 and the heavy object 15 are suspended in the sea. In this state, if waves periodically arrive, the floating structure 1 moves up and down as the sea surface moves up and down (arrow A l).

 When the sea level rises due to waves, the floating structure 1 also rises. At this time, the chain 8 is moved from the weight 10 side to the anchor 9 side by the ascending distance of the floating structure 1 with reference to the rotation center position of the chain wheel 7 due to the tension of the anchor 9 side portion. At the same time, the wheel 7 is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow AA 3 in FIG. 1 and the rotation of the wheel 7 is transmitted to the reel 1 1 and the reel 1 1 is turned counterclockwise. It rotates clockwise (arrow A 4) and the long body 14 is raised. Therefore, when the sea level rises, the long body 14 will be lifted up by the length corresponding to the rise. If the long body 14 is lifted, the position of the heavy object 15 attached to the lower end of the elongate body 14 will also rise (arrow A 5), and thus the potential energy of the heavy object 15 will increase. .

Next, when the sea surface descends due to waves, the floating structure 1 also descends. At this time, contrary to the above-described ascent process, the weight 8 of the weight 10 causes the chain 8 to be fed from the anchor 9 side to the weight 10 side with the chain wheel 7 as a reference, and the chain wheel 7 rotates in the clockwise direction of arrow A 3 in Fig. 1. Chain wheel 7 times in this direction The rolls are configured not to be transmitted to the reel 1 1, so the long body 14 lifted up in the previous ascending process remains as it is, and the heavy object 1 5 also floats to the floating structure 1. Keep the same relative position. This means that the potential energy of the heavy object 15 stored in the ascending process is preserved as it is. Therefore, in the process of vertical movement due to waves, the potential energy when the sea level rises is stored (stored) as the potential energy of the heavy object 15.

 As described above, if the sea surface periodically moves up and down due to waves, the elongate body 14 is lifted in the course of the sea surface rising process, and the position of the heavy object 15 rises. Is accumulated. When all the long bodies 14 are lifted up and all the heavy objects 15 reach their highest end (position in the vicinity of the floating structure 1), the accumulation and storage of wave energy ends.

 After storing the wave energy as the potential energy of the heavy object 15 in this way, the process of converting the potential energy into electric energy, that is, the process of generating the power by releasing the stored potential energy is explained. To do.

 In the initial state at this stage, the long body 14 is lifted up to the reel 11, and the heavy object 15 is located in the vicinity of the floating structure 1. When starting power generation from this initial state, the reel 11 is in a state where it can rotate freely. As a result, the heavy object 15 starts to descend due to its own weight, and as shown by the arrow B 1, the linole 1 1 rotates counterclockwise and the heavy object 1 5 is attached to the tip 1 4 Is fed from reel 1 1 (arrow B 2). The rotation of the reel 11 at this time is transmitted to the rotating shaft of the generator 3 2, and the generator 3 2 generates power.

In this manner, power generation is performed as the heavy object 15 is lowered, that is, as the potential energy is released. 2 to 7 show the configurations of the wave energy storage device and the power generation device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

 In FIGS. 2 to 7, the floating structure 1 is formed in an arbitrary shape so that the specific gravity thereof is sufficiently smaller than that of seawater as a whole. For example, the outer wall portion has good resistance to seawater corrosion. It is made of metal, resin, etc., and has a structure in which air, foamed resin, etc. are sealed inside. Here, the levitation structure 1 has sufficient buoyancy to float on the sea surface F as a whole device, including various devices, chains, weights, heavy objects, etc. attached to the upper surface as described later. .

 Side walls 2 A and 2 B projecting upward are attached to both ends of the floating structure 1 in the length direction, and a pair of horizontal parallel wires are mounted on the side walls 2 A and 2 B by bearings 3 A and 3 B. The shafts 4 and 5 are spanned rotatably. Of these shafts 4 and 5, both ends 4A and 4B of the shaft 4 protrude outside the side walls 2A and 2B, and the outer protruding portions (both ends) 4A and 4B include rollers. A hanging rotary body, for example, a chain wheel 7A, 7B is attached via the clutches 6A, 6B. In these chain wheels 7 A and 7 B, long strips, for example, chains 8 A and 8 B are respectively strung. Chains 8 A and 8 B have anchors (錨) 9 A and 9 B attached to one end and weights 10 A and 10 B that are much lighter than anchors 9 A and 9 B, respectively. Chains 8 A so that the anchors 9 A and 9 B are grounded or connected to the seabed, while the weights 10 A and 10 B are positioned above the seabed G 8 B length is defined.

The roller clutches 6 A and 6 B transmit the rotation to the shaft 4 A when the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B rotate in a specific direction, and when the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B rotate in the opposite direction Without transmitting the rotation to the shaft 4 A, the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B are rotated freely. As seen in the length direction of the chains 8 A and 8 B, the weights 10 0 A and 10 B are sprinkled on the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B and headed toward the anchors 9 A and 9 B. When the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B rotate in the direction (direction of arrow P in Fig. 4), the rotation is transmitted to the shaft 4 A, and when the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B rotate in the opposite direction, the chain wheel 7 A 7 B The direction of the clutch is determined so that B rotates freely.

 Further, a plurality of reels (5 reels in the illustrated example) 1 1 a to l 1 e are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the middle of the shaft 4 (the portion between the side walls 2 A and 2 B). A sprocket 1 2 is fixed to one side of each reel 1 1 a to l 1 e, and a ratchet 13 is fixed to the other side. 1 1 a to 1 1 e includes a lightweight fabric such as polyester fiber, a flexible fabric with excellent tensile strength, or a long body made of a sheet, string, chain, etc. In the example, a long sheet) is attached. Here, one end of the long body 14 is fixed to the casing or inner surface of the reels 11a1 to 11e, and the other end is suspended in the sea. A heavy object 15 made of metal or concrete of any shape is attached.

 Here, the reels 1 1 a to 1 1 e described above and the sprockets 1 2 and ratchet 1 3 attached to the reels 1 1 a to 1 1 e, respectively, are combined as a whole if they are respectively referred to as rotational coupling bodies 1 6 a to 16 e. The bodies 16 a to l 6 e are supported by bearings 17 provided on the outer periphery of the shaft 4 so as to be rotatable about the shaft center with respect to the shaft 4 (see FIG. 5).

Furthermore, between the rotary coupling body 16a on one end side and the one side wall 2A and between the rotational coupling bodies 16a to l6e, a cylindrical collar that can rotate on the outer periphery of the shaft 4 is provided. 1 8 a to 1 8 e are provided. Details in the vicinity of colors 1 8 a to 1 8 e are shown enlarged in FIG.

 A flange 19 is formed on the outer periphery of the central portion of each collar 18 a to l 8 e, and a long hole-shaped guide notch 20 extending along the axial direction is formed on one end thereof. Further, a rod-like protrusion 21 that protrudes on the outer periphery is formed on the other end side. On the other hand, at each position corresponding to the guide notch 20 of the collars 18 a to l 8 e on the outer periphery of the shaft 4, a pin 22 inserted into the guide notch 20 is protruded. Further, on the side surface of the ratchet 13 in each of the rotary coupling bodies 16a to l6e, there is a small shaft 23 that can engage with the protrusion 21 of each of the collars 18a to l8e. Projected.

— On the upper side of the floating structure 1, the arm 2 has a bifurcated tip so that a part of the lower side of the flange 1 9 of each collar 1 8 a to l 8 e is straddled from both sides. 4 is arranged, and each arm 24 is advanced and retracted along a direction parallel to the axial direction of the shaft 4 by a solenoid 25 attached to the upper surface of the floating structure 1. Here, each arm 24 is configured to engage with its flange 19 without impeding the rotation of each collar 18a-l8e. Each arm 24 is moved forward and backward by the solenoid 25 so that the collars 18 a to 18 e move linearly along the axis 4 (thus moving in the direction of approaching and separating from the ratchet 13; (Q direction). Here, in the state in which the colors 1 8 a to 1 8 e are advanced (the state in which the colors 1 8 a to 1 8 e are brought close to the ratchet 1 3 as shown in FIG. 7), the colors 1 8 a to 1 8 e The protrusion 2 1 on the outer peripheral surface can be engaged with the small shaft 2 3 on the side surface of the ratchet 1 3, while the collar 1 8 a to l 8 e is retracted (moved to the left in FIG. 7 In the state in which the collars 18 a to l 8 e are separated from the ratchet 13, the protrusion 21 is not allowed to engage with the small shaft 23. Further, the upper surface of the floating structure 1 is engaged with each ratchet 13 as shown in detail in FIG. 5 at a position corresponding to the ratchet 13 of each rotary coupling body 16 a to 16 e. A ratchet pawl 26 for restricting the rotatable direction and an electromagnet 27 for operating the ratchet pawl 2 6 are provided. Here, the directionality of the ratchet 1 3 and the ratchet claw 26 is determined so that, when they are engaged, the rotational coupling body 16a to l6e including the ratchet 13 is directed in the direction of the arrow P (that is, the long body 1). 4) When rotating in the direction of lifting up), the rotation of the rotating combination 16a ~ l6e is not disturbed, while the rotation of the rotating combination 16a ~ l6e in the reverse direction is blocked It is stipulated in. Of course, when these latches 1 3 and 2; and the latch claws 2 6 are disengaged, the rotating joints 16a to l6e are rotatable in any direction.

 On the other hand, on the shaft 5 provided in parallel with the shaft 4 on the upper surface side of the floating structure 1, each of the rotary couplings 16a to l6e has a roller clutch 2 8 ( (See Fig. 5), and the sprocket 29 is provided between each sprocket 29 and the corresponding sprocket 1 6 a to l 6 e on the shaft 4 side 1 2. An endless annular chain 30 is hung on the side.

 Furthermore, one end side of the shaft 5 protrudes to the outer surface side of the side wall 2B (see FIG. 3), and a sprocket 31 is fixed to the protruding portion. On the other hand, the generator 3 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the floating structure 1 at a position inside the side wall 2 B in the vicinity thereof, and the rotating shaft 33 of the generator 3 2 protrudes outside the side wall 2 B. The sprocket 34 is fixed to the protruding portion, and an endless ring-shaped roller chain 35 is hung between the sprocket 3 4 and the sprocket 3 1.

In the above embodiment, for example, energy is stored in the ocean area at a depth of about 10 Om, and energy is generated by taking out the stored energy. The functions and actions are described below. .

 Here, the process of storing wave energy will be described first.

 The floating structure 1 and various devices and members fixedly attached to the floating structure 1 are kept floating on the sea surface by buoyancy, and the anchors 9A and 9B are grounded or engaged with the seabed G. The floating structure 1 Is prevented from moving extremely due to tidal currents and winds. In this state, the weights 10A and 10B are suspended between the sea surface F and the seabed G, and the weights 10A and 10B are used in the chains 8A and 8B. 10A and 10B side parts are kept in tension. The long body 14 and the heavy object 15 are suspended in the sea. In such a state, if a wave comes periodically, the floating structure 1 moves up and down as the sea surface moves up and down. Here, in the initial state, the collars 18a to 18e are in a position close to the ratchet 13 of the rotary coupling bodies 16a to 16e, that is, the protrusion 21 on the outer peripheral surface of the collar is placed on the small shaft 23 on the side surface of the ratchet. It is assumed that the state can be engaged (the state shown in FIG. 7), and the rotation of the collars 18a to 18e can be transmitted to the rotary coupling bodies 16a to 16e. Each ratchet pawl 26 is engaged with the corresponding ratchet 13.

When the sea level rises due to waves, the floating structure 1 also rises. At this time, the chains 8A and 8B have the weights 10A and 10B corresponding to the rising distance of the floating structure 1 with respect to the rotation center position of the chains 7A and 7B due to the tension of the anchor 9A and 9B side portions. 10B side is fed to the anchors 9A, 9B side, and the chain wheels 7A, 7B rotate in the direction of arrow P, and the rotation of these chain wheels 7A, 7B is the roller clutch 6A, 6B Is transmitted to the shaft 4 via, and the shaft 4 rotates in the same direction. And each pin 22 on the shaft 4 and the corresponding collar 1 8 a to 18 e guide notch 20 As a result of the engagement, the collars 18 a to l 8 e rotate in the same direction as the shaft 4 rotates. Then, each protrusion 2 of the collar 1 8 a to 1 8 e 2 1 force Each rotary coupling body 1 6 a to 1 6 e ratchet 1 3 abuts on the small shaft 2 3 protruding from the collar 1 8 a to 1 8 The rotation of e is transmitted to the rotary joints 16a to l6e, and the long body 14 is lifted by the reels 11a to l1e in the rotary joints 16a to l6e. Therefore, when the sea level rises, the long body 14 will be lifted by the length corresponding to the rise. If the long body 14 is wound up, the position of the heavy object 15 attached to the lower end of the elongate body 14 will also rise, and therefore the potential energy of the heavy object 15 will increase.

 Next, when the sea surface is lowered due to the waves, the accompanying “C Floating Structure 1” is also lowered. At this time, contrary to the above-described ascent process, the weight of the weights 10A and 1OB causes the chain wheel. 7A and 7B as a reference, chains 8A and 8B are fed from the anchors 9A and 9B to the weights 10A and 10B, and the chains 7A and 7B Here, the roller clutches 6 A and 6 B are configured so that the rotation of the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B in that direction is not transmitted to the shaft 4. Even if 7A and 7B rotate, the shaft 4 does not rotate, and consequently the collars 18 a to 18 e and the rotational coupling bodies 16 a to l 6 e also do not rotate. The long body 14 is kept as it is, and the heavy object 15 is also kept at the same position relative to the floating structure 1. This is stored in the ascending process. Thus, the position energy of the heavy object 15 is stored as it is, so that the potential energy when the sea level rises is stored (stored) as the position energy of the heavy object 15 in the process of vertical movement due to waves. That's right.

As described above, if the sea surface periodically moves up and down due to waves, the elongate body 14 is wound up in the course of the sea surface rising process, and the potential energy of the heavy object 15 is accumulated. It is. When all the long bodies 14 are lifted up and all the heavy objects 15 reach their highest end (position near the floating structure 1), the accumulation and storage of wave energy ends.

 After storing the wave energy as the potential energy of the heavy object 15 in this way, the process of converting the potential energy into electric energy, that is, the process of generating the power by releasing the stored potential energy is explained. To do.

 In the initial state at this stage, the long bodies 14 of all the reels 1 1 a to l 1 e are lifted, and the heavy object 15 is located in the vicinity of the floating structure 1. In this initial state, the ratchet pawls 26 are hooked on the ratchets 13 of all the rotary coupling bodies 16a to 16e in advance, respectively, and the rotational coupling bodies 16a to 16e force, the direction of the arrow P The ratchet pawl 26 is operated by the electromagnet 27 so that it does not rotate in the opposite direction (that is, the direction of rotation when lifting the long body). As long as the ratchet pawls 2 6 and the ratchet 1 3 are not released, the rotary couplings 16 6 a to 16 e including the ratchet 1 3 and the reels 1 1 a to 1 1 e are long. It means to prevent it from rotating in the body feeding direction (downward direction of heavy objects).

When starting power generation from the initial state as described above, the solenoid 25 of any one of the systems, for example, the solenoid 25 corresponding to the leftmost rotary coupling 16a in FIGS. 2 and 3 is operated. The collar 1 8a of that series is positioned in the retracted position (a position separated from the ratchet 1 3), and the protrusion of the collar 1 8a 2 1 force is separated from the small shaft 2 3 on the side of the ratchet claw 1 3 The state is maintained (the state where both cannot be engaged). Therefore, the collar 1 8 a and the rotating combination 16 a including the ratchet 1 3 and the reel 1 1 a are in a state of being free from each other. Even if the collar 1 8 a rotates, the ratchet 1 3 and the reel 1 1 Rotating coupling containing a 1 6 a It is in a state that does not roll. In other words, even if the floating structure 1 rises due to sea level rise due to waves and the shaft 4 and the collar 18 a rotate, the rotation is transmitted to each rotary coupling 16 a including the reel 11 a. Means not. Further, the electromagnet 2 7 corresponding to the rotational coupling body 16 a of the series is operated to remove the ratchet pawl 2 6 of the series from the ratchet 13. As a result, the rotationally coupled body 16a including the reel 1 1a can be freely rotated, and the heavy object 15 of the series starts to descend due to its own weight, and the rotationally coupled body 16a including the reel 1 1a. The long body 14 with the a rotating and the heavy object 15 attached to the tip is fed from the reel 1 1 a. The rotation of the rotary coupling body 16a at this time is transmitted to the shaft 5 through the sprocket 1 2, the chain 30, the sprocket 29, and the roller clutch 28, and the shaft 5 is rotated. The rotation is transmitted from the shaft 5 to the rotating shaft 3 3 of the generator 3 2 through the sprocket 3 1, the roller chain 3 5, and the sprocket 3 4, and the generator 3 2 generates power. A roller clutch 28 is interposed between the rotary shaft 5 and the sprocket 29. When the corresponding sprocket 29 is rotated by the rotation of the rotary coupling body 16a, the shaft 5 rotates. However, the rotation is not transmitted to the other rotational coupling bodies 16 b to 16 e. Therefore, the rotation of the rotational coupling body 16a does not affect the other rotational coupling bodies 16b-16e.

 As described above, power generation is performed in accordance with the descent of the heavy object 15 in the series of the rotating joints 16 a, that is, the release of potential energy due to the descent of the heavy object 15.

Then, when the weight 15 of the first rotary coupling body 16a series reaches the predetermined depth as described above, the first 15 Actuate electromagnet 2 7 to engage ratchet 1 3 of that series with ratchet pawl 2 6 and actuate solenoid 2 5 of the same series to activate arm 2 The collar 1 8 a can be moved forward in the direction close to the ratchet 1 3 of the rotary coupling 1 6 a by 4, and the projection 2 1 of the collar 1 8 a can be engaged with the small shaft 2 3 of the ratchet 1 3 State. As a result, the first series of heavy objects 15 is stopped from descending, and thereafter, the heavy objects 15 can be rolled up as the floating structure 1 ascends. 'And at the same time or slightly earlier than the first series of electromagnets 27 and solenoid 25 as described above, the second series of electromagnets 16 b Remove the ratchet pawls 2 6 of that line from the ratchet 1 3. As a result, the rotational coupling body 16 b including the second reel 1 1 b can be freely rotated, and in the same manner as described above, the rotational coupling body 16 6 b has a long length from the reel 1 1 b. The second series of heavy objects 1 5 suspended by the scale 1 4 starts to descend, and the second series of rotary couplings 16 b including the reel 1 1 b rotate, Further, the rotation is transmitted from the shaft 5 to the rotating shaft 33 of the generator 32, and power is generated.

 By repeating the above process, the heavy objects 15 of each series are sunk sequentially, and continuous power generation is performed.

In the above, from the state in which the 5 series of heavy objects 15 are simultaneously lifted by the rise of the sea surface due to the waves, and all the series of heavy objects 15 have reached their highest end. Although it has been explained that each series of heavy goods 15 is lowered, in practice, the timing of starting lifting of heavy goods of each series is shifted and power generation is performed by lowering one series of heavy goods. In addition, it is desirable to lift the remaining heavy loads of other series (storage of position energy), and in this way, continuous power generation is possible without interruption. Here, the descending speed of the heavy load during power generation (sinking speed) can be adjusted by the shape of the heavy load subject to the resistance of seawater, the braking action by the regenerative current of the generator, etc. It is also possible to bring the descending speed of the lens closer to a constant speed.

 Now, assuming that the weight of one heavy object 15 is adjusted to 1 0 0 0 kg and the settlement speed is adjusted to 1 sec, the power output per heavy object is theoretically

 l O O O k g X l m / s e c / 1 0 2 = 1 0 kw

It becomes.

 On the other hand, the amount of sea level rise by one wave (equal to the amount of weight 10 A, 10 B) is the same as the amount of heavy object 15 raised (the amount of rise). If the mean significant wave height at 2m is 2m and the significant wave period is 8 seconds, the heavy object 15 will rise 2m by one wave, and it will rise 2m again by the next wave coming after 8 seconds. On average, it will rise by 0.25 m per second. In other words, the average subsidence rate (lmZ sec) is 1Z4 average ascending rate, so if you prepare 4 heavy objects and shift their ascending / descending timing by 1/4 each, By looking at the balance between the settlement speed and the ascending speed, complete continuous power generation becomes possible. However, in actuality, it is desirable to look at a slight margin, so in the example, five series of heavy objects are provided. By sequentially raising and lowering them, 24-hour continuous power generation becomes possible.

 In the above example, the chains 8 A and 8 B are used as the long strips, and the chain wheels 7 A and 7 B are used as the hanging rotary bodies for hanging them. Of course, a combination of sprockets, a timing pulley and belt, a flanged pulley and a rope may be used.

Further, the lifting and holding means defined in claim 1 and the conversion means defined in claim 2 Of course, the specific structure of the rotation transmitting means, and further the releasing means defined in claim 5 is not limited to the structure of the embodiment as long as it does not deviate from the conditions defined in these claims. Industrial applicability

 As described above, if the wave energy storage device and the power generation device of the present invention are installed on the ocean, they are useful as a device for storing and a device for generating power using the wave energy.

Claims

A floating structure floating on the sea surface;  A flexible elongated body suspended in the sea from the floating structure and having a heavy object attached to the lower end;  Of the up and down movement of the floating structure that accompanies the rise and fall of the sea surface due to waves, the elongate body is wound up to the floating structure side by one of the movements to raise the position of the heavy object, and its lift A wave energy storage device, comprising: a lifting and holding means for holding a position, wherein the wave energy is held as energy at a position of a heavy object. The wave energy storage device according to claim 1,  The lifting and holding means includes a reel for lifting a long body, a converting means for converting the vertical movement of the floating structure into a rotational motion as a rotational direction corresponding to the direction of the vertical movement, and the converting means In the rotational motion obtained by the above, the lifting reel is rotated in the lifting direction of the elongated body by the rotational motion in one rotational direction, and the winding reel is not rotated by the rotational motion in the other rotational direction. A wave energy storage device, comprising: a rotation transmission means that performs the following. The wave energy storage device according to claim 2,  The conversion means includes a hanging rotating body attached to the floating structure so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, a long object hanging on the hanging rotating body, and the long object An anchor attached to one end and a weight that is lighter than the anchor and attached to the other end of the long strip, The anchor is thrown on the seabed, and when it is thrown The length of the chain is set so that the weight is located above the bottom of the sea. The weight moves up and down as the floating structure moves up and down due to the waves, and the hanging rotating body rotates. The rotation transmitting means is configured so that only the rotation in a certain direction among the rotations of the winding rotating body is transmitted to the hoisting reel and the elongate body is hoisted. Energy storage device. The wave energy storage device according to claim 2,  The conversion means includes a hanging rotating body attached to the floating structure so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, a long object hanging on the hanging rotating body, and the long object An anchor attached to one end and a weight that is lighter than the anchor and attached to the other end of the long strip,  The anchor is thrown on the seabed, and the chain length is set so that the weight is positioned above the seabed when thrown, so that the floating structure can be moved up and down by waves. Along with this, the weight moves up and down and the hanging rotating body rotates. Of the rotation of the hanging rotating body, only the rotation in a certain direction is transmitted to the lifting reel to raise the long body. A wave energy storage device characterized in that the rotation transmission means is configured as described above. In the wave energy storage device according to claim 3, The floating structure is provided with a horizontal shaft, and the hanging rotating body is attached to a predetermined portion of the shaft so as to be concentrically rotatable, and the lifting reel is disposed at another portion of the shaft. The rotation transmitting means transmits the rotation to the shaft when the hanging rotating body rotates in the predetermined direction, while the hanging rotating body rotates in the opposite direction. In such a case, the shaft rotates in the predetermined direction so that the hanging rotating body can freely rotate with respect to the shaft. The rotation of the shaft is transmitted to the hoisting reel when the hoisting reel rotates, while the hoisting reel can rotate freely with respect to the shaft when the hoisting reel rotates in the opposite direction. A wave energy storage device. The wave energy storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lifting and holding means releases the holding of the elongated body that has been lifted by the lifting and holding means at the winding position. A wave energy storage device comprising a release function for feeding and lowering a long body by its own weight. The wave energy storage device according to claim 5 is provided, and the floating structure of the wave energy storage device is provided with a generator,  In the wave energy storage device, it is configured to transmit the downward movement of the long body when released by the release means to the rotating shaft of the generator as a rotary motion to generate power. A generator using a wave energy storage device.