Apparatus and method for extracting energy from a fluid
AssigneeWave Swell Energy Limited
InventorThomas Denniss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for extracting energy from an oscillating working fluid, the apparatus comprising a flow passage 40 for the oscillating working fluid, an energy conversion unit 44 and a flow control device 38, each of the energy conversion unit 44 and the flow control device 38 being, at least in part, in fluid communication with the flow passage 40, wherein in use the flow control device 38 is selectively operable between a first configuration in which the flow control device 38 is open to allow a flow of the oscillating working fluid to exit the flow passage therethrough, and a second configuration in which the flow control device 38 is arranged to restrict a flow of the working fluid therethrough, such that the oscillating working fluid enters the flow passage via the energy conversion unit 44.
Claims26
Apparatus for extracting energy from an oscillating working fluid, the apparatus comprising:
- a flow passage for the oscillating working fluid,
- a flow control device which is, at least in part, in fluid communication with the flow passage;
- and
- an energy conversion unit comprising a gas turbine which is, at least in part, in fluid communication with the flow passage, and an energy generation apparatus coupled to the gas turbine via an output inverter, the apparatus arranged so that, in use, the flow control device is selectively operable between:
- a first configuration in which the flow control device is open to allow a flow of the oscillating working fluid to exit the flow passage therethrough, and
- a second configuration in which the flow control device is arranged to restrict a flow of the oscillating working fluid therethrough, such that the oscillating working fluid enters the flow passage via the energy conversion unit, whereby in use, rotation of the gas turbine in response to the flow of the oscillating working fluid generates rotational torque, which in turn actuates operation of the energy generation apparatus to generate electrical energy;
- wherein the energy generation apparatus rotational speed is controlled by an active front end drive which is arranged in use to operate said energy generation apparatus at a speed which is lower than the speed possible if all of the rotational torque generated by the rotation of the gas turbine was transferred thereto, thereby resulting in the active front end drive achieving a regenerative braking condition, and in so doing, generating an electrical energy input for charging of a rechargeable energy storage device.
A method of extracting energy from an oscillating working fluid, the method including the steps of:
- (i) positioning a housing at least partially in a body of water having waves, the housing defining a flow passage for receiving the oscillating working fluid;
- (ii) arranging an energy conversion unit comprising a gas turbine to be in fluid communication with the oscillating working fluid, and arranging an energy generation apparatus which is coupled to the gas turbine via an output inverter;
- and
- (iii) providing flow control device for selectively changing the configuration of the flow passage between:
- an active configuration such that the oscillating working fluid acts on the energy conversion unit when flowing in a first predetermined direction, whereby in use, rotation of the gas turbine in response to the flow of the oscillating working fluid generates rotational torque, which in turn actuates operation of the energy generation apparatus to generate electrical energy;
- and
- a bypass configuration in which the oscillating working fluid bypasses the energy conversion unit when flowing in a second direction,
- (iv) providing an active front end drive to operatively control the rotational speed of the energy generation apparatus to be lower than the speed possible if all of the rotational torque generated by the rotation of gas turbine was transferred thereto, to result in the active front end drive achieving a regenerative braking condition, and in so doing, generating an electrical energy input for charging of a rechargeable energy storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.