Wave Energy Hyperbaric Device for Electricity Production

Abstract

Wave energy is a renewable and non-polluting source and its use is being studied in different countries. The paper presents an overview on the harnessing of energy from waves and the activities associated with setting up a plant for extracting energy from waves in Port of Pecem, on the coast of Ceara State, Brazil. The technology employed is based on storing water under pressure in a hyperbaric chamber, from which a controlled jet of water drives a standard turbine. The wave resource at the proposed location is presented in terms of statistics data obtained from previous monitoring. The device components are described and small scale model tested under regular waves representatives of the installation region. Based on the experimental results values of prescribed pressures are identified in order to optimize the power generation.

Ocean Power Conversion for Electricity Generation and Desalinated Water Production

“…In the case of converting energy from the high sea pressure [1] these pressure levels are easily achieved through the sizing of pumps attached to the primary conversion module, which provides power to the system.…”

“…described at [1], is able to supply the demand of an average 36 households, considering the wave or current conditions described above with an average residential consumption of 12 kWh/day. Electricity produced from the sea energy converters can be used in a variety of projects, either as a principal supply, or as a supplement to other sources.…”

“…The concept of high pressure wave power converter, described in Estefen et al [1], is based on the use of an hyperbaric chamber, which stores wave power converted from highly pressurized water. The first version, denominated onshore, works as a bi-supported beam with one beam fixed deep down into the soil and the other on a buoy, which follows the waves´ movement.…”

“…When the pressure inside the accumulator reaches its operational level, the water is delivered, through a valve to a hydraulic turbine, which is linked to an electrical generator in order to produce electricity. Figure 1: Wave power plant using high pressure system as described in Estefen et al [1] In detail the high pressure system including hyperbaric chamber and accumulator…”

“…Generated energy from ocean power devices can be converted into electrical or mechanical energy, which can in turn be used as a driving force together with the desalination and water treatment by reverse osmosis processes. In this article, applications of high pressure wave energy converters (WEC) and hydrokinetic turbine for current energy conversion (TEC), described in Estefen et al [1], are presented. Due to its conceptual design, these ocean energy converters (OEC) are able to transform the hydraulic energy available from the sea into mechanical energy and then in turn into electricity generation, reverse osmosis desalination or as the driving force for hydraulic machines.…”