Wave energy recovery device

Abstract

A device for recovering the energy of sea waves, which comprises at least one floating structure intended to float on the surface of the water. Said floating structure carries at least one member ( 2 ) suspended above the surface of the water, the structure of which is designed to generate recoverable energy through the variation in height of the surface of the water relative to said member, under the effect of the ascending and descending movement of the waves. Application to recovering wave energy.

1 . Device for recovering the energy of sea waves, comprising at least one floating structure, intended to float on the surface of the water, characterized in that said floating structure bears at least one member ( 2 ,  14 ) suspended above the surface of the water of which the structure is designed to generate a recoverable energy through the variation in the height of the surface of the water in relation to said member, under the effect of the ascending and descending movement of the waves. 
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the floating structure comprises at least two floating elements ( 1 ,  1 ′) extending substantially in parallel in relation to one another, one in the front ( 1 ) and the other ( 1 ′) in the rear, and between which extend substantially protruding upwards, at least one post ( 3 ,  30 ,  11 ) forming a bridge between said floating elements ( 1 ,  1 ′), at least one member ( 2 ) being fixed on said post in such a way as to extend substantially perpendicularly to said floating elements ( 1 ,  1 ′). 
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the floating structure comprises at least four floating elements ( 10 ,  10 ′), connected to said member ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the floating structure comprises at least four floating elements ( 9 ,  9 ′) borne at the end of posts ( 8 ), said floating elements ( 9 ,  9 ′) being connected to said member ( 2 ) by said posts ( 8 ), the four floating elements comprising two front floating elements ( 9 ) and the two rear floating elements ( 9 ′). 
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that, at least one of the front floating elements ( 9 ) can be orientated in relation to a vertical axis of said floating element ( 9 ) in such a way that said floating element ( 9 ) cannot extend in parallel to the other floating element ( 9 ). 
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 2 , wherein the spacing between the front ( 1 ;  9 ) and rear ( 1 ;  9 ′) floating elements is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 2  wherein the spacing between the front and rear floating elements ( 1 ,  1 ;  9 ,  9 ′) is fixed. 
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 2 , wherein the floating structure further comprises means for positioning said structure on the surface of the water in such a way that the front and rear floating elements ( 1 ,  1 ;  9 ,  9 ′) are parallel to the waves. 
     
     
         9 . Device set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the positioning means comprise at least one keel borne by the floating structure. 
     
     
         10 . Device set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the positioning means comprise at least one wind resistance element borne by the floating structure orienting said floating structure when it is on the surface of the water facing the wind in such a way that the front ( 1 ;  9 ) and rear ( 1 ;  9 ′) floating elements are parallel to the waves. 
     
     
         11 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the member borne by said floating structure comprises a floating element ( 14 ), intended to float on the surface of the water, this floating element being connected by at least one flexible connector element to means for generating energy at least under the effect of the traction, exerted on the flexible connector element at least by the descending movement of the floating element under the effect of the movement of the waves. 
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein the member borne by the floating structure comprises a piston ( 12 ) of which a free end is fixed to the floating structure and of which an other end forming a piston ( 12 ) is engaged in a cylinder ( 13 ), said cylinder ( 13 ) being connected at its other end to a member ( 14 ) conformed to float on the surface of the water, said cylinder arranged so as to, during its sliding along the piston under the effect of the waves actuating a member generating energy such as in the electrical form, in the form of compressed fluid. 
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein the generating means comprise a dynamo which is driven in rotation to generate electrical energy by the effect at least of a traction exerted by the floating element on the flexible connector element rolled on the dynamo. 
     
     
         14 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein said member defines at least in part an enclosure of which the volume is variable according to the height of the surface of the water, therefore of the waves, with the compression of a fluid enclosed within said volume generating a recoverable energy. 
     
     
         15 . Device according to  claim 14 , wherein the member borne by the floating structure is an enclosure ( 2 ) having an open lower end and a closed upper end ( 2   a ), said enclosure ( 2 ) being fixed to the floating structure on the side of its closed end ( 2   a ) in such a way that its open end is immersed, the water entering into the volume defined by said closed enclosure, in such a way that, under the effect of the waves, the height of the water in the enclosure defined as such can vary causing the variation in the volume of said enclosure and generating a compression of the air enclosed within that is then recoverable in order to generate the energy. 
     
     
         16 . Device according to  claim 15 , wherein a floater ( 7 ) is engaged in said enclosure making it possible to regulate the rise of the water and the pressurization of the air in said enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein it further comprises a member ( 5 ) having in the form of an enclosure with tapered wall forming a funnel and extending from a floating element ( 1 ′) perpendicularly to the latter on the surface of the water, making it possible to recover the compressed air by the height and the speed of a wave, directly or by the intermediar of a piston, using a non-return valve ( 6 ′). 
     
     
         18 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floating structure comprises a member ( 25 ,  25 ′) forming a funnel arranged to channel the waves into a corridor closed from underneath using a plate ( 27 ) extending from a front floating element ( 1 ) towards the space between the two floating elements ( 1 ,  1 ′) of the floating structure, said member forming a funnel being comprised of lateral walls ( 25 ) extending from the floating elements ( 1 ) towards the suspended member ( 14 ), vertically in relation to the plate ( 27 ) in order to define a channel that shrinks to said member ( 14 ) and that then re-enlarges ( 25 ′) towards the rear floating element ( 1 ′), this member ( 25 ,  25 ′) being furthermore adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floating structure is designed in order to be able to be attached, towed, propelled or self-propelled from the front, in order to facilitate its positioning facing the waves so that the front and rear floating elements are parallel to the waves. 
     
     
         20 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floating structure further comprises at least one wind turbine of a fixed orientation in order to produce electricity.