Wave power plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a wave power plant, comprising a floating body ( 1 ) and means for converting the wave energy received by the body into electric power. The front side of the cross-section of the body ( 1 ) opposite to the main incoming direction (A) of the waves is designed to slant forward and upwards in its upper part ( 11 ) and to slant backwards and downwards in its lower part ( 12 ), in such a way that the propagating wave meets the upper and lower part wave at different stages, whereby the lower part tends to move mainly in the opposite direction with respect to the upper part.

1 . A wave power plant, comprising a floating body and means for converting the wave energy received by the body into electric power, wherein the body is a mainly vertical wall, which configured so that, in use, it is for the most part below the water level, but with its upper part above the water level, and the front side of the cross-section of the body opposite to the main incoming direction of the waves is designed to slant forward and upwards in its upper part and to slant backwards and downwards in its lower part, in such a way that the propagating wave meets the upper and lower part wave at different stages, whereby the lower part tends, in use, to move mainly in the opposite direction with respect to the upper part. 
     
     
         2 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said front side is designed into a gently sloping shape, generally like a letter S. 
     
     
         3 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for converting the wave energy received by the body into electric power are located inside the frame part as a closed structure. 
     
     
         4 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the means for converting the wave energy received by the body into electric power are located in the lower rear part of the body, in the vicinity of a roll axis. 
     
     
         5 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wave power plant comprises anchoring arranged in the lower part of the body, the anchoring including an anchoring mass suspended on a downwards extending elongated anchoring device, in connection with which anchoring mass are arranged transversely extending elongated anchoring devices which are connected to the bottom of the installation site of the wave power plant. 
     
     
         6 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the body is made essentially even. 
     
     
         7 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body has a draught dimensioned to correspond to 0.5× the length of the smallest functional wave desired. 
     
     
         8 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in the lower part of the body is provided a water tank for adjusting the floating position of the wave power plant as desired. 
     
     
         9 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the water tank is a generally cylindrical container extending in the lateral direction of the body. 
     
     
         10 . A wave power plant as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for converting the wave energy received by the body into electric power comprise a rotator, which is supported on the body and rotates around an on average vertical rotator shaft, a gyro, which rotates around an on average horizontal gyro shaft, the gyro and the gyro shaft rotating around the rotator shaft with the rotator, and at least one generator, which is connected to rotate together with the gyro or the rotator, and that the rotator comprises a mass, the centre of gravity of which is at a distance from the rotator shaft, whereupon when the body rolls, the mass and gyro alternately generate a parallel torque to rotate the rotator.