WavePlane Electric
The function of The WavePlane.
Seen from above the construction is triangular. Along two of the sides there are inlet ducts and right between those the anchoring point is located. This design ensures that the WavePlane always will position itself with the anchoring point and the inlet facing directly towards the waves.
The WavePlane is a floating construction. In opposition to a boat it doesn't ride the waves up and down, but remains at water level. The WavePlane uses the same principle as a floating oil-platform with regard to lie still in waves. The WavePlane is a rigid construction with a damping plate (a big vertical plate) in the bottom. In the prototype there are three damping plates - one underneath the front and two connected to the two down going tubes. As the area of the damping plates is larger then the water level area of the device, the whole construction mostly follows the movements of the damping plates, which is minimal. The WavePlane is kept afloat by foam filled tanks.
The conversion of wave
The artificial beach
The WavePlane converts the shape and speed of the incoming wave. When the lower part of the wave hits the artificial beach it is speeded down a little, whereby the upper part of the wave relatively is pushed forward and thereby is "thrown" into the device.
The WavePlane primarily uses the part of the wave lying over water level (the wave crest). The water intake is a series of reservoirs with plates resembling planning tools. This has given the device it's name. The part of the wave, which is flushed in through the reservoirs, will be "cut in a number of horizontal slices".
The water flushing through the lower reservoirs flows directly into the "fly-wheel-tube". Some of the water flowing through the upper reservoirs is stored and is only used when the wave crest has passed the device.
All reservoirs are getting narrower towards the "fly-wheel-tube". The water thereby is squeezed and as a result the speed goes up (principle of Bernoulli). As the kinetic part of the energy goes up with the square of the speed of the water, a small increase of speed gives a relatively large increase of kinetic energy.
The fly-wheel-tube
All water flushing passed by the reservoirs of the WavePlane will be squeezed into the side of the fly-wheel-tube, whereby the water is let into a whirling movement. The rotation of this whorl is so strong that it continues during the period of two to three "missing" waves. Even though the water coming to the WavePlane has an irregular pulse, the conversion of flow through the fly-wheel-tube results in an even flowing and rotating stream.
Producing Electricity
In the Electricity WavePlane, turbines is placed in the outlets to produce electricity.
The latest test made in cooperation with DTU shows that the WavePlane is able to
convert up to 32,9 of the energy present in regular waves into the rotating water column.
DTU has made tests in order to establish the efficiency of a turbine placed in the rotating water column, this shows that approximately 68 -78 % of the energy can be extracted this way. This means that in the right wave condition as much as 25,7 % of the available energy is delivered to the generators.
Tests of the WavePlane has shown that appr. 50 % of the energy in the water in the turbine pipes is stored in the rotation of the water. This means that in order to extract this energy a new kind turbine must be made.
Elements of whirl generation
1) The wave hits the artificial beach
2) The water of the waves is squeezed in between the funnels and further into the flywheel tube. The whirl has sufficient power to run a turbine.
3) All funnels are over flushed.
4) The upper funnels have storing capacity. The water in these is first used when the wave has passed.