BY: EMADI, Seyed Rohall ak; EMADi, Seyyed Muhammad Esmaeel; MOROVATI

S H A R i F A B A D i , Mostafa

Total Number of Claims: 4

Total Number of Figures: 9

Abstract 2

Description of Solution and Explanation of the Invented Device: 3

Key Advantages: 5

Problem Statement: 5

Background Technologies: 7

Claims 8

Τ? ¼ of Pontes

Figure 1 : Schematics of the Wave Energy Convertor 10

Figure 2: Enlarged View of Device - The angled shape of Bouy will guide more water to hit the

Paddles 11

Figure 3: Top view of the device 12

Figure 4: A simplified view of device to showcase the general working mechanism and movement of Paddles as a result of incident wave 13

Figure 5: Close-up view of the main parts of device, showing the arrangement of Paddles, Chain,

Guard Box 14

Figure 6: Internals of the Guard Box showing shafts (slow/high speed) as well as Gearbox and

Generator 15

Figure 7: Shelter for protecting the device from severe weather conditions (During normal operation conditions) 16

Figure 8: Side view of system with Shelter during normal conditions 17

Figure 9: Side view of system with Shelter during severe weather conditions 18 Description of Solution and Explanation of the Invented Device:

The device is made of 1- collecting wave energy through the Paddles 2- converting the motion of wave captured by the Paddle into circular motion through the use of gears 3- generating electricity through generator. Overall schematics of the device is illustrated in Figure 1. Parts and accessories in this device is as follows:

1- Paddles: This part is responsible for collecting wave energy during the time of contact (based on Figure 4, Paddles are installed to the Chain through Supporting Rods using a set of Hinges (5)).

2- Chains: Not only this is used to install the Paddles (1), but also it is used for transmitting the Paddles' (1) motion to the gears (3). 3- Gears: This part will convert the horizontal motion of Paddles (1), transmitted by chains (2), into circular motion. 4- Supporting Rod: Since the incoming wave hits the Paddles (1) with great force, Rods are used as support for protecting the rigidity of Paddles (1). 5- Hinge: In order to facilitate for smooth movement of Rods (4) and Paddles (1), at the connection points with Chain (2) as well as the connection point between the Rod (4) and the upper part of Paddles (1), hinges are used. 6- Slow Speed Shaft: The rotational motion of gears (3) is transmitted to Gearbox (7) using the Shaft (6). 7- Gearbox: This device is used to increase the speed of rotation as received from the Shaft (6) and transmit the motion to the next step. 8- High Speed Shaft: By connecting to Gearbox (7), the high speed rotational motion is transferred to the Generator (9). 9- Generator: It is used to create electrical energy from the mechanical energy. 10- Guard Box: This is to protect the internal equipment such as: Slow Speed Shaft (6), Gearbox (7), High Speed Shaft (8), and Generator (9). 11- Support Rods: It is used for connecting the Guard Box (10) to the Bouy (12) and also to embed the electrical cable routing. 12- Bouy: In order to keep the system afloat and adjust the system according to low and high tides. 13- Anchor Rods: To support the Bouy (12), preventing side movements and a connection to the Anchor (16). 14- Shelter: In order to protect the system from environmental hazards such as typhoons. 15- Shelter Door: Installed as part of the Shelter (14) which is opened and closed as needed through hinges. 16- Anchor: Used for securing the Anchor Rods (13) to the seabed. 17- Water Level (Wave). 18- Seabed. 19- Seashore. 20- Limit Plate: installed at the top end of Support Rods (11) in order to avoid the system to overpass the end of rods due to abrupt large waves.

Main schematics of the device is illustrated in Figure 2, Figure 5 and Figure 6. All main parts except for the Shelter (15) are shown in these Figures. Water Level (17) relative to the device, inclination of Bouy (12) surface, Paddles (1), Chains (2), Guard Box (10), Support Rods (11), Anchor Rods (13), Anchor (16), Seabed (18) and situation of Seashore (19) are all shown. Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the device without Water Level (17). Figure 3 provides a top view of the device in which the situation of Paddles (1), Chains (2), Support Rods (11), Anchor Rods (13), Guard Box (10),relevant to wave direction is presented. These two Figures provide general insight into operational mechanism of the device while Figure 5 and Figure 6 show the details of the device.

The incoming wave at the Water Level (17) hits the Paddle (1) positioned underneath the Guard Box (10), causing the Paddle (1) to move in the direction of the Wave. This movement continues until the kinetic energy of wave lasts. The Paddle (1) shall withstand the high energy of waves and be able to utilize this force effectively, thus it shall be made from light and strong material as well as benefitting from proper concave shape to improve on its hydrodynamics, while Supporting Rod (4) will assist to secure them in its place. Each end of Supporting Rod (4), in connection with Paddle (1) and Chains (2), is fastened in place using a Hinge (5), which will improve the flexibility of movements especially at the end of Guard Box (10). This is the location where horizontal motion of Chains (2) along the direction of Wave needs to rotate at the turning point of Gears (3). The rotating Gears (3) transfer the power through Slow Speed Shaft (6) to the Gearbox (7) and after exchanging the power with higher speed, High Speed Shaft (8) delivers the motion to Generator (9). Output electrical energy is then transferred through proper cable which is guided by the Support Rod (11) to exit the system and routed to the coast. Meanwhile, the motion of lower Paddle (1) and hence the Chains (2) will cause the upper Paddle(s) (1) to move in the direction as shown in Figure 4. As the lower Paddle (1) reaches the far end, next Paddle (1) is engaged with wave, creating a continuous motion. Number of Paddles (1) and the distance between them are adjustable based on designs suitable for a specific region.

To keep the system afloat on water with adjustable height due to low/high tides, the device is connected to two Bouys (12) by the Support Rods (11). Each Bouy (12) is fixed into position through two Anchor Rods (13), allowing the Bouys (12) to move up or down only, which are secured to the Seabed (18) through the Anchor (16). The device is floated on water in such a way that the main body of lower Paddle is immersed in water. Length of the Anchor Rods (13) are selected in accordance with highest high tides as well as taking bad weather conditions into consideration. At the end of each Anchor Rods (13) a Limit Plate (20) is placed in order to avoid the system to overpass the end of rods due to abrupt large waves. In lakes/seas where effect of tide is negligible, the device can be secured to seafloor with a simpler foundation design. One of the challenges for wave energy convertors is severe weather conditions which can cause extensive damages to such devices, and the proposed device is no exception. However, the device is equipped with Shelter (14) made from light weight and strong material as shown in Figure 7. In normal conditions, the Shelter Door (15) is open to allow the wave inside, as shown in Figure 8.Therefore, only the lower Paddle (1) is immersed in water while the device is protected against rains and incoming wind hitting the upper Paddle(s) (1). In case of severe weather conditions such as typhoons, the Shelter Door (15) is closed, preventing excessive forces to hit the Paddles (1) or pushing the upper and lower Paddles (1) at the same time as shown in Figure 9.

Key Advantages:

1. Short distance from the shore: the device can be installed close to the shore where the produced electrical energy can be easily transferred which effectively reduces the costs. Furthermore, its close distance to shore means maintenance of the system is more convenient and less expensive.

2. Working mechanism of the system is relatively simple and its design is focused on simplicity as well.

3. Unlike regular water turbines which can produce energy at the immediate point of contact, the proposed device can benefit from the wave energy for a longer period as the Paddle travels with the wave for quite a long distance.

4. Paddles can be detached and replaced easily while the Shelter can protect the device in severe weather condition.

5. The proposed device will not cause harm to marine life and would not alter the ecosystem around it.

Problem Statement:

Nowadays, due to population growth, global demand for energy is increasing. Clean and renewable sources of energy such as Solar energy, Wind power, Geothermal power and Ocean energy have received considerable attention. Consumption of fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas are linked with increased amounts of Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases as well as soil and water pollutions.

Among the renewable energies, Ocean Power is considered as one of the cleanest sources, putting forward a great potential; thus, developed countries have established comprehensive programs to utilize this vast available source of energy within the seas and oceans. Such energy can be extracted through the following four methods: 1. Ocean Current Energy: These are streams of water which have either lower or higher temperature than surrounding ocean temperature. These currents consistently complete a full cycle, moving in only one direction which also cause the warm weather to be transferred from one location on the earth to the other; Gulf Stream is one of the most important and famous examples. The most conventional method to utilize these currents is to use turbines which are positioned perpendicular to the stream and either anchored to the sea floor or hanged from floating support. 2. Tidal Energy: Tides are formed due to gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth. Gravitational pull from the Moon and the Sun causes rise in water level, and this rise will travel toward the West due to Earth's rotation. Therefore, waves with different periods are created. Amplitude range of such waves is varied and can reach a few meters. Extreme cases of high and low tides occur when the Sun and the Moon are aligned. Once tidal waves meet beaches and land masses, affected areas are amplified caused by the rushing water and the shape of beach lines. For example, domain of high and low tides in some regions of Canada can reach more than 15 meters. Through global and regional modeling, precise prediction for tides in any region is possible. Tidal power is generally utilized by systems such as hydraulic dams. Once high tide occurs, seawater is stored in reservoirs built in shores, and once low tide occurs, the trapped water is passed through gates in the dam, propelling the turbines for necessary energy to produce electricity. If ideal site conditions and utilities are available, energy can be even extracted during high tides as well; generating power twice during each tide cycle. 3. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: These plants benefit from the temperature gradient which exists between deep-ocean cold waters and the shallow warm waters, creating a thermal cycle. By using substances such as Propane or Ammonia, a full thermal cycle for condensation and vaporization is achieved which can then be used by special mechanical devices to generate electricity. 4. Wave Energy: Waves are generated by the energy of wind passing over the seas. The rate of transferred energy from wind to waters are proportional to wind speed and the distance that wind traveled over it. Waves can store great amount of potential energy due to mass of water that can be traveled along the surface of the sea and can transfer a great deal of kinetic energy due to speed of water. However, energy of wave cannot be extracted everywhere. The best areas to develop a plant, are places where waves gain high height. Energy output of the plants are not constant and depend of wave conditions. The technology to produce energy from waves include extraction of mechanical energy from the wave and converting it to electrical energy.

Background Technologies:

In general, preliminary converters can be divided into 5 categories: 1. Moving Object: In this method, an object is moved by the energy of wave and this motion is converted into electrical energy. 2. Oscillating Water Column: A column of water is travelled through a bottomless pipe or a floating box which creates a high speed wind that can propel a turbine. 3. Compressible Medium: The change in water pressure is used to compress the air inside a submersible device. The compressed air can be turned into a current of air which can be utilized to produce power. 4. Overflowing Wave Device: In this method wave height is increased through changing the seabed slope in order to pump more water to a raised platform. 5. Wave Concentrating Device: The mean seawater level is raised in specific locations through the use of cone shaped devices in order to trap high waves. The device can be installed in different positions; anchored to seabed, floating, submersed in deep water or shallow areas of the shore. They can be installed as completely submersible devices and the structure can be extended to the surface. In practice, only navigation buoys produce their required energy through this method, while practical devices are only built near the shore. If such devices are installed offshore, the produced power can reach 3 to 8 times more than the ones installed near shore areas however, the construction and installation costs as well as the costs required for cabling to transfer the electrical energy, makes such projects impractical.