(2) 6 os, wy w an @ ws) (60) on (2) 68) 36) United States Patent Bull DAMPING PLATES. Inventor: Diana Bull, Philadelphia, PA (US) Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. Pennington, ND (US) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis patent is extended of adjusted under 35 USC. 154(b) by O days Appl. No 11/799,138 Filed: May 1, 2007 Prior Publication Data US 200810131208 AT Jun, 5, 2008, Related US. Application Data Provisional aplication No. 60°796,388, filed on May 1.2006, 1c, Base 2200 (2006.01) us.cl. 405/198.1; 441/22; 114/258, Fleld of Classification Search +405/195.1 ‘405/205; 114/258 ‘See pplication file for complete search history. USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2892862 A T1944 Rabuse ans BIDESRR A * 611965 Liwig ‘wosi97 342538 A * 21969 Scherer 114282 100 PTO 34 'US007594780B2 US 7,594,780 B2 Sep. 29, 2009 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: 350078 A S97 Johan Jeeta oon 8268 RISS36 A$ 91973 Milazo 4 ROMS A$ L1976 Wainwright Tae. a0 S41 4 * 91981 Bionic etal ot SA7AL29 8 ¢ 1DI981 Watkins eal has 5132850 A + 71902 MeCabe 200'53 Sio2707 A * M1908 Hono. a0s224 6102825 A * 82000 Olsen cal “os9s.. 8718130 B2* 42004 Grober 396/55 FowtIS B2* 42005 Huang etal. 405-206 200410061338 A1* 42004 Woodbridge 29083 2040181812 AL* 72004 Base 05203 ao040208707 AL* 102004 Hang eal 405 206, 2006 0120809 A1* "63005 Ingram et al “os'19s1 Sou7io0s9108 A1* 33007 Chang 40819511 * cited by examiner Tara Mayo-Pinnoek ‘or Firm-—Ulengy |, Scbanzer, Es Primary Examiner (18) Attorney, Agent, on ABSTRACT A damping (or heave) plate comprises a generally fat plate ‘attached, beneath the strface of @ sea, a in horizontal or fnlaton, to a structural member subject to being vertically moved in response to passing surface waves. The plate tends toresist vertical movements and has the elec of adding mass ‘o the structure, A vertically extending structure is added 10 both major surfaces of the heave plate for increasing the volume of water moved by the plate, For minimizing drag forces generally created by use of the damping plate, the verically extending structure is shaped to inchide curved fnydodynamic surfaces for minimizing turbulence in the sur rounding water, 32 30U.S, Patent 100 Sep. 29, 2009 20. US 7,594,780 B2 Pro ry #022 a ui FIG.1 32 34 pales FIG.2 on woFtS-4 30 32 20 40 059 30 o o— 34 FIG.3 FIG.7 FIG.5 20 68 20 74 20 66 70 Dn 30 ge 3 aa 66 70 FIG.6 20, 84 20 30 30 FIG.8 & FIG.9US 7,594,780 B2 1 DAMPING PLATES. ‘This invention claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/796388 filed May 1, 2006 for Wave Energy Converter (WEC) with Heave Plates whose contents are ‘incomporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ‘This invention relates to improvements in damping plates (elso known as heave plates) and, while not so limited, relates particularly to damping plates use in apparatus for conver- Ing energy contained in waves on the surface of bodies of water to useful energy. ‘The use of damping plates, eg. a horizontally oriented Mat plate atached to a submerged vertical spar of a floating oil Platform, is generally known. The plates have the effect of ‘nereasng the mass and the viscous rag of the members 10 ‘which they are attached, thus making the members less likely to be driven into destructive movements by excessively high surface waves and winds, ‘Such damping plates are also useful in certain wypes of ‘apparatus, kaawn as wave enengy converters (WECS), for ‘converting energy in surface waves on bodies of water 10 Useful energy. One lype of such WEC comprises « pair of oats which bob up an dowsn in response to passing surface ‘waves, Relative movements between the floats are used for diving an energy converter, for example, an electrical gen- ‘erator connected between the oats for generating electrical ‘or any useful energy. The amount of energy produced by a given WEC is a fanetion of, among other things the mass of the floats driven ‘nto motion by the passing waves. For increasing the elfective mass of atleast one of the floats, a practice isto suspend a submerged damping or heave plate from the foat. The efle- tive mass ofthe flat from which the damping plat is sus- pended is increased due to the fact that the aeveleration and ‘deceleration ofthe plate through the water requires: move ‘mens of some volume of water around the plate, The greater the amount of water moved by the plate, the greater is the increase of the at mass, ‘The amount of water moved by a given damping plate isa funetion of the size ofthe plate. Also, as disclosed in co- pending patent applications, tiled “Heave Plate. with Improved Charactristies” bearing Set. No. 1/796,851, and “Wave Energy Converter (WEC) with Have Plates bearing Ser. No. 11/706,852, assigned tothe asignee ofthe present ‘application, an dhe subject matter of which is incorporsed herein by reference as though fll st forth herein, the addi tion of a vertically extending stricture, eg. a lip along the ‘edges af the heave plat, significantly increases the amount of water moved by the plate, hence the amount of mass added t0 the float. ‘While useful foradding effective mass oa float, a problem associated with the use of damping plates, at least in connec tion with WEC, is thatthe viscous drag forces associated with the plates tends to impede relative movements, thus tending to negatively affect poser generation. The present Jnvention provides means for minimizing the drag forces ‘ypically associated with theuseofdamping plates the type described, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A damping (heave) plate, of peneally fat configuration, includes projecting structure, typically inthe form ofaledge ‘rlipalong the plate edges, for increasing the volume of water 0 o 2 nove by the plate, In accordance with he present invention, the projecting structure has a streamlined configuration, inching curved hydrodynamic surfeces, for minimizing tur bulene inthe surrounding water and atendant drag forces [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. ‘The drawings are schematic and not to scale, PIG. Lis aside view of a wave energy coaverter of knowa, {ype including an elongated “spar” float having a damping plate attached to the lower end thereof PIG. 2 shows the lower end ofthe spar f 1 but with a known mosiieation ofthe d PIGS, 3 through 9 are similar o FIG. 2 ts according tothe instant invention shown in FIG. ing plate; and show daraping P DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As show schematically in FIG. 1, preferred WEC com- pris frst annular float 10 of a wenerally at configuration, and second, elongated float 20, refered o a a “spat” oat, extending drough an opening 22 though te annular Noat 10. In accordance with known technology, the two floats are configured to bob up and down in generally out of phase relationship in response to passing surface waves. A poser ‘ake off device (PTO) 100 is connected between the float and spar to coment ther relative motion int useful energy (©. electrical A damping plate 30 is disposed at the lower endof the spar float 20 for increasing its effective mass. As illastated, the damping plate comprises an essentially fat plate having ‘major surfaces 32 and 34 extending transversely to the dinee- ‘ions of motion ofthe plate 30 through the water. The effet of the damping plate 30 is to add mass signi cantly greater than tht of the plate itselr wo the spar Nout 20. Such added mass is due tothe fact thatthe acceleration oF deceleration ofthe plate requires movement of some volume ‘of fluid around the plate as it moves. It has heen established that the volume offuid that the plate will move, by itselfand ‘without the added strctne herein disclosed, is proportional {o the equivalent volume of the plate times some experimen- tally determined factor |see, Chakrabarti, S. K. (1987), “Hydrodynamics of Offshore Structures”, WET Press and (Computational Mechanies Publications] The volume of fuk moved isalso function ofthe frequency with whieh the plate js moving. This parameter is nat discussed hercin, ‘The equivalent volume of the plate depends upon the geometry ofthe plate, and the general ule thst the equiva Tent volume is equal to the area ofthe plate multiplied by « height dimension equal toa lateral dimension ofthe plate; for ‘example, the width ofa rectangular plate, the side ofa square plate, or the diameter of circular pate. "The aovelerated flow inertia force caused by the damping plate isthe added mass of the system (he density of water fimes the equivalent volume times the experimentally deter mined factor) times the aceleration of the system, oF where, is the experimentally determined f$010" Vega is the eqhvalent volume defined above, pis the densiy of water, and a isthe acceleration, Note thatthe added mass ‘erm, with units of mass, i the combination ofthe variables inside ofthe parethesis. For purposes of analysis, the viscous drag can be separated into feo components known as skin friction dag and form dag. Skin feetion drag arses from the fiietion of a fluidUS 7,594,780 B2 3 ‘ainst the surface ("skin") of the object that is moving through the fad, Form (or profile or pressure) drag is mainly ‘due to boundary ayer separation ofthe uid due tothe form, i. shape, of theobject. Form drag varies (non-linear) 3s the square of velocity: thus the viscous drag of the system is rhon-zer> only when there isa non-zero velocity. ‘A boundary layer of fiuid is ereated around an abject dueto the fietion of the sid agains the surface of the objec. Flow separation, or boundary layer separation, occurs when this boundary layer of uid detaches from the surfice of the cobject. When separation oecurs the fluid forms eddies and vortices (spinning and often turbulent flow). Flow separation ‘can (and in the ease of damping plates does) result in ‘increased drag as the object moves through the Maid. Aa ‘experimentally determined drag coefficient relates the strength of the viseous drag force 10 relative flow velocity. ‘When there is no flow separation the dag coefficient will be lower than when vortices are formed. The thinness othe plate and porosity of he plate are important factors for the dre ‘cellent since they ereate a series of sharp angles from ‘which the flowing water can separate (soe, Chua, K. HL, Celland, D. Huang, Sand Sworn, (2005) “Model Experi ‘ments of LIydradynamic Forces on Heave Plates”, Procecd- ings of 24th Intemational Conference on Offshore Mechanies and Artic Engineering, Halkidiki, Greece]. Thos, when the Spae damping plate uit is moving ia heave the lw of Water past these sharp edges has a tendency 10 ereate vortices, ‘reating a turbulent boundary layer, henee increasing the ‘damping ofthe system, In contrast o sharp edges, the ow ‘around blunt shaped stetues without sharp corners, sch as ‘jlinders or spheres, can exhibit no flow separation, separa tion with no vortex shedding, and separation with vortex shedding coinciding with an increase in heave amplitude (often evaluated nomalized by the diameter ofthe object heave; se, Faltinsen, 0. M. 1990; “Sea Loads on Ships and Offshore Structures”; Cambridge University Press, Cam- bridge). Thus fablunt shaped objects moved only a action ofits diameter no low separation occurs, Returning to the matter of adding mass to the system, «| vertical sieetire, suchas shown in FIGS. 2, is addled wo the ‘damping plates for increasing the valume af Bui moved by the plates. Bac figure shows te lower end ofa spar float 20 to which a known type of damping plate 30s attached. The figures are only schematic and its possible o have a spar” that is comprised of multiple components, « truss spe Because the spar flat oseilates in the vertical cretion, the ‘added structure encompasses both the upper and lower sur- faces ofthe damping lates, "As previously’ described, the damping plate 30, by itself aves a volume of fuid proportional to the “equivalent vole tume” of the plate, determined primarily by the area of the plato. With the added vertical structure, an additional amount ‘of uid is moved as a finetion ofthe volume enclosed by the plate and the added surtounding strctur, i. the height of theadded structure multiplied by the area ofthe plate. Also, in some instances, the added stricture functions to inerease the ‘effective area of the plate thereby’ furher increasing the amount of fluid moved by the plate In FIG, 2 the added structure comprises a numberof th plates 40 secured to and extending completely around the ‘edge ofthe damping plate 30 and perpendicular thereto, The plates can be edge-joined 4 one another, thus comprising @ ‘ylinder enclosing the plate 30. The additional added mass achieved by the vertical plates is, for movements in either the Uupor down direction, proportional othe vertical height ofthe plates 4 above orbelow the plate 30, respectively. multiplied by the area ofthe plate 30, The structure shown in FIG. 2is o 4 disclosed inthe previously cited provisional application See ‘No. 60/796,388. A problem associated with the FIG. 2 damp- ing plate 30, however is that te plates 40 terminate in sharp tedges which tend to generate undesimably high drag fares. Conversely inthe strctites shown in FIGS. 3-9, sharp edges are avoided and! lower dmg forces are present. TInFIG. 3 the added structure comprises a tube 50 of cite lar cross-section and outer diameter D disposed along the cedgeof the plate 30. This results, similarly asin FIG. 2, nan ‘add mass proportional to the height of the tube 80 above ‘and below the plate 30 multiplied by the area ofthe plate 30, ‘but with the added effect that the area of the plate is inereased by the area of the circular tube 50, An advantage of this cembodinient is thatthe smooth eicular shape ofthe vertical portion of the tube wall keeps the fluid flow attached to the Structure thus decreasing the drag coefficient TInFIG. 4, the added stecture comprises anellipticeylinder 60 (a 3-dimensional object with an oblong erose-section) surrounding the plate 30. This results ina larger addition to the mass added to the plate 30 then that provided by the structure showin in FIG. 2 provided the longer sie is orients perpendiculartothe plate 30, Thesmooth shape ofthe elit tylinder tends to keep the fd flow attached to the structure thus decreasing the drag evefficient In FIG. 5, the addition comprises semi-cievlar beads or sims 66 facing away from the plate 30 at the top and bots eds ofa vertical eylinder 68 (as in FIG. 2). The rims 66 add {othe area ofthe damping plate thus inreasing the equivalent volume thereof, hence the amount of Mid moved thereby. ‘The additional added mass achieved by the vertical eylinder 68 is proportional tothe height ofthe cylinder nmap by the area ofthe damping plate. The curved shape ofthe rims ‘keeps the Bid flow attached to the stricture thos decreasing the drag evelicient. TaFIG. 6 the additonal structures similartothatshowatia FIG. $ except that the rims 70 face inwardly ofthe plate edge. Anadvantage of thisis thatthe flu inside the rims is isolated {rom the fui around the plate structure thus decreasing the strength ofthe vortex shedding nd hence the drag eoeiciet. In FIG. 7, the added member comprises a eylinder 72 faving # wall of V-shaped eros section thus including both vertical and horizontal components. AS in the forewoing ‘examples, the borizatal components result in added mass by ‘adding wo the equivalent volume of the plate 30, while the added mass achieved by the vertical components isthe height ‘of such components multiplied by the area ofthe plate, FIG. also shows the placement af smooth (blunt-shaped) objects, here, fll cizcula tubes 74 atthe ends ofthe eylindee 72 for Keeping the Mud flow amtached to the stractre for decreasing the drog coefficient, Other objects, such as the semi-circular rims 66 aid 70 shown respectively in FIGS, 8 and 6 can be used, TaFIGS. 8and9, theaddition of hick circular menabers 80 ‘or 410 the plate 30 ith vertical dimensions curving towards fr away from the spar 20, respectively, inerease the added ‘massa a function, asin previous examples, of the product of the vertical dimension and the plate area. The members 80 and 84 are shown as being relatively thick and hollow. Alter tatvely, the eircular members can comprise curved plates ‘Te smooth shapes ofthe circular members 80nd 84 help 10 Keep Mud floss ataced to the strveture, Tn general, the elimination of sharp comers on the edges of the plates or on vertically extending members added to the damping plates will decrease the drag coefficient. Ths is adntagenus for WECs since decreasing the drag coeMicient ‘ill result in lager relative motions and hence allowing fora mon elicent capture of enerpyUS 7,594,780 B2 5 Another use ofthe invention is in industrial mixing pro- ‘cesses (Where an actuator causes a plate to oscillate in a ‘container of non-mixed liquids) in whieh it is desired 10 ‘suppress (or enhance} formation of small scale vortices. This ‘can bo accomplished by the use of vertically extending. ip Strvctures as above-described with more or les streamlining ‘of the lip structures to obtain the desired results ‘What is claimed is 1A damping plate comprising a first plate for being attached to the submerged end ofa spar-ike float ina body of Fiqid and said spar ike oat being subject to movement inthe vertical directions, said fist plate of generally solid lat con- figuration having a pair of oppositely facing major surfaces ‘extending transversely of the up down movement ofthe spar- like float, and vertically extending structures mounted on said major surfaces of said fist plete for inewesing the volume of liguid pushed aside during movements ofthe plate through the lighid said vertically’ extending stevctures defining an ‘enclosure whose sides are sold and of predetermined height, for capturing a volume of water which is a function of the ‘enclosed surface area of the damping plate multiplied by the height ofthe vertically extending structures fr increasing the elfective mass of water pushed during the up down movement fof the damping plate through the water; said vertically ‘extending structures having streamlined curved configura tions for minimizing turbulence andthe amount of drag ene- ated by the up down movement of the damping plate in the body of liquid. 2.A damping plateinacconlance withelaim 1 wherein sid vertically extending sirctures have smooth and curved sue tices “3. damping plate inaccordance withelaitn I wherein id vertically extending structures have an elliptical eoss-see- 4A damping platein accordance with clan 1 wherein iid vertically extending strictures comprise socond plates dis- posed at edges of said first plate and terminating above and below said firs plate in rims having curved walls '.A damping plate inaccordance withclaitn I wherein id vertically extending structures comprise one or more semi circular members disposed at one or more edges of sid fis plate. 6. A damping plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Figuidis water ad the movement is oscillatory’ tesponsive 10 passing waves 7. damping platein accordance withclatn 1 wherein iid vertically extending structures have a circular eros section ‘extending long the periphery of the first plate. 8. Apparat including a damping plate comprising a first, plate for being attached tothe submerged end of a sparlike Float in a body of liguid and subject to movement in the vertical directions, said plate having @ pair of oppositely ‘acing surfaces extending ransversely ofthe Vertical up and ‘down movement of the spar-ike float and vertically extend jing strictures mounted on ssid surfaces for inereasing the volume of guid pushed aside during the up dawa movements 0 6 ‘ofthe plate through the Figuid suid vertically extending strve- tures defining an enclosure whose sides are solid and of predetermined height for capturing volume of water whieh ‘sa function ofthe enclosed surface area of the damping plate ‘multiplied hy the height of he vertically extending steutures orincreasing the eectivemass of water pushed wp and down during movement of the damping plate through the water ssid vertically extending structures having. streamlined ceurved configurations for minimizing the amount of drag created by the up and down movement of the damping plat 9. Apparatus claimed in claim 8, further inchuding at intended to Tie along the surface of a hody of Water and designed to move generally in-phase with the waves present jn the body of water: and wherein said sparlike Moat is intended to extend vertically, generally perpendicular o the ‘eat and the surface ofthe body of water, aid spar-like float extending below the surface ofthe body of water and being intended to move vertically up and down generally outof- phase with the waves; and further including a power takeoff Geviee PTO), connected between the spar-like Not and the Hoa, responsivetotheitrelative motion to convert the relative motion 1 useful ener. 10, Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said vertical structures have a circular eross section and extend coat ‘ously along the periphery of the damping pate. 11, Apparatus as claimed in elim 10, wherein said vertical structures are symmetrically disposed above and below the damping plate. 12, A wave energy converer (WEC) comprising: alot for Aloating ona surface of abody of water for generally in-phase movements with the waves present inthe body of water, an elongated spar for foating vertically in the body of water for ‘gencmlly oitof-phase movements with the waves: poster {ake off device (PTO), connected between the spar and the float for converting relative motion there between to usefl ‘energy’aheave plate connected oa submerged portion ofthe Spar, said heave plate extending in a plane perpendicular to the spar and having a pair of oppositely facing surfaces extending transversely tothe vertical directions af movement ‘ofthe spar, and vertical strvetires mounted on the oppositely ‘acing surfaces, said verical structures defining an enclosure whose sides ae solid and of predetermined height foreaptur- ing a volume of water which is a function ofthe enclosed surface area of the damping plate multiplied by the height of the vertically extending structures for inereasing the effective mass of water pushed doring the up and down movement of the damping plate through the water, said vertical structures having curved surfaces along its edges for lowering the vi cous drag of said heave plate 13. A WEC as claimed in claim 12, wherein said vertical structures have one ofa generally elliptical and circular cross section extending along the periphery ofthe heave plat. 14. WEC as claimed in claim 12, wherein said vertical structures extend symmetrically above and below the heave plate