WAVE MOTION GENERATOR BASED ON A DIELECTRIC ELASTOMER WITH STIFFNESS COMPENSATION

摘要

The device (1) for generating electric current by means of the sea waves, comprises a rigid box- shaped structure (3) immersed in the sea (M), which defines an insulated chamber (4) closed at the top by the elastic membrane (2) of a dielectric elastomeric generator, whose upper side (2A) is subjected to the wave action. In the insulated chamber (4) it its present a pressurized compressible fluid (6), whose pressure can be regulated during operation by means of dynamic response variator means (5), comprising members (51, 52) for the inflow and the outflow. The particular geometry of the device results in the combination of a negative hydrostatic stiffness effect (the hydrostatic forces tend the more to deform the membrane (2) downwards, the more the membrane (2) itself is deformed) which is opposed to the intrinsic positive elastic stiffness of the elastic membrane (2), allowing the natural frequency of the device to be tuned to the typical frequency of the sea waves through an appropriate selection of the design parameters. By increasing or reducing the pressure of the compressible fluid (6) in the insulated chamber (4), moreover, they are increased or decreased the stiffness of the elastic membrane (2) and its deformability level under the action of said wave motion, thus optimizing the energy efficiency of the device in the different sea conditions and ensuring its safety in extreme conditions.