WO2016026982A1

WO2016026982A1 - Wave damper

Info

Publication number: WO2016026982A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/069343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Göran Anderberg
Original assignee: Anderberg Development Ab
Priority date: 2014-08-22
Filing date: 2015-08-24
Publication date: 2016-02-25
Also published as: SE1750191A1

Abstract

A wave damper (100) is disclose comprising an enclosure (101) having an opening (102) for receiving water (201, 201') from a wave (200) impinging from a horizontal direction (202), perpendicular to the vertical direction (203) of the field of gravity, wherein said enclosure comprises a substantially fluid tight void (103), arranged in the opposite end of said enclosure relative said opening, wherein said void is shaped and configured to form a seal (104, 104') around a body of said water relative the exterior (105) of said enclosure when said water is received in said opening and moving towards said void along said enclosure.

Description

Wave damper

Field of the Invention This invention pertains in general to the field wave barriers. More particularly the invention relates to a wave damper for reducing the effect sea waves along shore lines.

Background of the Invention

It is well known that the energy stored in waves is capable of causing significant damage to coastal structures and/or shorelines if not dissipated prior to impact with the structures and/or shoreline. This is a global concern that has environmental and economical consequences.

Problems with previous wave barriers include less than optimal damping of the incoming waves, which results in that a significant ratio of water and energy is still carried by the wave into and over land structures in some conditions, leading to damages. This is in some

circumstances due to that a significant amount of water in the wave is still able to bounce off into the air, and travel over land due to the inertia of the water and/or the wind .

Another problem with prior art is complicated and therefore expansive constructions. This is a critical aspect due to the nature of the problem, i.e. the vast coastlines .

The above problems lead to challenges in providing an efficient, reliable, and reasonably economical solution for coastline protection.

Hence an improved wave damper would be advantageous, in particular for providing efficient dissipation of wave energy, low manufacturing costs, and further without compromising the aesthetics of the coastline to be

protected .

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention preferably seek to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more deficiencies, disadvantages or issues in the art, such as the above-identified, singly or in any combination by providing a wave damper that provides efficient dissipation of wave energy, according to the appended patent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention a wave damper is provided comprising an enclosure having an opening for receiving water from a wave impinging from a horizontal direction, perpendicular to the vertical direction of the field of gravity. The enclosure comprises a substantially fluid tight void, arranged in the opposite end of said enclosure relative said opening, wherein the void is shaped and configured to form a seal around a body of said water relative the exterior of the enclosure when said water is received in the opening and moving towards the void along the enclosure.

Embodiments of the invention provide for a wave damper that facilitates and optimizes the dissipation of wave energy.

Embodiments of the invention provide for a wave damper that reduces the damage of waves on the coastline.

Embodiments of the invention provide for a wave damper that reduce the amount of water that bounce off coast structures that receive an inflow of waves.

Embodiments of the invention provide for a wave damper that is less complex to manufacture.

Embodiments of the invention provide for a wave damper that is less costly to manufacture. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, wherein features for the second and subsequent aspects of the invention are as for the first aspect mutatis mutandis.

It should be emphasized that the term

"comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a side view;

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a side view;

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a side view;

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a side view;

Fig. 5a is a schematic illustration of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a front view; Fig. 5b is a schematic illustration of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a front view;

Fig. 5c is a schematic illustration of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a front view;

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of a section of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a side view; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a section of a wave damper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a side view.

Description of embodiments

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the

embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements .

Fig. 1 illustrates a wave damper 100 comprising an enclosure 101 having an opening 102 for receiving water 201, 201', from a wave 200 impinging from a horizontal direction 202. The horizontal direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction 203 of the field of gravity. The enclosure comprises a substantially fluid tight void 103, which is arranged in the opposite end of the enclosure relative the opening 102. Substantially fluid tight should be construed as sufficiently fluid tight for providing the effect of the invention, namely having the void 103 forming a pocket of air that acts as a damper to the water flowing into the enclosure 101. If the void is not sufficiently fluid tight, the water will be pushed out of the void, and the damping will be less than optimal. The void 103 is accordingly shaped and configured to form a seal 104, 104', around a body of the water 201, 201', relative the exterior 105 of the enclosure 101, when the water 201, 201', is received in the opening 102 and moving towards the void 103 along the enclosure 101, i.e. moving along the horizontal direction 202 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Numerals 104 and 104' in Fig. 1 illustrate the momentaneous position of the sealing area against the body of water 201 that seal the void 103 from the exterior 105. A pocket of air is thereby formed in the void that will act as damping medium for the water 201 flowing into the enclosure 101, due to

compression of the air in the void 103 from the moving body of water, and the resulting counter force ( F i ) that is exerted on this body of water, also illustrated in the isolated section of the wave damper in Fig. 7, for clarity of presentation. The speed and thereby energy of the wave is thereby effectively damped, and the amount of water that bounce off into the air is minimized. The potential damage caused by such waves being cast into the air and

subsequently striking land structures and/or the coast line itself, is thereby minimized. Thus, the G-forces that the incoming waves exert on the coast line can be reduced since the velocity of the wave is reduced over a longer distance, due to the gradual damping provided by the air pocket that the void 103 provides.

The void 103 being shaped and configured to form a seal 104, 104', around the body of water 201, 201', should be construed as the void being dimensioned to allow the formation of a sealing interface against the exterior 105 thereby creating a pocket of air as the body of water 201, 201', travels towards the void 103. Further, the void 103 is shaped to have a volume of air, when the void is momentaneously drained from water, that is substantial enough to allow formation of a pocket of air that exert a force of the magnitude required towards the wave. If the void 103 is too shallow in the horizontal direction, the volume of compressible air in the void would not be

sufficient to create a pocket of air that exerts such force towards the wave. The volume should be dimensioned so that a pocket of air is maintained in the void when the air is compressed. Openings that are just arranged to channel water or prevent splashing of water are shallow openings that are not able to provide for formation of an air pocket as in the present invention. Further, if the volume of the void 103 is unproportionally large in relation to the amount of water that move in the void, the air will not be sufficiently compressed to exert a damping counter force.

Thus, the void 103 has a volume of air to be compressed by the water when moving from the opening 102 towards the void 103, whereby the volume is dimensioned so that the air is compressed to exert a counter force ( F i ) against the body of water for damping movement thereof.

The volume of the void 103 may be varied depending on the wave conditions. In this respect, besides from

customizing the wave damper 100 to the wave conditions where the wave damper will located, it may be possible to vary the volume and/or the shape of the void 103

continuously by active manipulation of the same, e.g. using space filling material or space modifying units, e.g.

cylinders or inflatable units, that further could vary the amount of volume in a continuous and reversible manner.

The enclosure 101 may comprise a tapered portion 106 being tapered from the opening 102 towards the fluid tight void 103, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This tapered geometry may facilitate the formation of the air pocket in the void 103, due to the body of water 201 being pushed in the upward direction by the inclined surface of the tapered portion, and thereby contacting the upper surface of the enclosure 101, as indicated by the sealing area 104 in Fig. 2.

The tapered portion 106 may thus be arranged in the bottom part of the enclosure 101 in the vertical direction. It is also possible that the tapered portion is arranged in the top part of the enclosure, and the body of water 201 may instead be pushed down towards the bottom of the enclosure, which may also facilitate the formation of an air pocket in the void 103 that is being sealed towards the exterior by this water.

The enclosure 101 may comprise a protrusion 107

extending radially inwards into the enclosure 101 from a periphery thereof, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. A narrow waist portion is thereby formed between the void 103 and the opening 102. This narrow geometry may also

facilitate the formation of an air pocket in the void 103, since the protrusion may extend into the body of water where a sealing area may be formed, as indicated by numeral 104 in Figs. 3-4. The protrusion may be arranged at the top part of the enclosure as illustrated in Figs. 3-4, but it is also conceivable that it may be arranged at the bottom part. The relative position of the protrusion in the horizontal direction inside the enclosure 103 may be varied depending in the wave conditions. Here it is also

conceivable that an active or continuous control of a protruding element 107, such as vertically movable

protruding element 107, can optimize the wave damping function over time depending on current wave conditions, without having to make any other significant and costly to the wave damper installment as a whole.

The void 103 may be arranged vertically offset from the opening 102, whereby the enclosure 101 extends with an angle 108 relative the horizontal direction 202, as

illustrated in Fig. 1. This may also facilitate the

formation of a pocket of air as the water flows into the enclosure 101, since the upward displacement of the void 103 will prevent water from filling this space, e.g. in case the water flows inside the enclosure by flooding the base of the enclosure first and subsequently building upwards, which may be the case in conditions where the waves are smaller or travelling at slower speeds.

The enclosure may extend with a first angle 108 and a second angle 110 relative the horizontal direction 202, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The position of the second angle 110 in the enclosure is offset from the first angle 108 in the horizontal direction 202 for forming the tapered portion. The combination of having a generally inclined enclosure

101, with a first angle 108, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and having a tapered portion 106, due to having a second angle 110 further inside the enclosure 101, may further optimize the formation of a damping air pocket in the void 103 and consequently the ability to provide a damping effect on the incoming waves. Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment where the enclosure 101 additionally has the protrusion 107 for aiding in the formation of a compressible air filled volume in the void 103.

The wave damper 100 may comprise a plurality of

enclosures 101, 101', arranged adjacent one another in the vertical direction 203. Figs. 1-4 illustrate a side-view of such vertical arrangement of a plurality of enclosures, whereas Figs. 5a-c show a front-view. The number of

enclosures 101, 101', stacked on top of eachother may be varied depending on the wave conditions at the location of the wave damper 100. The illustrations in Figs. 1-5 are just an example in this regards. I.e. it would also be possible to have 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or more

enclosures 101 vertically stacked. The vertical position of the wave damper 100 as a whole relative the waterline may also be varied depending in the circumstances. The

enclosures 101 may for example also be placed under the waterline to affect the flow dynamics and reduce

turbulence. Figs. 5a-c illustrate a plurality of enclosures 101, 101'', arranged adjacent one another along a shoreline direction 204 being perpendicular to the vertical direction 203 and the horizontal direction 202. The number of

enclosures 101, 101'', arranged in the shoreline direction

204 may also be varied as desired depending on the extent of wave protection required along the shore. The modular and building block-like structure of the wave damper 100 facilitates expansion and customization of the wave

protection. I.e. enclosures 101 may be added in the

vertical 203 and shoreline 204 directions as desired. The wave damper 100 may provided in modules, where each module comprise a number of enclosures 101.

As already elucidated above, the plurality of

enclosures 101 may be arranged adjacent to one another in a matrix shape in the vertical direction 203 and in the shoreline direction 204, as illustrated in Figs. 5a-c.

The least a first 101 and a second enclosure 101' of the plurality of enclosures may be offset in the horizontal direction 202, as illustrated in Figs. 1-4. This off-set in the horizontal direction 203 may additionally improve the wave damping ability, due to the gradual and step-wise outline in the profile of the wave damper. The step-wise arrangement would also allow for easy access to the

waterline if desired, i.e. functioning as stairs. Thus, wave protection does not have to compromise with

accessibility for e.g. recreational activities at the waterlines .

If the case of having protrusions 107 as described above, and illustrated in Figs. 3-4, it is possible to have a protrusion 107 anchoring a first enclosure 101 of the plurality of enclosures to a second enclosure 101' of the plurality of enclosures. Thus, while providing the benefits as described above with respect to the protrusions 107, it is additionally possible to have the protrusion 107 functioning as an anchor between two adjacent enclosures 101. This may additionally facilitate stacking of several enclosures on top of eachother, and maintain stability, even if the enclosures are inclined at an angle 108. For example, in case each enclosures comprises a hollow channel with an enclosing wall, the wall may have a recess in the outside surface that also forms a protrusion 107 on the inside surface. The opposite outside wall may then have a protrusion as well. Two channels may then be anchored to one another by engaging the respective recesses and

protrusions .

The plurality of enclosures 101, 101', 101'', may extend substantially parallel to one another. This may allow for optimizing the amount of volume of the enclosures 101 in the wave damper 100, and thereby keeping the size of the wave damper at a minimum while maintaining sufficient wave damping ability.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the void 103 may comprise a resilient material 109 arranged to be compressed by the water when moving towards the void 103. This compression will also provide damping of the water, like the

compression of air in the air pocket described above. The resilient material may improve the damping ability in certain conditions.

The enclosure may comprise a rectangular cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 5a.

The enclosure may also comprise an oval or circular cross-section, as seen in Fig. 5b. Further, the cross- section of the channels of the enclosure may have other shapes, such as for example hexagonal shape, which is illustrated in Fig. 5c. The hexagonal shape allows the walls of the channels in the wave damper to be of uniform thickness, which may be advantageous with respect to optimizing the amount of volume of the wave damper that is available for the enclosures, while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity. By having such large portion of the front area of the wave damper provided with enclosures, the wave damping ability can be optimized. The dimensions of the cross-section can be customized to the conditions as desired. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as device, system, or method.

The present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, other

embodiments than the above described are equally possible within the scope of the invention. Different method steps than those described above, may be provided within the scope of the invention. The different features and steps of the invention may be combined in other combinations than those described. The scope of the invention is only limited by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A wave damper (100) comprising

an enclosure (101) having an opening (102) for

receiving water (201, 201') from a wave (200) impinging from a horizontal direction (202), perpendicular to the vertical direction (203) of the field of gravity, wherein said enclosure comprises

a substantially fluid tight void (103), arranged in the opposite end of said enclosure relative said opening, wherein said void is shaped and configured to form a seal (104, 104') around a body of said water relative the exterior (105) of said enclosure when said water is received in said opening and moving towards said void along said enclosure,

2. Wave damper according to claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a tapered portion (106) being tapered from said opening towards said fluid tight void.

3. Wave damper according to claim 2, wherein said tapered portion is arranged in the bottom part of said enclosure in said vertical direction.

4. Wave damper according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said enclosure comprises a protrusion (107) extending radially inwards into said enclosure from a periphery thereof, whereby a narrow waist portion is formed between said void and said opening.

5. Wave damper according to any of claims 1-4, wherein said void is arranged vertically offset from said opening, whereby said enclosure extends with an angle (108, 110) relative said horizontal direction.

6. Wave damper according to claim 3 and 5, wherein said enclosure extends with a first (108) and a second (110) angle relative said horizontal direction, and wherein the position of said second angle in said enclosure is offset from said first angle in said horizontal direction for forming said tapered portion.

7. Wave damper according to any of claims 1-6,

comprising a plurality of said enclosures (101, 101', 101'') arranged adjacent one another in said vertical direction, and/or in a shoreline direction (204) being perpendicular to said vertical direction and said

horizontal direction.

8. Wave damper according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of enclosures are arranged adjacent to one another in a matrix shape in said vertical direction and in said shoreline direction.

9. Wave damper according to claim 7 or 8, wherein at least a first (101) and a second enclosure (101') of said plurality of enclosures are offset in said horizontal direction .

10. Wave damper according to any of claims 7-9, wherein said plurality of enclosures extends substantially parallel to one another.

11. Wave damper according to any of claims 1-10, wherein said void comprises a resilient material (109) arranged to be compressed by said water when moving towards said void.

12. Wave damper according to claim 4 and 7, wherein said protrusion anchors a first enclosure (101) of said plurality of enclosures to a second enclosure (101') of said plurality of enclosures.

13. Wave damper according to any of claims 1-12, wherein said enclosure comprises a rectangular cross- section .

14. Wave damper according to any of claims 1-13, wherein said enclosure comprises an oval, circular, or hexagonal cross-section.

15. Wave damper according to any of claims 1-14, wherein said void has a volume of air to be compressed by said water when moving from said opening towards said void, whereby said volume is dimensioned so that said air is compressed to exert a counter force ( F i ) against said body of water for damping movement thereof.

16. Wave damper according to claim 15, wherein said volume is dimensioned so that a pocket of air is maintained in said void when said air is compressed.