FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM WAVE MOTIONS

摘要

A device for generating electrical energy from the motion of waves includes: at least one flexible, floatable tube which is closed at its two ends and includes a wall having at least one horizontal stack, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the tube and has at least one layer having one tier made of an electroactive polymer and at least one tier serving as a flexible electrode. The tube is exposed to the wave motions of water such that sections of the stacks are strained or compressed, and the layers of the electroactive polymers in the compressed sections are charged with the aid of control electronics, and thereafter excess electrical energy resulting from relaxation of these sections and the associated separation of the charges in the electroactive polymer is extracted by a capacitive discharge.