Wave energy-dissipation apparatus, system and method

Abstract

A water wave energy-dissipation apparatus for one or more water waves propagating in a direction includes: a support structure at least a portion of which is proximate to a median of the water surface; and a surface inclined at an acute angle relative to the propagation direction, the inclined surface being supported by the support structure located aside of it and being located adjacent the water surface so as to define a substantially open region between the inclined surface and the water surface, the surface having apertures, a surface area of each aperture, A apert , being at least about two orders of magnitude smaller than a fictional total area of the inclined surface excluding apertures, A fict .

1 . A water wave energy-dissipation apparatus for a water wave propagating in a direction, the apparatus comprising: 
 a support structure at least a portion of which is proximate to a median of the water surface; and    a surface inclined at an acute angle relative to the propagation direction, the inclined surface being supported by the support structure located aside thereof and being located adjacent the water surface so as to define a substantially open region between the inclined surface and the water surface, 
 the surface having therein a plurality of apertures, a surface area of each aperture, A apert , being at least about two orders of magnitude smaller than a fictional total area of the inclined surface excluding apertures, A fict .  
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the area of each aperture is at least about three orders of magnitude smaller than a fictional total area of the inclined place excluding apertures.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the total area of the plurality of apertures, ΣA apert (i) to the fictional total area A fict  is sufficient for the plurality of apertures to disintegrate the wave and yet there remains a sufficient amount of non-aperture area on the inclined surface such that the wave does not pass through the inclined surface substantially intact.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein magnitudes of A apert (i) are selected such that the ratio is achieved via a greater number rather than a lesser number of apertures.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a ratio of the total area of the plurality of apertures, ΣA apert (i) to the fictional total area A fict  is in a range  
     
       
         
           
             ≈ 
             
               30 
               ⁢ 
               % 
             
             ≤ 
             
               
                 ∑ 
                 
                   
                     A 
                     apert 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     i 
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               
                 A 
                 fict 
               
             
             ≤ 
             ≈ 
             
               50 
               ⁢ 
               
                 % 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein about 30% of the inclined surface is disposed below the median of the water surface.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined surface is inclined at an angle, relative to the propagation direction, in a range ≈15°≦angle≦≈45°.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is a circle.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a portion of the inclined surface can be described by a ratio of the total area of the plurality of apertures in the portion, [ΣA apert (i)] portion , to a fictional total area of the portion [A fict ] portion ; and    the inclined surface exhibits a gradient of such ratios.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a first end of the inclined surface is disposed adjacent the water surface;    a second end of the inclined surface is disposed above the water surface; and    the gradient is manifested by smaller ratios being exhibited near the first end and larger ratios being exhibited near the second end.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the inclined surface can be described as having at least first and second portions, the first portion being located near the first end and the second portion being located near the second end; and    the portions, on a relative basis, exhibit apertures conforming to the following relation      [ A   apert (typical)] 1     st     portion   ≦[A   apert (typical)] 2     nd     portion ,    where A apert (typical) represents an area of a typical aperture.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the inclined surface can be described as further having at a third portion, the third portion being located being located between the first and second portions; and    the portions, on a relative basis, exhibit apertures conforming to the following relation      [ A   apert (typical)] 1     st     portion   ≦[A   apert (typical)] 3     re     portion   ≦[A   apert (typical)] 2     nd     portion .    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined surface is substantially planar.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined surface is pivotably mounted to the support structure such that the angle thereof relative to the propagation direction is adjustable.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure is a floating structure.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the floating support structure is restrained so as to have a relatively fixed location in terms of latitude and longitude.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a body of the water is one of the following: 
 a coastal area having typical depths to accommodate ocean-going vessels;    a harbor for ocean-going vessels;    a marina;    a small-wake zone; and    a beach.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the support structure is tethered to a floor of the body of the water so as to function as a breakwater.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 a body of the water is a swimming pool; and    the support structure is tethered between two sides of the swimming pool by a cable therebetween.    
   
   
       20 . A method of dissipating energy of waves traveling at or near a surface of a body of liquid, the method comprising: 
 providing surface member having an apertured wave-abating region therein;    providing a frame;    supporting the surface member with the frame;    inclining the wave-abating region of the surface member at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane;    arranging the wave-abating region so that waves in the liquid would impinge thereon;    configuring the frame so that defined therein are one or more spaces open from the wave-abating region to where a median of the liquid surface would be located; and    setting an area of each aperture, A apert , of the wave-abating region to at least about two orders of magnitude smaller than a fictional total area of the wave-abating region excluding apertures, A fict .    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the setting step sets the an area of each aperture, A apert , of the wave-abating region to be at least about three orders of magnitude smaller than a fictional total area of the wave-abating region excluding apertures, A fict .  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 configuring the wave-abating region so that a ratio of the total area of the plurality of apertures, ΣA apert (i) to the fictional total area A fict  is sufficient for the plurality of apertures to disintegrate the wave and yet for there to remain a sufficient amount of non-aperture area on the wave-abating region such that the wave does not pass through the wave-abating region substantially intact.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of configuring includes selecting magnitudes of A apert (i) such that the ratio is achieved via a greater number rather than a lesser number of apertures.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of configuring includes selecting a ratio of the total area of the plurality of apertures, ΣA apert (i) to the fictional total area A fict  is in a range  
     
       
         
           
             ≈ 
             
               30 
               ⁢ 
               % 
             
             ≤ 
             
               
                 ∑ 
                 
                   
                     A 
                     apert 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     i 
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               
                 A 
                 fict 
               
             
             ≤ 
             ≈ 
             
               50 
               ⁢ 
               
                 % 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 disposing about 30% of the wave-abating region below the median liquid surface.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of inclining sets the angle of inclination of the wave-abating region, relative to the horizontal plane, in a range ≈15°≦angle≦≈45°.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 setting the plurality of apertures to be circles.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the wave-abating region includes a plurality of portions;    each of the plurality of portions can be described by a ratio of the total area of the plurality of apertures therein, [ΣA apert (i)] portion , to a fictional total area thereof excluding apertures [A fict ] portion ; and    the method further comprises the following, 
 configuring the wave-abating region to exhibit a gradient of such ratios.  
   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the supporting structure is a floating structure.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 restraining the floating support structure so as to have a relatively fixed location in terms of latitude and longitude.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a body of the liquid is one of the following: 
 a coastal area having typical depths to accommodate ocean-going vessels;    a harbor for ocean-going vessels;    a marina;    a small-wake zone; and    a beach.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 tethering the floating support structure to a floor of the body of the liquid so as to function as a breakwater.    
   
   
       33 . A wave energy-dissipation apparatus for use in a body of liquid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a surface member having an apertured wave-abating region therein; and    a frame to support the surface member;    wherein 
 the wave-abating region is inclined at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane and arranged so that waves in the liquid would impinge thereon,  
 the frame is configured so that defined therein are one or more spaces open from the wave-abating region to where a median of the liquid surface would be located, and  
 at least one of the following, where it is assumed that a wave propagation direction is substantially perpendicular to the wave-abating region and parallel to the horizontal plane, 
 the wave-abating region does not intersect an axis that is perpendicular to the propagation direction and that lies in the horizontal plane, and  
 the wave-abating region also is inclined at an acute angle with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to the propagation direction and that lies in the horizontal plan.  
 
   
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of claims  34 , wherein an area of each aperture, A apert , of the wave-abating region is at least about two orders of magnitude smaller than a fictional total area of the wave-abating region excluding apertures, A fict .  
   
   
       35 . A method of dissipating energy of waves traveling at or near a surface of a body of liquid, the method comprising: 
 providing surface member having an apertured wave-abating region therein;    providing a frame;    supporting the surface member with the frame;    inclining the wave-abating region of the surface member at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane;    arranging the wave-abating region so that waves in the liquid would impinge thereon;    configuring the frame so that defined therein are one or more spaces open from the wave-abating region to where a median of the liquid surface would be located; and    at least one of the following, where it is assumed that a wave propagation direction is substantially perpendicular to the wave-abating region and parallel to the horizontal plane, 
 disposing the wave-abating region so as to not intersect an axis that is perpendicular to the propagation direction and that lies in the horizontal plane, and  
 disposing the wave-abating region also to be inclined at an acute angle with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to the propagation direction and that lies in the horizontal plane.  
   
   
   
       36 . The method of any of claims  37 , further comprising: 
 setting an area of each aperture, A apert , of the wave-abating region to be at least about two orders of magnitude smaller than a fictional total area of the wave-abating region excluding apertures, A fict .