An energy harvesting pendulum device is provided to oscillate in a semi-circular path on an inclined plane with a low friction surface in response to wave motion of an ocean surface. An electrical production source is mounted to an underside of the plane to convert kinetic energy of a pendulum bob of the pendulum device into electrical energy. The pendulum device can be enclosed by an enclosure floating on the ocean surface with the pendulum moving bob on the inclined plane within the enclosure. The length of the pendulum and the angle of the inclined plane are determined so that the pendulum operates in a resonant state at the ocean motion frequency. The pendulum bob can include rollers for minimal friction when contacting the inclined plane.

A wave energy converter is disclosed, comprising: a body configured to float in water and roll and/or pitch in response to wave action; a pendulum supported by the body and configured to swing in response to rolling and/or pitching of the body; an energy converting means associated with the pendulum and configured to convert swinging of the pendulum relative to the body into electrical energy; a pendulum adjusting means configured to adjust a swinging period of the pendulum, wherein the pendulum adjusting means includes one or more flywheels, each of the one or more flywheels being selectively operably connectable to the pendulum; a body tuning means configured to adjustably tune rolling characteristics of the body; and a controller configured to control the body tuning means such that a rolling period of the body approximates or matches a wave energy peak period.

A turbine comprises a shaft (20), a mass (10) eccentrically mounted for rotation about shaft (20), having its center of gravity at a distance from the shaft (20) and a motion base (15). Motion base (15) rigidly supports the shaft (20), and is configured for moving the shaft (20) in any direction of at least two degrees of movement freedom, except for heave. A floating vessel-turbine (120), encloses entirely the eccentrically rotating mass (10) and the motion base (15). The turbine converts ocean wave energy into useful energy, very efficiently.

A wave energy converter is provided which includes a nacelle having a starboard side and a port side axis, and housing a power take-off. The wave energy converter also includes at least one buoyancy member coupled to the nacelle, and a ballast tank coupled to the nacelle. The ballast tank, the at least one buoyancy member, and the nacelle, together form a first body, where the first body is coupled to the power take-off. The wave energy converter further includes a float and a drive arm forming a second body, where the second body is rotatably coupled to the first body about a coupling axis, and the second body is coupled to the power take-off. The second body is configured to rotate relative to the first body about the coupling axis within a radial span bounded by a proximal end of the float and a radially distal end of the float. According to one aspect, the first body has a center of mass and a center of buoyancy, and the coupling axis is offset from a line formed between the center of mass and the center of buoyancy of the first body. Methods for generating power with the wave energy converter are also provided.

Wave energy conversion systems (WECS) with internal power take-off mechanisms using internal inertias as well as WECS using a submerged water head for driving a turbine at a steady rate. The WECS involving internal inertias is effected through relative oscillation between masses inside the hull of watercraft excited by wave motion and whereby the masses' oscillations are captured by actuators (e.g., hydraulic) that pressurize a fluid or generate electricity. Different relative oscillation mechanisms are disclosed herein. The WECS involving a submerged water head involve the use of asymmetric floats, arranged in a circular orientation for omni-directional wave energy capturing, that drive respective pistons that pressurize the water head and drive the turbine. Alternatively, the use of articulating raft/barges or floats coupled via a lever arm can be used instead of the asymmetric floats for pressurizing the water head.

A wave energy converter is provided which includes a nacelle having a starboard side and a port side axis, and housing a power take-off. The wave energy converter also includes at least one buoyancy member coupled to the nacelle, and a ballast tank coupled to the nacelle. The ballast tank, the at least one buoyancy member, and the nacelle, together form a first body, where the first body is coupled to the power take-off. The wave energy converter further includes a float and a drive arm forming a second body, where the second body is rotatably coupled to the first body about a coupling axis, and the second body is coupled to the power take-off. The second body is configured to rotate relative to the first body about the coupling axis within a radial span bounded by a proximal end of the float and a radially distal end of the float. According to one aspect, the first body has a center of mass and a center of buoyancy, and the coupling axis is offset from a line formed between the center of mass and the center of buoyancy of the first body. Methods for generating power with the wave energy converter are also provided.

A wave-power system configured to produce electric power is provided. The wave-power system may comprise a floating body structure, a set of blades attached to the floating body structure, a weight assembly, a bidirectional to unidirectional shaft assembly and/or a power unit. The weight assembly may comprise a plurality of weights which may rotate around a first axis of rotation as a result of floating movements of the floating body structure. Rotation of the plurality of weights may cause an input shaft of the bidirectional to unidirectional shaft assembly to rotate. An output shaft of the bidirectional to unidirectional shaft assembly may rotate in a first direction, regardless of a direction of rotation of the input shaft. Rotation of the output shaft causes the power unit to produce the electric power.

A wave energy conversion cylinder includes an outer cylinder and a center rod disposed along an axis of the outer cylinder. A plurality of electrically-conductive windings are disposed about an inner circumference of the outer cylinder. A magnet is slidably disposed on the center rod. A buoyancy cylinder is disposed outwardly of the outer cylinder. A first moveable ring weight may be slidably disposed along the axis of the center rod and a second moveable ring weight may be slidably disposed along the axis of the center rod. The first moveable ring weight and the second moveable ring weight facilitate control to tune a mass moment of inertia of the wave energy conversion cylinder.

A platform for exploiting the energy contained in waves operating in a marine environment and floating on the sea is disclosed. This comprises a submerged portion existing below a sea surface, an emerged portion existing above the sea surface, and a partially submerged wave power generation mechanism portion including the sea surface and coupling the submerged portion and the emerged portion.

A device for converting wave energy into electrical energy has a sliding mass, a guide for the sliding mass, an electric generator provided with a rotor, a rotor shaft integral with the rotor, a first mechanism that connects the sliding mass to the rotor shaft and can convert the motion of the sliding mass on the guide into a rotational motion of the rotor shaft, and a second mechanism interposed between the first mechanism and the rotor shaft to provide the rotor with an one-way rotation, regardless of the direction of motion of the sliding mass. A floating apparatus may include such a device.