Patent classifications
F03B13/1885
Self-powered computing buoy
A computing apparatus that is integrated within a flotation module, the system obtaining the energy required to power its computing operations from waves that travel across the surface of a body of water on which the flotation module sets. Additionally, the self-powered computing apparatus employs novel designs to utilize its close proximity to the body of water and/or to strong ocean winds to significantly lower the cost and complexity of cooling their computing circuits.
Uniaxial power converting apparatus
A uniaxial power converting apparatus includes a floating unit into which the kinetic energy of waves is inputted and which is moored at sea by a wire, a direction change unit for changing a direction of the wire, and a power conversion module for transmitting the tension of the wire to a generator. The power conversion module can transmit a driving force to a power shaft to which the generator is connected from a drum around which the wire is wound.
WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER AND A METHOD OF GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM WAVE ENERGY
The present invention relates to a wave energy converter, comprising: -a float; -an elongate spacer configured to connect the float to an anchoring at, on or to a floor of a water body; -wherein the float is configured to rotate as it moves along the elongate spacer due to waves and/or tidal movement of the water body; -wherein said float comprises an air chamber for: -a shaft that is rotatably suspended inside the float and having a holder configured to substantially arrest the shaft against rotation as the float rotates around the shaft; and -a generator that is arranged between the float and the shaft and that is configured to generate electrical power when the float rotates relative to the shaft; and -wherein the shaft is completely arranged inside the float and the air chamber shields the shaft and the generator off from the water body. The invention further relates to a method of generating electrical power from wave energy.
Device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy and the process for its deployment at the exploitation location
Device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy and the process for its deployment at the exploitation location, wherein the device comprises a supporting construction composed of buoyancy elements and having a supporting tube attached on the upper side. The device comprises a joint gear on the inner circumference connected with the outside surface of the supporting tube in a sliding manner and a sphere to which is the floating body pivotally connected. The device has two gears, the first flexible gear for connecting the floating body to the second gear and the second gear for connecting the flexible gear to the generator. The flexible gear consists of pulleys and a flexible element, e.g. a rope or a steel cable and the second gear can be arranged in several suitable forms, e.g. rigid elements as a set of a gear and a rack positioned inside the lower supporting tube or a flexible element, e.g. a chain and a sprocket wheel set in the buoyancy element. The supporting construction is by ropes connected to the anchor weight that is made in a form of a sphere segment either directly or through the rolling elements placed in the spherical dent of the anchor base. The invention comprises the process for device deployment at the exploitation location which is particularly suitable due to stable transport with low draught.
Inertial wave energy converter
A wave energy converter generates power from a wave-induced separation of a positively buoyant flotation module and a submerged negatively buoyant mass, using a rotating pulley to drive a power-take-off system.
Floating apparatus for wave power generation
The floating apparatus for wave power generation according to the present invention includes; a floating unit floating on a sea surface; an energy unit configured to convert a kinetic energy of the floating unit to an electric or hydraulic energy; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the kinetic energy of the floating unit to the energy unit.
AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR CONVERSION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY FROM SEA WAVES TO ELECTRIC ENERGY
Device for converting mechanical energy from sea waves into electric energy including at least a float and two rigid rods. The rods are preferably anchored to the seabed at one end, and to the float at another end. There are also two ballasts that effect their weight towards the sea bed to keep the free ends of the rods constantly in traction and free to rotate around their hinges. The float oscillates up and down along a vertical line due to waves. There are at least two cables that connect the free ends of the rods to a transmission shaft of a generator positioned along the vertical line so that the vertical, horizontal, or rotary oscillatory motion of the float caused by the waves generates an oscillatory motion of the rods which are pivoted on their respective hinges, and thus transfers rotary motion to the transmission shaft of the generator.
WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION OF HORIZONTAL SURGE MOTION
A system converts mechanical wave energy into electrical energy. The system includes a wave energy converter (WEC), which includes a surface float, a reaction structure, a plurality of flexible tethers, and a plurality of drivetrains. Each flexible tether connects the surface float to the reaction structure. Each drivetrain is connected to a corresponding flexible tether. Each flexible tether has a length established to treat the system as an inverse pendulum to utilize a horizontal surge motion of the surface float to present tension at the corresponding drivetrain for production of electrical energy from the horizontal surge motion.
Self-propelled buoyant energy converter and method for deploying same
Disclosed is a novel method, process, and system (hereinafter method or process) for deploying, stationing, and translocating buoyant wind- and wave-energy converters and/or other buoyant structures or devices, as well as farms of same. Also disclosed is a novel apparatus and/or machine comprising a farm of buoyant wave energy converters deployed by said method and/or configured to be deployed by said method.
A WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM A WAVE ENERGY
A wave energy conversion system. The system has a float and a power generation drum with a drum housing rotationally attached to the float by a shaft attachment. The shaft attachment allows an at least partially rotational movement of the drum housing and the float relative to each other. The drum housing holds a cable reel with a cable having a first end part connected to the cable reel and a second end part, where the cable reel is an integral part of or connected to the drum housing to rotate with the drum housing. The power generation drum may comprise an electrical generator arranged within the drum housing for rotating or turning in response to a rotational movement of the drum housing. The float can be positioned in the sea by having a second end part of the cable attached to a submerged structure or to the sea bed. When the float is positioned in the sea, the float may be moved by the waves, which movement may cause a rotational movement of the drum housing with electric power being generated by the electrical generator.