A system includes a float including a drivetrain, a reaction structure coupled to the drivetrain by a tendon, and an extension spring having a first end coupled to a fixed point on the tendon and a second end configured to be disposed at a fixed location relative to the drivetrain. The extension spring is configured to experience an elastic force in response to tension on the first end of the extension spring away from the drivetrain.

The present invention relates to the utilization of wave energy and its conversion into operating motion of an electrical energy generating system. The system for generation of electrical energy through the conversion of aquatic wave motion includes floating bodies and a constant rotation mechanism, which converts the two-way linear motion of an inflexible transmission shaft or a flexible transmission shafts into one-way rotation of an output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism. This mechanism allows utilization of wave energy in two directions caused by the rise and fall of waves. The output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism is coupled to a force multiplier that is further coupled to a generator which generates electrical energy. Constant rotation mechanism can be driven by inflexible transmission shaft pivotally coupled to the floating bodies at one end, and the other end to an input gear of the constant rotation mechanism. Depending on the height of the wave and the wavelength, various constructions of floating bodies are used. Certain floating bodies are designed for the waves of a smaller amplitude and smaller wavelength, while other floating bodies are designed for bigger amplitude and bigger wavelength.

A wind turbine and wave/tidal energy apparatus has a vertical axis blade assembly, a lower cylindrical tube and an upper cylindrical tube. A rotor shaft is connected to the blade assembly and the upper cylindrical tube. A magnetic chamber is housed inside an upper cylindrical frame and is connected with the blade assembly through the rotor shaft. The frictionless levitation chamber is housed inside the upper cylindrical frame. The rotor shaft may protrude through the magnetic chamber into the frictionless levitation chamber and may have a magnet attached on the end of the rotor shaft. The magnetic array chamber is housed inside the lower cylindrical frame and may have a magnetic array axle with plurality of fixed magnets on it. The magnetic array axle may protrude into the frictionless levitation chamber and have a magnet attached to it. The floating inductive coil is located externally of the lower cylindrical frame.

Systems and methods for a single-body point absorber buoy with a rigid body housing a multi-stage hollow cylinder, a multi-thread high helix shaft, a low rounds-per-minute permanent magnet alternator/generator, damping/heave plate and cooling and communication tower.

The present invention relates to the utilization of wave energy and its conversion into operating motion of an electrical energy generating system. The system for generation of electrical energy through the conversion of aquatic wave motion includes floating bodies and a constant rotation mechanism, which converts the two-way linear motion of an inflexible transmission shaft or a flexible transmission shafts into one-way rotation of an output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism. This mechanism allows utilization of wave energy in two directions caused by the rise and fall of waves. The output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism is coupled to a force multiplier that is further coupled to a generator which generates electrical energy. Constant rotation mechanism can be driven by inflexible transmission shaft pivotally coupled to the floating bodies at one end, and the other end to an input gear of the constant rotation mechanism. Depending on the height of the wave and the wavelength, various constructions of floating bodies are used. Certain floating bodies are designed for the waves of a smaller amplitude and smaller wavelength, while other floating bodies are designed for bigger amplitude and bigger wavelength.

Disclosed are a wave power generation system for generating electrical energy by means of a hydraulic circuit, and a method for controlling same. The wave power generation system comprises a hydraulic motor for storing motion energy in a form of fluid pressure and volume if a plurality of tension transmission members, for transmitting motion energy by means of six-degrees-of-freedom motion of a movable object floating on the waves, move in one direction, and for maintaining the tension of the tension transmission members by means of the stored energy if the tension transmission members move in the other direction. Electric energy is alternately generated by means of the bidirectional motion of the plurality of tension transmission members.

An apparatus for generating energy from ocean waves, the apparatus including a first or outer section arranged to be coupled to a sea floor and a second or inner section that is at least partially received by and slidably moveable within the first section. The first section includes a float housing arranged to be located toward or at a sea surface and an armature housing extending from the float housing toward the sea floor, the float housing having one or more apertures so that a water level within the float housing is substantially similar to or follows that of the sea surface. The second section includes a float slidably received by the float housing and a stem carrying a magnetic element that extends from the float so as to be receivable by the armature housing. The arrangement is such that the float travels in substantially vertical direction within the float housing in response to movement of the sea surface thereby the armature housing being moved relative to the magnetic element to generate energy.

A wave energy converter incorporates a floating body and a reaction body engaging the floating body wherein the reaction body is static or oscillating out of phase relative to the floating body. A power take-off (PTO) has at least one direct drive linear generator, a high level controller responsive to sensors engaged to the direct drive linear generator and providing a PTO force change command (dF.sub.PTO) and a low level controller receiving the PTO force change command and providing control signals to power electronics connected to the direct drive linear generator. The direct drive linear generator is operable responsive to the control signals to achieve optimal power extraction performance with high force at low speed with operation in two physical directions and operating as both a motor and a generator for a total of four quadrants of control.

A damping system for a heave compensator for an off-shore oil rig includes a hydraulic cylinder having a piston and a housing. The hydraulic cylinder is configured for accepting a hydraulic fluid. There is a flow passage for restricting the flow of the hydraulic fluid during movement of the piston in the housing. The hydraulic fluid is a magnetic fluid and the damping system includes a magnetic fluid management system for controlling a magnetic field at the flow passage. A heave compensator including such a damping system, and a method for controlling the damping of a heave compensator are also disclosed, the method including subjecting a magnetic fluid to a magnetic field at a flow passage for restricting the flow of the magnetic fluid.

A means for improving the motion stability of a floating, semi-submerged, or submerged body used in, multi-capture-mode wave energy converters (WECs) having two or more bodies, against wave-induced heave, surge, and pitching forces, while reducing the size, mass and cost of such bodies or bases, thus improving the relative motion and hence capture efficiency of such WECs over a broad spectrum of wave periods and wave heights. Stabilizing counter moments against wave-induced motion are substituted by strategic placement of drag plates or planes entraining seawater mass or water-filled cavities within, or attached to, the bases and/or at least one tensioned seabed-affixed cable. The base or reaction-body stabilizing means is disclosed in a two-body multi-capture-mode, deep-water, surface-deployed, wave-terminator-type WEC to concurrently increase wave energy capture efficiency and reduce the volume, mass, and capital cost of the WEC's stabilized reaction body or base.