Patent classifications
F03B13/1875
Wave energy converter with mooring system comprising buoyant elements
A wave energy converter includes a buoyant body and an acceleration tube attached thereto forming a working cylinder. Upper and lower openings in the acceleration tube allow water flow between the working cylinder and the water in which the acceleration tube is at least partially submerged. A working piston is reciprocable in the working cylinder and an energy converting device collects energy from the movements of the working piston relative to the buoyant body. A mooring system maintains the wave energy converter within a desired anchoring area and includes at least a first fastening device mounted on the buoyant body for attachment of a first mooring line to the buoyant body and a second fastening device mounted on the buoyant body for attachment of a second mooring line to the buoyant body. The mooring lines include first and second line sections, respectively, and at least one buoyant element attached therebetween.
WAVE-ACTIVATED POWER GENERATOR PROVIDED WITH ROPE-CONTROL HYDRAULIC CYLINDER
The wave generator for a rope-controlled hydraulic cylinder in the present invention includes a Wave Energy Harvest and Conversion system (WEHCS), a rope control device and a gravity anchor. The rope control device includes two members which are controllable in relative motion, i.e., frame and an elongated member. When the frame is located above the elongated member, the top end of the frame serves as a connection point with the WEHCS, and the bottom end of the elongated member serves as a collection point with the gravity anchor; however, when the frame is located below the elongated member, the frame serves as a connection point with the gravity anchor, and the top end of the elongated member serves as, a connection point with the WEHCS. The wave generator is applicable for large waves and adapted to tidal changes, as well as effective in rope-retrieving.
SYSTEM FOR CONVERSION OF WAVE ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
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.
PRODUCING COMPRESSED AIR FROM OCEAN WAVES
A system for producing compressed air from ocean waves, including a base for anchoring the system on an ocean floor, two or more columns extending perpendicularly upward from the base to above a surface of the ocean, a platform at an upper end of the columns, one or more air pumps located on the platform, a hammer head coupled to the air pumps for producing compressed air by raising and lowering the hammer head in a predefined motion range, a float that floats on the surface of the ocean and is confined by the two or more columns, the base and the platform, one or more elongated shafts coupled to the float at one end and to the hammer head at another end; wherein the hammer head is adapted to be raised and lowered by the float in the predefined motion range by the motion of the ocean waves.
APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FROM WAVES
Apparatus comprising a floating platform, a cylinder connected thereto, and a piston having a piston rod connected to a mooring at the sea floor. At least one penstock tube is in fluid connection at its lower end with a lower portion of the cylinder, below the piston. The penstock tube being provided along the cylinder and has an opening at the upper end arranged so that water pumped upwards in the at least one penstock tube will hit a water turbine arranged above the cylinder. The water turbine being in connection with a generator. The cylinder has an opening in an upper portion and in the lower portion thereof, provided with a one-way valve allowing water into the lower portion of the cylinder while the cylinder moves downwards, and when the platform rises, water will be refilled in the upper section through the opening.
TETHERED POWER GENERATING BUOY SYSTEM
Disclosed herein are systems employing a power generating buoy separate from a host buoy but connected via tether, allowing the power generating buoy to be distant from the host buoy (e.g. an observational buoy) so as to minimize the impact of the power generating buoy on the host buoy. The tether is connected at one end to the power generating buoy and connectable to a floating host buoy, wherein the tether further comprises means for transferring power generated by the power-generating buoy to the host buoy; and wherein the tether is adapted to allow for independent movement of the power-generating buoy relative to the host buoy, and has no substantial hydrodynamic effect on or from the host buoy when connected.
System for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy
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.
System, method and apparatus for pressurizing a fluid to power a load
The present invention relates to a way of pressurizing a fluid to power a load, by initially pressurizing the fluid in a series of stages to yield a low-pressure fluid and further pressurizing the low-pressure fluid concurrently in parallel stages to yield a high-pressure fluid for supply to the load.
WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER WITH MOORING SYSTEM COMPRISING BUOYANT ELEMENTS
A wave energy converter includes a buoyant body and an acceleration tube attached thereto forming a working cylinder. Upper and lower openings in the acceleration tube allow water flow between the working cylinder and the water in which the acceleration tube is at least partially submerged. A working piston is reciprocable in the working cylinder and an energy converting device collects energy from the movements of the working piston relative to the buoyant body. A mooring system maintains the wave energy converter within a desired anchoring area and includes at least a first fastening device mounted on the buoyant body for attachment of a first mooring line to the buoyant body and a second fastening device mounted on the buoyant body for attachment of a second mooring line to the buoyant body. The mooring lines include first and second line sections, respectively, and at least one buoyant element attached therebetween.
Shutter valve and device for generating energy from sea waves comprising such valves
A shutter valve for alternatingly allowing and stopping a high pressure water flow, such as in a device for generating energy from sea waves, comprising a tube section (201) having a rectangular cross section, wherein a multitude of vanes (202) are rotatably mounted in the tube section (201), wherein the vanes have a relatively large rectangular longitudinal cross section in a first direction, a relatively flat rectangular longitudinal cross section in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and a generally flat cross section in a third direction perpendicular to said first and second directions, said third direction being the axis of the vane (202), wherein the circumferential wall around the axis of each vane forms a closed water impermeable surface, wherein the axes of said multitude of vanes all extend in a parallel manner, characterized in that the distances between the axes of adjacent vanes are approximately half the distance between the outer tips of the vanes, seen in the cross section in said third direction, such that when the vanes are rotated to the closed position the lower half of the front surfaces and upper half of the back surfaces of all vanes form a single closed front surface and a single closed back surface, each in substantially a single flat plane perpendicular to the flow axis of the valve, said surfaces closing the opening of said tube section, and the other half of said front surfaces and the other half of said back surfaces of said vanes rest against each other.