An indirect hydraulic load hierarchical control system and method for a wave energy device includes a first hydraulic cylinder group, a second hydraulic cylinder group, a third hydraulic cylinder group, a high-pressure energy accumulator group, a pressure detection control module, a first hydraulic power generator set, a second hydraulic power generator set and a third hydraulic power generator set. A detection end of the pressure detection control module is used for acquiring an internal pressure of the high-pressure energy accumulator group, comparing the internal pressure with a preset pressure level, and respectively controlling the on-off of reversing valves and electromagnetic valves according to a comparison result. The present invention has the beneficial effects that all hydraulic loads can be automatically loaded or automatically unloaded, so that the wave energy device operates in a full load state or in an optimal energy conversion efficiency state.

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.

An adaptive hydraulic pressure generator is provided for systems in which the mechanical force producing energy varies significantly, especially for wave energy systems. The pressure generator includes at least two fluid chambers with a piston surface/displacement surface arranged to reciprocate with the fluid chamber, whereby the piston surface/displacement surface acts on the fluid in the chamber by means of the said mutual reciprocating movement. The pressure generator is equipped with a control system which is arranged to connect the chambers to each other and/or to different pressure ducts in such a way that the effective area of the piston/displacement surfaces changes in accordance with the changes in the driving force exerted on the piston/displacement surfaces and/or the body forming the fluid chamber in such a way that the pressure produced by the pressure generator in the fluid supplied to the application exceeds the threshold pressure.

A closed-loop hydraulic apparatus 200 for converting wave energy comprises a pump 201 for pumping a fluid through the apparatus 200. The pump 201 includes a body 202 defining a chamber 203, and a piston 207 that partitions the chamber 203 into a working side 208 and a blind side 209. A buoyant actuator is connected to the piston 207. An inlet 64 is connected to the working side 208 of the chamber 203 so that the fluid is able to flow from the inlet 64 and into the working side 208 of the chamber 203. An outlet 63 is connected to the working side 208 of the chamber 203 so that the fluid is able to flow from the working side 208 of the chamber 203 to the outlet 63. A hydraulic controller 102 is operable to control the pump 201 by controlling the pressure of the fluid at the inlet 64 and the outlet 63 so as to optimise the output of the pump 201 in response to tidal variations and/or sea state. The pressure of the fluid at the inlet 64 and the outlet 63 is controlled in accordance with a control algorithm.

This invention relates to an energy generating system and method, particularly to a fluid actuated energy generating system and method employing multifarious mechanisms to produce energy. The system comprises first and second tower structures; means operable to displace fluid in the first tower structure, and means operable in response to fluid displaced from the first tower structure for displacing fluid in the second tower structure. The system also comprises means operable in response to fluid displaced from the second tower structure for generating energy; means for collecting fluid displaced from the second tower structure for return to the second tower structure; and means for receiving, in the first and second tower structures, fluid for maintaining a fluid level for operation of the system.

Disclosed is an energy harvesting system for ocean waves. The energy harvesting system includes each of a buoyant platform and a plurality of wave energy harvesting units. The buoyant platform is configured to float above the ocean bed. Further, each wave energy harvesting unit may be tethered between the buoyant platform and the ocean bed. Additionally, a wave energy harvesting unit may be configured to be actuated by motion of the buoyant platform. Accordingly, the wave energy harvesting unit may absorb energy from the buoyant platform's movement resulted from the ocean waves.

A device for generating electrical energy from mechanical motion includes a buoy housing and at least one force modifier disposed at least partially within the interior of the buoy housing. The force modifier receives an input force and applies a modified force to another component. The force modifier includes a hydraulic system and the hydraulic system includes a first hydraulic piston having a first area and a second hydraulic piston having a second area, where the first area and the second area are not equal.

A wave energy converter is provided. The wave energy converter includes a paravane rotationally and pivotably coupled to a support structure, and operatively coupled to an energy collection device. A method of harvesting water wave energy is provided. The method includes positioning the paravane within water to be impacted by water waves, and transferring water wave energy from the paravane to the energy collection device.

The present invention relates to an energy transforming unit adapted to convert reciprocating forces into rotating axle movements on at least one force transmitting axle and/or into electrical power. The unit comprises at least one restriction device which is directly connected to the force and which is arranged to forward the incoming reciprocating forces into a movement over at least one conversion module. The energy transforming unit is characterized in that the at least one restriction device is delimiting one, by the energy transforming unit enclosed reciprocating volume which entirely or partly passes through the at least one conversion module. The reciprocating volume can comprise a non-compressible fluid arranged to forward the incoming forces into a reciprocating fluid movement over the at least one conversion module and/or the reciprocating volume can comprise at least one mechanical force transmitting arrangement adapted to the at least one conversion module. The unit further comprises a compact central unit which at least partly encloses the at least one conversion module.

A wave-actuated system for desalination of water by reverse osmosis (RO) has at least one offshore wave energy converter subsystem for pumping salt water and supplying the pumped salt water via a water outlet, a pretreatment subsystem hydraulically connected to the water outlet of the at least one offshore wave energy converter subsystem, and a RO desalination subsystem receiving filtered water from the pretreatment subsystem. The at least one wave-energy converter has a float and a hydraulic cylinder pumping salt water to the RO desalination subsystem. A method for operating a reverse-osmosis desalination subsystem using pressurized salt water supplied by at least one wave energy converter subsystem is described. A method for making a hull is also described.