Patent classifications
F03B13/182
Autonomous Wave Powered Desalination
A wave powered water desalinating device may receive untreated salt water, and produce desalinated fresh water. The device consists of a pressure chamber, with a piston coupled with a pitching-type wave energy converter and configured to move along the major axis of the compression chamber; an inlet one-way valve configured to permit flow into the compression chamber from the exterior; a spring in fluid communication with the piston configured to absorb and control the cyclic pressure of the system; and a reverse osmosis membrane in the interior of the compression chamber such that motion of the piston in the direction of the distal end of the chamber exerts contents of the interior of the chamber against the reverse osmosis membrane producing fresh water.
WAVE-ENERGIZED DIODE PUMP
An apparatus that floats at the surface of a body of water over which waves pass, causing a nominally vertical axis of the apparatus to tilt away from an axis normal to the resting surface of the body of water. Tilting allows a fluid to flow through a channel that in an un-tilted apparatus would require the gravitational potential energy of the fluid to increase (i.e., to flow uphill), but, because of the tilt allows the fluid to flow through the channel in a downhill direction. Successive wave-driven tilts of the apparatus incrementally raise water to a head from which a portion of its gravitational potential energy can be converted to electrical power by causing the water to return to a lower level by flowing through a water turbine, or through some other apparatus that performs a useful function when supplied with a flow of high-pressure water.
Wave energy recovery apparatus with an energy transfer arrangement
This invention relates to a wave energy recovery apparatus with an energy transfer arrangement comprising at least a base, a reciprocating panel, a pivot shaft for the reciprocating panel, a control system, and a driving and power-take-off (PTO) arrangement equipped with an actuating mechanism (6), and one or more power-take-off (PTO) units to convert kinetic energy of waves or tidal currents to another type of energy, each PTO unit comprising a hydraulic power transmission mechanism having hydraulic cylinders with pistons inside the hydraulic cylinders. The pistons are fastened with their free ends to the common connecting plate that is arranged to move all the pistons simultaneously inwards into the hydraulic cylinders and to draw all the pistons simultaneously outwards from the hydraulic cylinders.
ARRANGEMENT IN A WAVE ENERGY RECOVERY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WAVE ENERGY RECOVERY APPARATUS
This invention relates to an arrangement in a wave energy recovery apparatus and to a method for operating the wave energy recovery apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least a base (1), on which a reciprocating panel (2) is installed, a pivot shaft (7) for the reciprocating panel (2), a control system, and one or more power-take-off (PTO) units (3) to convert kinetic energy of waves or tidal currents to another type of energy. The arrangement comprises adjustment means (5, 5, 5) to set the top of the panel (2) in its vertical position to approximately correspond to the altitude of the surface (8) of the water.
Controller for pendulum type wave-power generating apparatus
The present invention provides a controller for a pendulum type wave-power generating apparatus. Electric power produced by wave-power generation has been pointed out as being of low efficiency and more expensive than wind-power generation. To overcome the above problems, the present invention uses resonance and impedance matching of the sea waves, thus making it possible to markedly enhance the efficiency of wave-power generation. The present invention does not use a wave-height meter which is generally expensive and controls the generating apparatus in response to variation of the conditions of the sea, thus automatically maintaining the resonance and impedance matching operation, thereby making high-efficiency operation possible. As a result, the cost of the wave-power generation can be reduced, so that the wave-power generation can be widely commercialized.
Wave energy generation device and methods of using the same
A device is provided that converts random movement of extrinsic oscillation from an ocean wave into purposeful movement, such as torque or other motion that can be used to generate electricity. This device may include but is not limited to two major components: 1) a collection unit and 2) a transmission unit. The collection unit represents the interactive part of the device that interfaces with an extrinsic force which provides the randomized kinetic motion that is translated by an actuating arm connected with the transmission unit into pivoting bidirectional movement along at least two directional axes, and may include a series of connected pivoting arms of different lengths. The transmission unit is the portion of the device that converts the pivoting directional movement of the actuating arm or arms into rotation of a drive shaft that is then converted into purposeful torque, and thus, electricity.
WAVE DRIVEN ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHODS
A wave energy conversion system including a pod rotatably supported by a platform structure. The platform structure includes a horizontal stabilizing beam that is disposed in spaced relation to the pod and a plurality of vertical stabilizing beams. The plurality of vertical stabilizing beams is arranged in a spaced apart configuration and is configured to rotatably support the pod. The horizontal stabilizing beam is interposed between an outer pair of the plurality of vertical stabilizing beams opposite the pod, a facet of which faces the pod and intersects each of the outer pair of vertical stabilizing beams at a perpendicular angle.
WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION INCORPORATING ACTUATED GEOMETRY
Described herein are wave energy conversion systems including actuated geometry components. An example system may include at least one body portion configured to transfer wave energy to a power take off device, and at least one actuated geometry component that is connected to the at least one body portion, the at least one actuated geometry component operable to modify a geometric profile of the system.
HIGH CAPTURE EFFICIENCY WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER WITHIMPROVED HEAVE, SURGE AND PITCH STABILITY
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.
A WAVE PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR AN APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ENERGY FROM MOVING WATER, AND A WAVE ENERGY EXTRACTING APPARATUS
A wave panel assembly (10) for a wave en-ergy extracting apparatus, comprising a base member (12) configured to be anchored to the bottom (14) of a water basin, and a wave panel (20) pivotably connected to the base member at a first lower end (22) of the wave panel by means of a pivot connection (16). The wave panel is configured to perform a reciprocating movement in relation to a pivoting axis of the pivot connection when the wave panel is located in water and is subjected to the influence of moving water, and the wave panel has a first side surface (24) configured to face away from the direction of movement W of the moving water and a second side surface (26) configured to face towards the direction W of movement of the moving water. The wave panel (20) is provided with a float member (18) arranged at the first side surface (24) of the wave panel, in a position between the first lower end (22) and a second top end (23) of the wave panel. Also disclosed is a wave energy extracting apparatus (50) comprising a wave panel assembly.