Patent classifications
F03B13/186
Ocean wave power plant
An ocean wave power plant provided for by respective interconnected functional units comprising a support structure (1a, 1b) is disclosed. The support structure (1a, 1b) is terminated in a lower end with a fastening bracket (9c) which can be anchored in a single point to a mass (9e) when deployed in the sea. A submergible uplift floating body (2) is providing buoyancy for the ocean wave power plant when deployed in the sea. The a uplift floating body (2) is attached to the support structure (1a, 1b), an electric power generating subsystem (A) supported by a platform (8) is terminating the support structure (1a, 1b) in an upper end of the support structure. A transmission member (4, 4a, 18) is attached in one end to a floating body (3) and in another end to the power generating subsystem (A) transferring wave motion from the floating body (3) to the power generating subsystem (A).
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.
Gravity Field Energy Storage and Recovery System
Invention defines a method and apparatus for storing energy where a power source is used to reposition a mass in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy where the stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss, where the force of gravity may be allowed to accelerates the mass, where the resulting kinetic energy is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. A variation defines a method where a power source is used to submerge a buoyant object in a fluid, where the submerged object represents a potential energy, where the force of gravity displaces the submerged buoyant object, where the kinetic energy resulting from the displacement is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be similarly converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. Invention defines a process where available energy can be used to do work to raise a massive object against a planetary gravitational field, to a position of high potential energy which can be maintained indefinitely. On demand the mass can be accelerated by the gravitational field and converted to kinetic energy, which is harnessed and converted to shaft horsepower, allowing the desired energy recovery from the energy storage system.
Floating Wave Energy Conversion Island Platforms
A platform for exploiting the energy contained in waves operating in a marine environment and floating on the sea is disclosed. This comprises a submerged portion existing below a sea surface, an emerged portion existing above the sea surface, and a partially submerged wave power generation mechanism portion including the sea surface and coupling the submerged portion and the emerged portion.
AUTONOUMOUS POWER GENERATING DEVICE USING GRAVITY AND BUOYANCY, AUTONOMOUS POWER GENERATING DEVICE USING STRUCTURE, AND MARINE BOUNDARY LIGHT USING SAME
The present invention relates to an autonomous power generating device using gravity and buoyancy, an autonomous power generating device using a structure, and a marine boundary light using same. To this end, the present invention forms a rotating module having at least one rotating body provided on a rotating shaft and a power transmitting gear provided on one side end of the rotating shaft, a rope is hung to touch the rotating body of the rotating module and moves upward and downward, a buoyant body is provided on one side end of the rope, a tensioning body is provided on the other side end to vary the vertical force with the buoyant body, and the rotating force of the power transmitting gear of the rotating module is sequentially transmitted to a drive gear and a generator. Therefore, a fluctuation in water level can effectively be converted into an up-and-down vertical movement of the buoyant body.
Wave Power Device
A power developing apparatus adapted to derive power from waves is disclosed. The apparatus includes a float, a rack gear coupled to the float, a pinion gear driven by the rack gear, and a power utilizing device rotated from the pinion gear. The power utilizing device may be a generator or a pump. The generator may have an excitation field controlled to assure unidirectional motion. A unidirectional clutch may be installed in series with the pinion gear. A weight may depend from the rack gear. A damper such as a coil spring may be located between the weight and the rack gear.
Gravity field energy storage and recovery system
Device for storing energy using a physical object, such as a mass of greater than 10,000 kg, or buoyant object, floating in fluid, capable of displacing 10,000 kg. A mass is repositioned to greater altitude in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy. A buoyant object is forcibly submerged into a fluid, displacing greater than 10,000 kg of fluid, to a position of higher potential energy. The stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss regardless of the state of charge of the system, or length of time of the storage.
Wave Energy Converter With Concurrent Multi-Directional Energy Absorption
An ocean wave energy converter (WEC) using one or more elongated light-weight low-cost surface floats, oriented and self-orienting parallel to oncoming wave fronts are mechanically linked to a motion stabilized or fixed frame or base through one or more power take-offs in such manner that multi-directional rotational and translational wave-induced forces and relative motion between the float(s) and base are efficiently captured. Some embodiments have at least one forward positioned float that moves upward and rearward on wave crests and downward and forward on ensuing wave troughs to capture a majority of both heave and surge wave energy components. Other embodiments also provide apparatus and means to totally submerge the floats during severe seas or adjust submerged depth and float mass to optimize performance.
SUBMERGED WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER FOR DEEP WATER OPERATIONS
A submergible wave energy converter and method for using the same are described. Such a wave energy converter may be used for deep water operations. In one embodiment, the wave energy converter apparatus comprises an absorber having a body with an upper surface and a bottom surface and at least one power take-off (PTO) unit coupled to the absorber and configured to displace movement of the absorber body relative to a reference, where the power take-off unit is operable to perform motion energy conversion based on displacement of the absorber body relative to the reference in response to wave excitation, and where the power take-off unit is operable to return the absorber body from a displaced position to a predefined equilibrium position and to provide a force acting on the absorber body for energy extraction.
BUOYANCY-DRIVEN POWER GENERATION APPARATUS USING GRAVITY BODY
The present invention relates to a buoyancy-driven power generation apparatus using a gravity body. To achieve this, according to the present invention, a rotary module is configured with at least one rotary body mounted on a rotary shaft, a latch provided between the rotary body and the rotary shaft such that the rotary body transmits power only in one direction, and a power transmission gear mounted on one end portion of the rotary shaft. A rope is mounted on the rotary body of the rotary module to make contact with the same to move up and down. A buoyant body hangs from one end portion of the rope, and a gravity body lighter in weight than the buoyant body hangs from the other end portion of the rope. A power gear is provided on one end portion of the rotary module so as to be engaged with the power transmission gear such that the rotating force of the power gear is transmitted to a generator. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively convert a movement of the surface of the sea into a vertical up and down motion of the buoyant body.