A water current power generation system is provided, including at least one or more submerged flotation chambers; one or more submerged induction type power generation units disposed in communication with the one or more submerged flotation chambers; one or more impellers disposed in communication with the one or more submerged induction type power generation units; one or more body frame members disposed in communication with the one or more submerged induction type power generation units; and one or more impeller rotation means disposed in communication with the one or more body frame members. A variety of additional structures useful together, individually or in various combinations with the disclosed system, are also disclosed. Methods of transporting and maintaining the system, or individual components and subsystems thereof, are also disclosed.

The Inventive Subject Matter is a System for harvesting wind energy and natural wave energy. The harvesting can be performed on a body of water. The body of water can be an ocean or lake. The harvesting can be performed autonomously and create portable energy for ships or other purposes.

Devices and methods are provided for harvesting kinetic energy. The devices can include a plurality of dielectric elastomeric membranes, a rigid connector rod, and a mountable support base. Membrane layers have a funnel-shape with a narrow opening portion and a wide perimeter portion. Membrane layers are adjacent to other membrane layers having an opposite orientation defined by the narrow opening portion and the wide perimeter portion. The narrow opening portions are coupled to a first end portion of the connector rod. The wide perimeter portions are fixed in relation to the support base. Application of linear force at a second end portion of the connector rod in a first direction causes at least a first membrane layer to stretch. Application of the force in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes at least a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer to stretch.

A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.

Devices and methods are provided for harvesting kinetic energy. The devices can include a plurality of dielectric elastomeric membranes, a rigid connector rod, and a mountable support base. Membrane layers have a funnel-shape with a narrow opening portion and a wide perimeter portion. Membrane layers are adjacent to other membrane layers having an opposite orientation defined by the narrow opening portion and the wide perimeter portion. The narrow opening portions are coupled to a first end portion of the connector rod. The wide perimeter portions are fixed in relation to the support base. Application of linear force at a second end portion of the connector rod in a first direction causes at least a first membrane layer to stretch. Application of the force in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes at least a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer to stretch.

Devices and methods are provided for harvesting kinetic energy. The devices can include a plurality of dielectric elastomeric membranes, a rigid connector rod, and a mountable support base. Membrane layers have a funnel-shape with a narrow opening portion and a wide perimeter portion. Membrane layers are adjacent to other membrane layers having an opposite orientation defined by the narrow opening portion and the wide perimeter portion. The narrow opening portions are coupled to a first end portion of the connector rod. The wide perimeter portions are fixed in relation to the support base. Application of linear force at a second end portion of the connector rod in a first direction causes at least a first membrane layer to stretch. Application of the force in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes at least a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer to stretch.

The disclosure relates generally to a wave energy harvester, comprising: a housing locatable aboard a floating platform; an armature coil fixedly mounted to the housing, the armature coil having a magnet associated therewith; and a body travelable along a track located within an interior of the housing, the body being coupled to the magnet; wherein, in use, wave-induced periodic motion of the floating platform results in reciprocating travel of the body along the track, with the travel of the body driving movement of the magnet with respect to the armature coil to thereby generate electricity.

A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.