Disclosed systems, devices, and methods support an automated dynamic way to reversibly span the surface of a waterway, and may include deploying a floating boom and catch bin to redirect and capture floating waste before it reaches the terminus of the waterwaye; detecting, by a sensor suite, impending boat traffic; activating, by a control system, one or more actuating line motors for one or more closing lines; verifying, by the control system, a closed configuration; verifying, by the control system, whether a battery bank charge is above a required threshold, where if the battery bank charge falls below the required threshold then the system remains in the closed configuration; activating, by the control system, one or more actuating line motors for one or more opening lines if the battery bank charge is above the required threshold; and verifying, by the control system, an open configuration of the system.

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.

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.

A float (1) suitable for use as a buoy or as a component for a wave-powered vehicle. The float (1) includes an upper member (12) whose height can be changed and/or which remained substantially vertical even when the float is in wave-bearing water. A low drag cable (2) suitable for use as a tether in a wave-powered vehicle has a streamlined cross-section and includes a tensile member (21) near the front of the cross-section, at least one non-load-bearing member (22) behind the tensile member, and a polymeric jacket (23). Wave-powered vehicles having a float (1), a submerged swimmer (3) and a tether (2) connecting the float and the swimmer, include a means for determining whether the tether is twisted; or a means (91) for untwisting the tether; or a pressure-sensitive connection (71, 72, 73) which can disconnect the tether when the vehicle is dragged downwards by entanglement with a whale; or a 2-axis universal joint securing the tether to the float or to the swimmer; or elastic elements which absorb snap loads created by the tether; or two or more of these.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for pumping or removing a fluid from a region within or on top of or in contact with a water or liquid body and applications for said systems and methods. Some embodiments may be applicable to, for example, inhibiting or preventing growth formation or fouling of structures in liquid environments. Other embodiments may be applicable to, for example, an energy storage device or a tidal power energy generation system.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for pumping or removing a fluid from a region within or on top of or in contact with a water or liquid body and applications for said systems and methods. Some embodiments may be applicable to, for example, inhibiting or preventing growth formation or fouling of structures in liquid environments. Other embodiments may be applicable to, for example, an energy storage device or a tidal power energy generation system.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for pumping or removing a fluid from a region within or on top of or in contact with a water or liquid body and applications for said systems and methods. Some embodiments may be applicable to, for example, inhibiting or preventing growth formation or fouling of structures in liquid environments. Other embodiments may be applicable to, for example, an energy storage device or a tidal power energy generation system.

A turbine assembly (200) for location in river or sea locations having unidirectional or bidirectional flow. The as- sembly (200) has: a support structure (226) and a first turbine system, supported by the support structure (226). The first turbine system has a centre of mass and being pivotally connected to the support structure (226) so that the first turbine system is rotatable, relative to the support structure, about a centre of rotation. The first turbine system includes a first flowing-water driveable turbine (216) for generating power from water flow. The first turbine (216) has an operational axis (322), and is designed for optimum power output when local water flow is aligned with the operational axis (322). The wherein the centre of rotation is spaced away from the centre of mass of the first turbine system in a direction parallel to the operational axis of the turbine. The turbine assembly is arranged to rotate due to local currents, thereby bringing the operational axis towards alignment with local water flow.

Assemblies systems, and methods are disclosed for generating energy from natural forces and, more particularly, to energy generation using tidal action. A tidal energy conversion assembly includes a displacement vessel housing a directional converter that is coupled to an electrical power generator. The tidal energy conversion assembly further includes an anchor cable having a first end, a second end connected to the directional converter, and a length in between the first end and the second end. The anchor cable may be threaded through an anchor at a stationary location, such as a sea floor. The rising, falling, and/or drag forces of the tide cause a change in the length of the anchor cable thus exerting a force on the directional converter. The directional converter converts this force into rotational energy that may be harnessed by the electrical power generator to generate electricity for consumption.

The invention discloses a universal offshore platform. The platform includes a truss body forming the support system of the platform. the truss body is a three-dimensional stable rigid support and comprises an underwater surface layer, a water surface layer and an overwater surface layer from bottom to top. It comprises a first floating body component, a second floating body component and several sporadic single floating bodies. The universal offshore platform of the present invention can be used independently, be used as a constitutional unit of a marine base and is less adversely affected by the wave motion. A buoyancy regulation method based on a universal offshore platform ensures stability of the platform and a power generation system based on the universal offshore platform takes full advantage of the energy of the waves to generate electricity.