A WEC module for connection to a WEC system having a power take-off (PTO) configured to generate electricity in response to fluid flow in a fluid flow path of the system. The module includes a mounting portion for releasably mounting the module to the system, a deformable sealing member configured to provide a sealed fluid connection between the module and the fluid flow path, and a working surface configured to exchange, in response to wave motion, a working fluid with the fluid flow path via the sealed fluid connection. Also disclosed is a WEC system and a method of deploying the WEC module. Also disclosed is an installation device for a working surface and a method of installing a working surface.

A method of controlling energy conversion and/or applied wave loads for a membrane power conversion wave energy converter (WEC) having a longitudinal axis and at least one cell having a membrane. The method includes acquiring data and determining a value relating to a local sea state at the WEC or to a WEC state of the WEC. Depending on the value determined from the acquired data, one or both of the vertical position of the at least one WEC cell relative to a free surface at still water and/or the angle of incidence of the WEC is adjusted.

A wave energy capture system includes: a supporter frame fixed on the ground or the sea; a lever boom coupled to the supporter frame by a pivot; an energy-capturing member connected to one end of the lever boom to capture wave energy from the sea; a position control member connected to the other end of the lever boom to control the position of the lever boom; and an energy conversion member connected to the lever boom to convert vertical movement of the lever boom into power.

A wave power converter is presented comprising an airtight compressible bag supporting a ballast and configured to be inflated with gas. The airtight compressible bag comprises flexible walls, wherein the shape and length of the bag is determined by the equilibrium between the weight of the ballast and the pressure inside the bag. A floating body is connected to the airtight compressible bag by a tube. The converter comprises one or more airtight vessels and a power conversion means for generating power from the reciprocating flow of gas between the bag and airtight vessel. The airtight compressible bag is submerged and surrounded by water on all sides wherein the heaving and/or pitching of said floating body excites the oscillation of said ballast which squeezes and expands said airtight compressible bag driving the contained gas via the tube and power conversion means into and out of the airtight vessel.

A wave energy converter (WEC) 10 has a body portion 18 with a face 20 and at least one flexible membrane 16 bounding at least part of a volume of a fluid to form a variable volume cell 22. The membrane is inclined from vertical providing a flow smoothed passage for wave energy from a wave 14 to travel over the WEC whilst deforming the at least one membrane towards the body to compress the fluid. The cell(s) can be submerged or floating. The inclination of the at least one membrane assists conversion of potential and kinetic energy of the wave to pressure within the fluid. Fluid pressure within the WEC cell(s) and/or system can be optimised to suit wave and/or performance conditions.

A carpet of wave energy conversion (CWEC) device mechanically couples an absorber carpet to one or more energy converters, thereby allowing for wave energy extraction from passing waves. The absorber carpet may be flexible material of a composite material that has a low elastic modulus in a longitudinal direction (to allow for stretching), and a relatively higher elastic modulus in a transverse direction (to better couple energy from wave to converters). Such designs have minimal wave reflections and high efficiencies within a relatively short extent of deployment. The resultant converted useful energy is available as either: 1) mechanical power including direct desalinization or electrical production; or 2) hydraulic power for a number of applications (including hydraulically powered motors supplying power to powered devices including generators), or pumping of the wave medium under pressure to an alternate location for irrigation or energy storage.

A free floating wave energy converter includes a flexible pine and an inlet. The flexible pipe floats on water surface, following the wave form. Slugs of water and air enter, one after the other, through the inlet. Because the flexible pipe follows the shape of the wave, water is transported through a manifold to a pressure chamber connected to a generator. The inlet consists of hollow, inflexible pipe attached to the throat of the flexible pipe. The inflexible pipe is fixedly attached to a buoyancy tank or plurality thereof. The buoyancy tanks are arranged in a vertical plane or in tandem, with the inflexible pipe passing along the plane vertical to the fore and aft axis of the buoyancy tank and the frontward portion projecting sufficiently ahead of the buoyancy tank with the flexible pipe terminating at a singular outlet.

A convertible pump formed of wound flexible tubing having an inlet communicating water to an outlet at an opposite end of the tubing. A paddle wheel with collapsible fins provides power to rotate the pump when in a vertical position. A planar surface of the wound tubing forms a table when pivoted on a stand to a horizontal disposition with the support surface for the stand.

A wave energy converter cell for a pressure differential converter system includes a turbine. The cell includes a cell body defining an aperture and a membrane sealing the aperture wherein the membrane has a distensible working surface extending across the aperture. The membrane may be planar and may be pre-strained over the aperture.

A method and system are disclosed which provides for power generation and storage from oceanic wave motion which utilize: a buoy, a mechanism to convert multidirectional motion of the buoy to unidirectional motion and using said unidirectional motion to lift an underwater body to store energy as gravitational potential energy, and then releasing said body to convert the gravitational potential energy to electricity.