Wave powered electric generator

• US 4,110,630 A
• Filed: 04/01/1977
• Issued: 08/29/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank J. Hendel
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Hendel
• Inventors: Hendel, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Redman, John W.
• Application Number:
  US05/783,549
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 60/495-502, 60/506, 60/507, 290/1, 290/42, 290/53, 310/11, 9/8 R, 9/8.3 E, 417/61, 417/328, 417/330, 417/331, 417/337
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/12 characterised by using wave or tide energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/141 with a static energy collector
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/1845 and the wom slides relative to the rem
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/20 wherein both members , i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/44 one element moving inside another one, e.g. wave-operated member (wom) moving inside another member (rem)
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/407 through piezoelectric conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 44/085 with conducting liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A wave powered electric generator using direct energy conversion is described which includes, within a water and airtight, buoyant envelope tethered to a fixed point relative to the sea bottom, one or more stators and one or more elements moveable by the force of inertia, the relative motion of the moveable element within the stator generating electricity. Also within the buoyant envelope is a rectifier for rectifying the electric energy generated by the moveable element, and power transmission means for supplying the generated and rectified electric energy to a power station. In a preferred embodiment, a conductive fluid is employed as a moveable element, this fluid being passed through a concentrated magnetic field, the resultant electrical power being tapped by electrodes whose axis preferably is orthagonal to the field and direction of fluid motion.

Claims

1. A wave-powered electric generator comprising:

a buoyant envelope which is fully water tight and air tight;

a container within the buoyant envelope shaped to permit liquid within it to move relative to the walls of the container as the buoyant envelope is subjected to wave motion;

a conductive liquid received within the container;

means applying a concentrated magnetic field to at least some of the conductive liquid received within the container;

electrode means positioned to receive at least some of the electrical energy generated as the conductive liquid passes through the concentrated magnetic field;

means connected to the electrode means for rectifying the electrical energy generated by relative motion of the conductive liquid within the magnetic field; and

power transmission means for supplying the generated, rectified electric energy to a power distribution station.

2. A wave-powered electric generator as set forth in claim 1 in which the magnetic means comprise a plurality of permanent magnets, the generator including a plurality of electrode means, a set of electrodes being associated with each permanent magnet and in which the rectifying means integrates the electric energy generated by the plurality of electrode means.

3. A wave-powered electric generator as set forth in claim 1 in which the tether means includes a submerged structure anchored to the sea bottom, this structure including means maintaining it at a substantially constant distance beneath the surface of the sea as the tide ebbs and flows.

4. A wave-powered electric generator as set forth in claim 1 including means to orient the buoyant envelope relative to the direction of the waves.

5. A wave-powered electric generator as set forth in claim 1 in which the buoyant envelope is an elongated, cylindrical structure shaped in cross-section to extract substantial force from the passage of waves, the container including an enlarged, liquid holding tank at each end and a conduit of generally uniform cross-section connecting the tanks, the magnetic field being applied to the liquid within the conduit.

6. A wave-powered electric generator as set forth in claim 1 in which the conductive liquid is mercury.