System and method for generated power from wave action

• US 8,866,328 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hench, Steven C., Fralick, Charles R., Eckert, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US13/453,761
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 290/53, 290/54, 290/43, 290/42
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 9/08 Tide or wave power plants water-pressure machines, tide or wave motors F03B
• 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: F05B 2240/93 on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/406 through hydraulic systems
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/08 with only one servomotor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/2053 Type of pump
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7058 Rotary output members
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

Wave energy conversion systems are provided utilizing a mass of water entrained in a collapsible water mass enclosure that is suspended beneath a float (e.g., a vehicle, buoy, platform, etc.) to provide an inertial force in opposition to the rising heave-induced acceleration of the float. The water mass enclosure is in communication with a generator, such as by tethering one end of a tethering component to the generator and the other to the enclosure. The enclosure may be placed in communication with an intermediary hydraulic system, which is also in communication with the generator. In certain embodiments, the system will include a reel system for deploying and retrieving the water masse enclosure.

Claims

1. A water mass enclosure device for use in a body of water as part of a wave energy capture system comprising a surface float, the water mass enclosure comprising two or more substantially solid plates connected by a flexible member such that a gap is defined between the plates to entrain an amount of water upon submersion of the enclosure in the body of water, wherein the enclosure is collapsible such that the plates may be placed into contact with one another upon removing the enclosure from the body of water.

2. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the plates are connected to a flexible member such that the size of the gap is adjustable.

3. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is attached to an outside edge of the plates.

4. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the plates include an aperture, and the flexible member runs through the aperture of each plate.

5. A system for producing electrical energy from kinetic energy contained in ocean gravity waves, the system comprising:

the water mass enclosure device according to claim 1;

a counterweight in communication with a bottom of the water mass enclosure device;

a generator adapted to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy; and

a tethering means in communication with the water mass enclosure device and the generator, the tethering means adapted to translate mechanical energy from the enclosure to the generator.

6. A system for producing electrical energy from kinetic energy contained in ocean gravity waves, the system comprising:

the water mass enclosure device according to claim 1;

a counterweight in communication with a bottom of the water mass enclosure device;

a lever arm in communication with the water mass enclosure device via a tethering means and further in communication with a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder comprising a piston and hydraulic fluid; and

a rotary hydraulic motor in communication with the hydraulic cylinder and further in communication with a generator adapted to convert mechanical energy of the hydraulic motor to electrical energy,

wherein downward movement of the water mass enclosure device causes the lever to move, forcing hydraulic fluid through the rotary hydraulic motor via the hydraulic cylinder, thereby causing the generator to produce electrical energy.