System and method for generated power from wave action
First Claim
1. A system for producing electrical energy from kinetic energy contained in ocean gravity waves, the system comprising:
- a surface float;
a water mass enclosure including a collapsible, cylindrical housing extending from an opening at a top of the cylindrical housing to a substantially closed bottom of the cylindrical housing to define an inner chamber, the inner chamber adapted to be filled with an amount of water upon submersion of the enclosure in a body of water and the inner chamber having a defined shape when filled with the amount of water, wherein the housing retains the defined shape when accelerated upwards by the vertical motion of the surface float under the influence of a gravity wave when the enclosure is placed into communication with the surface float, and retains the defined shape during a downward restoring motion of the surface float;
the water mass enclosure further including multiple first annular battens disposed within the inner chamber of the housing and having a circumference corresponding to that of the inner chamber and multiple second annular battens connected with the multiple first annular battens, the multiple second annular battens disposed concentrically within the first batten; and
a hydraulic system connected to the water mass enclosure for converting mechanical energy generated from the influence of a gravity wave on the water mass enclosure to electrical energy.
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Accused Products
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 communication with a generator, such as by tethering one end of a tethering means 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.
103 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A system for producing electrical energy from kinetic energy contained in ocean gravity waves, the system comprising:
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a surface float; a water mass enclosure including a collapsible, cylindrical housing extending from an opening at a top of the cylindrical housing to a substantially closed bottom of the cylindrical housing to define an inner chamber, the inner chamber adapted to be filled with an amount of water upon submersion of the enclosure in a body of water and the inner chamber having a defined shape when filled with the amount of water, wherein the housing retains the defined shape when accelerated upwards by the vertical motion of the surface float under the influence of a gravity wave when the enclosure is placed into communication with the surface float, and retains the defined shape during a downward restoring motion of the surface float; the water mass enclosure further including multiple first annular battens disposed within the inner chamber of the housing and having a circumference corresponding to that of the inner chamber and multiple second annular battens connected with the multiple first annular battens, the multiple second annular battens disposed concentrically within the first batten; and a hydraulic system connected to the water mass enclosure for converting mechanical energy generated from the influence of a gravity wave on the water mass enclosure to electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification