# US 11,028,819 B2 · Inertial water column wave energy converter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,819 B2 - Document ID: US11028819B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/830,123 - Filed: 2020-03-25 - Published: 2020-07-16 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-03 - Assignees: Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd. - Applicants: Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd. - Inventors: Garth Alexander Sheldon-Coulson; Brian Lee Moffat; Daniel William Place - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028819B2 ## CPC - F03B 13/24: to produce a flow of air, e.g. to drive an air turbine {(F03B13/142 takes precedence)} - F03B 13/142: {which creates an oscillating water column} - H02K 5/04: Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof - H02K 7/183: {wherein the turbine is a wind turbine (adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25)} - F05B 2240/133: with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit - F05B 2240/40: Use of a multiplicity of similar components - F05B 2240/93: on a structure floating on a liquid surface - F05B 2240/95: offshore - F05B 2250/141: circular - F05B 2270/18: to control buoyancy - Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Disclosed is a novel device that converts some of the power in ocean waves into electrical power or other means of performing useful work. One or more tubes are arranged so that when the device is in position in a body of water, the tubes are oriented vertically with one end positioned proximate to and/or above the surface of the body of water on which the device floats, and with the other end positioned below the surface of that body of water. In some embodiments, through a differential restriction on the flow of air in and out of an upper end of the tube, the average height of the water inside the tube is different from the average height of the water outside the tube. In some embodiments, a hollow void inside a flotation structure of the embodiment is filled with water to contribute significant mass to the embodiment and increase the momentum associated with its vertical oscillations. Additional elements of the present disclosure include features that protect the device from damage during periods of large waves, and facilitate the powering and cooling of computers and/or other electronic equipment operated therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wave-to-electricity energy converter, comprising: a buoyant flotation module adapted to float on a surface of a body of water, the buoyant flotation module comprising a deck, a hull, a ballast compartment, and a central vertical channel; a columnar body disposed within the central vertical channel and extending therebelow, the columnar body defining a water chamber comprising a water inlet and an air exit; a turbine disposed at the air exit; a plurality of computational modules installed at the flotation module, the plurality of computational modules powered by rotation of the turbine; and a valve fluidly connecting the columnar body and the ballast compartment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, wherein the buoyant flotation module has a semi-spherical hull. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-energy converter of claim 1, wherein the turbine is connected to a generator above the deck of the buoyant flotation module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-energy converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computational modules are disposed below the deck of the buoyant flotation module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-energy converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computational modules are disposed on the deck of the buoyant flotation module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, further comprising an air valve at an upper end of the water chamber for regulating an air flow entering the water chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 6, wherein the air valve is a one way valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, further comprising a valve at an upper end of the water chamber for regulating an air flow exiting the water chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, further comprising a water jacket around the columnar body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, further comprising a deflector that redirects air moving in the columnar body to propel the wave-to-electricity energy converter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, wherein the columnar body is flexible. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of computational modules are cooled by transferring heat to the body of water. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, further comprising a sail on the deck. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of turbines disposed at the air exit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter of claim 1, further including bulkheads for dividing the internal ballast cavity into a plurality of sub-compartments. ### Claim 16 A reciprocating wave-to-electricity energy converter, comprising: a flotation module adapted to float on a surface of a body of water; a plurality of columnar bodies extending through and below the flotation structure, the plurality of columnar bodies each including a partially-filled water chamber having an open bottom end below the surface of the body of water and an upper end above the surface of the body of water; a turbine disposed at the flotation structure and driven by air flow produced by water movement within at least one of the water chambers; and wherein at least one columnar body uses air moving thereinthrough to propel the reciprocating wave-to-energy converter. ### Claim 17 A reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump, comprising: a hollow flotation structure defining an internal ballast cavity, the hollow flotation structure confining within the internal ballast cavity a water ballast having a first free surface area; a columnar body extending below the hollow flotation structure, the columnar body defining a water chamber having a water inlet at an open lower end and circumscribing a water column within the water chamber having a second free surface area lesser than the first free surface area; a turbine disposed at an upper end of the water chamber, the turbine driven by air moved by oscillations of the water column within the water chamber; and a generator coupled to the turbine for converting turbine rotation to electricity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein the first free surface area is an air-water interface surface area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein the internal ballast cavity confines water and air at higher than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein the wave-driven fluid pump is configured to pressurize the internal ballast cavity when the water column oscillates in the water chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein a lower part of the internal ballast cavity defines an annulus around a portion of the water chamber. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein a mass of the water ballast exceeds an unballasted mass of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein a mass of the water ballast is greater than a combined mass of solid portions of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein a product of a volume of the internal ballast cavity and a density of seawater is greater than a dry mass of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump is adapted to alter a volume of water ballast confined within the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, further comprising a ballast control system, wherein the ballast control system alters a volume of water ballast to alter a draft of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump in response to changes of energy of ambient waves. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, further comprising bulkheads for dividing the internal ballast cavity into a plurality of sub-cavities. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, further comprising a propulsor to generate thrust for propelling the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 28, wherein the propulsor includes one of a rigid sail, an electrically-powered propeller, a rudder, and a ducted fan. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 28, wherein the propulsor includes a nozzle to emit jets of air pressurized within the water chamber. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 17, wherein electricity produced by the generator is consumed at the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of computational modules installed at one of the flotation module and the columnar body, the plurality of computational modules powered by electricity produced by the generator. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 32, further comprising a data exchange module to receive electromagnetically-encoded computational tasks and input data and transmit electromagnetically-encoded computational results and output data. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 33, wherein the data exchange module includes one of an antenna and a data cable. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 32, further comprising a heat exchanger to conductively transmit heat produced by computational modules to fluid outside the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 31, wherein the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump is further adapted to provide electrical energy to other vessels. ### Claim 37 A reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump, comprising: a hollow flotation structure defining an internal ballast cavity adapted to confine water ballast; a columnar body depending from, and extending below, the hollow flotation structure, the columnar body defining a water chamber having a water inlet at an open lower end; a turbine disposed at an upper end of the water chamber, the turbine driven by air moved by an oscillating column of water within the water chamber; and a generator coupled to the turbine for converting turbine rotation to electricity; wherein a maximal horizontal cross-sectional area of the internal ballast cavity is greater than a maximal horizontal cross-sectional area of the water chamber. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, further comprising a duct fluidly connecting the water chamber to the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein the internal ballast cavity confines water and air at higher than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein the wave-driven fluid pump is configured to pressurize the internal ballast cavity when the water column oscillates in the water chamber. ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein a lower part of the internal ballast cavity defines an annulus around a portion of the water chamber. ### Claim 42 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein a mass of the water ballast exceeds an unballasted mass of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 43 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein a mass of the water ballast is greater than a combined mass of solid portions of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 44 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein a product of a volume of the internal ballast cavity and a density of seawater is greater than a dry mass of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 45 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump is adapted to alter a volume of water ballast confined within the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 46 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, further comprising a ballast control system, wherein the ballast control system alters a volume of water ballast to alter a draft of the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump in response to changes of energy of ambient waves. ### Claim 47 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, further comprising bulkheads for dividing the internal ballast cavity into a plurality of sub-cavities. ### Claim 48 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, further comprising a propulsor to generate thrust for propelling the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 48, wherein the propulsor includes one of a rigid sail, an electrically-powered propeller, a rudder, and a ducted fan. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 48, wherein the propulsor includes a nozzle to emit jets of air pressurized within the water chamber. ### Claim 51 (depends on 37) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 37, wherein electricity produced by the generator is consumed at the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 51, further comprising a plurality of computational modules installed at the flotation module, the plurality of computational modules powered by electricity produced by the generator. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 52, further comprising a data exchange module to receive electromagnetically-encoded computational tasks and input data and transmit electromagnetically-encoded computational results and output data. ### Claim 54 (depends on 52) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 52, wherein the data exchange module includes one of an antenna and a data cable. ### Claim 55 (depends on 52) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 52, further comprising a heat exchanger to conductively transmit heat produced by computational modules to fluid outside the reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump. ### Claim 56 (depends on 51) The reciprocating wave-driven fluid pump of claim 51, wherein the wave-driven fluid pump is adapted to provide electrical energy to other vessels. ### Claim 57 A reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump, comprising: a hollow flotation structure including an internal ballast cavity adapted to confine water ballast and pressurized gas; a ballast opening fluidly connecting the internal ballast cavity to a surrounding body of water; a columnar body depending from, and extending below, the hollow flotation structure, the columnar body defining a water conduit having a water inlet at an open lower end; an injection aperture fluidly connecting an upper part of the water conduit to the internal ballast cavity; wherein fluid is emitted from the water conduit into the internal ballast cavity through the injection aperture in response to increasing pressure in the water conduit; and wherein water is expelled from the internal ballast cavity to the surrounding body of water through the ballast opening in response to increasing pressure in the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein the injection aperture includes a check valve preferentially admitting fluid flow from the water conduit to the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 59 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein the injection aperture is positioned above a free surface of water in the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 60 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein the ballast opening is below the injection aperture. ### Claim 61 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein the ballast opening is below a free surface of water in the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 62 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, further comprising a gas escape valve at an upper part of the internal ballast cavity to release pressurized gas from the internal ballast cavity. ### Claim 63 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein the internal ballast cavity confines water and air at higher than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 64 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein a maximal horizontal cross-sectional area of the internal ballast cavity is greater than a maximal horizontal cross-sectional area of the water conduit. ### Claim 65 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein a lower part of the internal ballast cavity forms an annulus around a tubular segment of the water conduit. ### Claim 66 (depends on 57) The reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump of claim 57, wherein a product of a volume of the internal ballast cavity and a density of seawater is greater than a dry mass of the reciprocating wave-driven ballast pressurization pump.