Wave energy conversion of horizontal surge motion
OwnerBrian Rosenberg, Timothy Mundoninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system converts mechanical wave energy into electrical energy. The system includes a wave energy converter (WEC), which includes a surface float, a reaction structure, a plurality of flexible tethers, and a plurality of drivetrains. Each flexible tether connects the surface float to the reaction structure. Each drivetrain is connected to a corresponding flexible tether. Each flexible tether has a length established to treat the system as an inverse pendulum to utilize a horizontal surge motion of the surface float to present tension at the corresponding drivetrain for production of electrical energy from the horizontal surge motion.
Claims10
A method comprising:
- operating a wave energy converter (WEC) to capture mechanical energy from ocean waves, wherein the WEC comprises:
- a surface float;
- a reaction structure;
- more than one flexible tether connecting the surface float to the reaction structure, with each flexible tether connect to a drivetrain;
- deploying the WEC at a location of wave activity with pre-determined compatibility between the wave activity and lengths of the flexible tethers to facilitate an inverse pendulum motion of the surface float;
- and
- adjusting at least one length of at least one tether connecting the drivetrain to the surface float to improve the compatibility between the wave activity and the lengths of the flexible tethers, wherein the length of the at least one tether is established to treat the system as an inverse pendulum to utilize a horizontal surge motion of the surface float to present tension at the corresponding drivetrain for production of electrical energy from the horizontal surge motion, and to follow approximately a natural pendulum given by the formula:
- T
- n
- ≈
- 2
-
- π
-
- L
- g
- wherein where L is the length of a tether, and g is the gravitational acceleration, and Tn is the natural period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.