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US 11,795,904 B2Granted
Inflatable pressure absorption wave actuated pump
AssigneeAlliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
InventorsDale Scott Jenne, Yi-Hsiang Yu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a wave energy converter that uses a flexible and inflatable chamber to absorb wave energy and convert it to electrical energy through the varying hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressure at or below the water surface.
Claims16
A device comprising:
- a first column having a first length, a first end, and a second end;
- a second column having a second length, a third end, and a fourth end connected to the first column such that the third end of the second column and the second end of the first column are in contact and the first column and the second column are approximately concentric;
- a chamber attached to the first end of the first column by a first clamp and attached to the second end of the first column by a second clamp;
- a first diaphragm located between the first column and the second column such that the first diaphragm separates the first column and the second column;
- an inlet valve located along the second length of the second column;
- and
- an outlet valve located along the second length of the second column;
- wherein:
- the chamber contains a first fluid,
- the second column contains a second fluid, and
- the first diaphragm separates the first fluid from the second fluid.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- attaching a wave energy pump to a solid object, the wave energy pump comprising:
- a first column having a first length, a first end, and a second end,
- a second column having a second length, a third end, and a fourth end,
- a chamber comprising a flexible material attached to the first end of the first column by a first clamp and attached to the second end of the first column by a second clamp,
- a diaphragm positioned between the second end of the first column and the third end of the second column,
- an inlet valve located along the second length, and
- an outlet valve located along the second length;
- establishing a neutral state of the wave energy pump, wherein:
- the diaphragm is at a neutral position, and
- a first fluid is contained within the chamber, and
- a second fluid is contained within the second column;
- receiving a force to the wave energy pump, wherein:
- the receiving of the force compresses the chamber, forcing the first fluid to contact the diaphragm,
- the diaphragm is displaced by the contacting of the first fluid, and
- the second fluid is pumped out of the second column through the outlet valve by the displacing of the diaphragm, and
- responding to a release of the force on the wave energy pump;
- wherein:
- the responding releases the chamber, allowing the first fluid to enter the chamber,
- the diaphragm is returned to its neutral position, and
- the second fluid is pulled into the second column through the inlet valve by the returning of the diaphragm to its neutral position.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.