Wave energy converter with pitch resonance tuning tanks and pneumatic turbines

A method for converting kinetic energy of an incoming wave on a body of water to electrical energy, the method comprising:

• determining at least one actual or predicted characteristic of the incoming wave;
• based at least in part on the at least one actual or predicted characteristic, modifying a volume of fluid in a tank of a floater on the body of water, the floater being buoyant in the body of water, the floater having a geometry such that the floater pitches in an angular motion about a transverse axis in response to the incoming wave, the tank having a plurality of vertical columns, a first vertical column of the plurality of vertical columns comprising a first air turbine, a second vertical column of the plurality of vertical columns comprising a second air turbine, the tank storing the volume of fluid and a volume of air, the plurality of vertical columns being connected by at least one horizontal conduit for movement of the volume of fluid between the plurality of vertical columns;
• and
• in response to the floater pitching due to the incoming wave, converting the kinetic energy of the incoming wave to the electrical energy by a motion of the volume of fluid in the tank causing air to be released or admitted via the first air turbine and the second air turbine.

A wave energy converter, comprising:

• a floater that is buoyant in a body of water, the floater having a geometry such that the floater pitches in an angular motion in response to an incoming wave in the body of water;
• a tank in the floater having a plurality of vertical columns, the tank configured to store a volume of fluid and a volume of air the plurality of vertical columns being connected by at least one horizontal conduit for movement of the volume of fluid between the plurality of vertical columns;
• and
• a first air turbine in a first vertical column of the plurality of vertical columns and a second air turbine in a second vertical column of the plurality of vertical columns,
• wherein in response to the floater pitching due to the incoming wave, a motion of the volume of fluid between the first vertical column and the second vertical column via the at least one horizontal conduit causes air to be released via the first air turbine and the second air turbine to generate electrical power.