Conversion of ocean wave energy into electrical power
OwnerDaniel Farbinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods for capturing electrical energy from ocean and other waves at improved cost and efficiency are presented. The major innovations include capturing energy in two vectors simultaneously and connectedly, new applications of Bernoulli's principle, and an application of the breaker effect. The invention presents devices using related principles for use in surface and subsurface waves, and the placing of the devices in the water and wave farms. The full system of wave capture includes many connected parts and power generators.
Claims55
A system for capturing wave energy, comprising:
- a. a first energy capture device, capturing energy from predominantly rotational and/or non-vertical motion,
- b. a second energy capture device, capturing energy substantially linear vertical movement,
- c. a connection between the first and second devices operative to translate vertical movement of the first device to the second.
-6. (canceled)
A system for the generation of energy from waves, comprising:
- a. an energy capture device with an energy capture component on or near the wave surface,
- b. at least one flow deflection structure functionally adjacent and substantially inferior to the energy capture component.
A system for the generation of energy from a fluid, comprising:
- a. At least one blade on or adjacent to the surface fluid.
- b. A generator attached to said blade
- c. A vertically flexible support structure attached to the blade/generator combination.
A paddle wheel device for the capture of energy, comprising:
- a. a first central rod, substantially perpendicular to the direction of waves and horizontal to their surface,
- b. a second rod operative to provide at least rotational motion from at least one energy capture device,
- c. a universal joint attaching the first rod to the second rod,
- d. a generator operating from the motion of the second rod.
-14. (canceled)
An energy capture system for waves, comprising:
- a. an energy capture device on the surface of the waves,
- b. at least one substantially planar structure (defined as being substantially planar in its superior aspect), inferior to and functionally adjacent to the energy capture device.
-17. (canceled)
A device for adjusting a paddle on a paddle wheel, comprising:
- a. a central structure substantially parallel to a fluid surface and substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow,
- b. at least one paddle attached to the central structure,
- c. a means for mechanically extending and retracting the paddle during its rotation.
-53. (canceled)
An energy capture system, comprising:
- a. at least one paddle wheel system with at least one paddle,
- c. a depth-adjusting system attached to said paddle wheel system that adjusts the depth to which each paddle extends into the waves, said system operative to increase the paddle depth for larger wave amplitudes and/or decrease it for smaller amplitudes.
An infrastructure system for energy capture, comprising
- a. a first vertical structure,
- b. at least a second vertical structure,
- c. at least one connecting piece attached to each vertical structure,
- d. an energy capture device attached to the second vertical structure.
-72. (canceled)
A wave energy capture system, comprising:
- a. a buoy-like device capable of flotation on or near the fluid surface that captures energy from its movement on the waves,
- b. a fixed connection point above or below the surface of the fluid,
- c. a connection means connecting the buoy-like device to the fixed connection point, said connection means not fixed in a vertical orientation,
- d. a generator connected to the system, operative to generate energy from the combined x and y axis motion of the device.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A flow deflection system, comprising:
- a. at least a piece of a platform-like shape, said piece, whose upper surface is not acute to the direction of fluid flow in the x-axis, at an angle equal to or between 0 and 90 degrees, is inferior and functionally adjacent to a wave energy captured device,
- b. at least a second flow deflection piece of a platform-like shape, substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow in the x-axis and inferior to the first flow deflection device, its leading edge vertically and horizontally adjacent to the leading edge of the first flow deflection device.
-86. (canceled)
An energy farm in a body of water, comprising:
- a. at least two energy capture units, the first preceding the second in the x-axis of fluid flow,
- b. at least one substantially planar first flow deflection structure inferior and functionally adjacent to each unit, the leading edge of the first flow deflection structure of the second unit positioned in substantial vertical and horizontal congruity with the trailing edge of the first unit's first flow deflection structure.
-112. (canceled)
An energy farm, comprising:
- a. at least two energy capture systems located side by side in relation to the direction of fluid flow,
- b. at least two underwater substantially planar ramps, one ramp for each energy capture system, wherein each said system facing the same direction of energy flow is functionally adjacent and superior to a ramp said ramp's side edges having a substantially equal height and angle to the ramp side edges of the adjacent energy capture system's ramp.
-127. (canceled)
A system for controlling wave flows, comprising:
- a. an energy capture device,
- b. a microprocessor controller,
- c. a platform inferior to the energy capture device and controlled by said controller, said platform operative to adjust to a depth below the level of causing breaking of the majority of the waves and close enough to the surface to be functionally adjacent to the energy capture device.
(canceled)
A device for capturing wave energy adjacent to the floor of a fluid with shallow-water-type waves, comprising:
- a. at least one paddle with a substantially vertical flat surface, said paddle operative to move substantially horizontally back and forth,
- b. a generator, operative to create electricity from the movement of the paddle.
-211. (canceled)
A method of decreasing resistance on the return trip of a paddle wheel system connected to a generator or in a fluid, comprising:
- a. shielding the paddles from oncoming fluid flow on their return trip.
-235. (canceled)
A method for protecting a water surface turbine from inclement weather, comprising:
- a. attaching the turbine to a vertical structure
- b. submerging the turbine below the surface level.
A method for preventing ice for forming on water surface turbines, comprising:
- a. surrounding the turbines with a barrier on the surface,
- b. providing at least one structure providing thermal energy inside of the barrier.
-247. (canceled)
A method for the capture of energy, comprising:
- a. providing a first device for the capture of substantially rotational and/or non-vertical movement,
- b. providing a second device for the capture of substantially linear vertical movement,
- c. connecting the first and second devices to translate vertical movement from the first device to the second.
A method of extracting energy from a substance with a rotational energy pattern, comprising:
- a. capturing the energy in one plane with a first device,
- b. capturing the energy different with a second device connected to the same unit.
-251. (canceled)
The system of claim 4, wherein the energy capture component is a paddle wheel.
The system of claim 4, wherein the energy capture component is functionally adjacent to the place of at least 80% of the greatest flow velocity.
The system of claim 4, wherein the flow deflection device is foil-shaped.
The system of claim 4, further comprising:
- c. a second flow deflection device inferior to the first flow deflection device and functionally adjacent to the energy capture component.
A paddle wheel energy capture system for the surface of a body of water, comprising:
- a. a paddle wheel with an attached generator,
- b. a wind blocker external to the paddle wheel, and anterior to the paddle wheel in the direction of flow, said blocker operative to block at least a portion of oncoming wind flow.
A subsurface energy capture system, comprising:
- a. a rotational energy capture device,
- b. a weighting mechanism attached to the device, weighted so that the hub of the device approximates the center of the wave,
- c. a generator, operating from movement of the device.
A system for capturing horizontal and/or rotational wave energy, comprising:
- a. an energy capture device connected to a generator,
- b. a depth-adjusting device connected directly to the generator-energy capture device combination.
A microprocessor for control of positioning the depth and/or angle of parts of a surface wave energy system, wherein the microprocessor is connected to sensors obtaining data drawn from the group of at least one of wave amplitude, device depth in the water, wave speed, and wave direction.
A method of capturing energy from a wave, comprising:
- a. placing an energy capture device with at least one paddle in the fluid,
- b. orienting said device towards the fluid flow,
- c. adjusting the depth of the paddle for different amplitudes of waves.
A method of obtaining maximum energy from an energy capture device, comprising:
- a. providing a flow deflection device,
- b. setting an energy capture device functionally adjacent to a flow deflection device in the location of at least 80% of the fastest flow of kinetic energy to that device.
A method of controlling waves in a wave farm of at least one unit, comprising:
- a. providing an underwater ramp,
- b. providing an energy capture unit,
- c. setting the height of said ramp in relation to the wave amplitude to prevent breaking of the wave and to be functionally adjacent to the energy capture unit.
A method for the capture of energy from waves, comprising the steps of,
- a. providing an energy capture component of an energy capture system on or near the
- surface,
- b. rotating the energy capture component from the horizontal and/or rotational movement of the waves,
- c. moving a vertical structure, using the vertical motion of the system on the wave,
- d. generating electricity in a second generator operating from the movement of the vertical structure.
A method of extending a paddle on a paddle wheel, comprising:
- a. providing a paddle,
- b. attaching the paddle to a central structure,
- c. retracting the paddle automatically when superior to the horizontal,
- d. extending the paddle automatically when inferior to the horizontal.
A method of adjusting the position of a flow deflection device with an adjusting mechanism, comprising:
- a. connecting electronically a flow deflection structure-positioning microprocessor to the adjusting mechanism.
A method of extracting energy from waves, wherein the energy is extracted simultaneously by at least two turbines operating in two separate axes and connected on a unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.