Minimal wave power generator

A system for generating electrical power from surface waves in a sea, by obtaining power from a membrane assembly (32, 134) that includes a deflectable membrane (150) with electroactive material thereon which generates electricity when it is deflected, comprising:

• a primarily vertical tube (12, 70) with a lower end (14, 72, 120, 180, 182) moored at a predetermined height above the sea floor that keeps the lower end constantly submerged, said lower end being open to the sea;
• said tube having an upper end (16, 74, 124, 174, 176) which is exposed to a constant pressure;
• said membrane assembly (32, 134) extending across an inside of said tube, at a location between said tube ends to be deflected by a difference in pressure at said ends.

A system for generating electrical power from surface waves in a sea, by obtaining power from a membrane assembly that includes a deflectable membrane that has electroactive material thereon which generates electricity when it is deflected, comprising:

• a tube (90, 144, 170, 172) with opposite ends (82, 84, 150, 152, 174, 176, 180, 182) that are horizontally spaced, at least one end of said tube being open to the sea.

A method for generating electrical power from surface waves in a sea, by obtaining power from a membrane assembly that includes a deflectable membrane that has electroactive material thereon which generates electricity when it is deflected, comprising:

• mounting said membrane assembly in a tube between first and second ends of the tube so a difference in pressure between said tube ends deflects said membrane, mooring the tube so its first end lies at a predetermined height above the sea floor that keeps said first end submerged in the sea at least 90% of the time, and exposing said tube second end to gas at a constant pressure.