Method and device for harvesting energy from ocean waves
AssigneeHifunda, LLC
InventorBalakrishnan Nair
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and device for generating electricity from ocean waves. The device includes at least one magnetostrictive element and one or more electrically conductive coils or circuits. When the magnetostrictive element is deployed in a body of water, the motion of the body of water, including wave motion, causes changes in the strain of the magnetostrictive element. The electrically conductive coil or circuit is within the vicinity of the magnetostrictive element. A corresponding change in magnetic field around the magnetostrictive element generates an electric voltage and/or electric current in the electrically conductive coil or circuit.
Claims21
A device for generating electricity, the device comprising:
- at least one magnetostrictive element which, when deployed in a body of water, the motion of the body of water, including wave motion, causes changes in the strain of one or more magnetostrictive elements;
- and
- one or more electrically conductive coils or circuits within the vicinity of one or more of the magnetostrictive elements, wherein a corresponding change in magnetic field around the one or more magnetostrictive elements generates an electric voltage and/or electric current in the one or more electrically conductive coils or circuits.
The device of claim 0, further comprising a rigid tether coupled between the one or more magnetostrictive elements and the buoyant device.
The device of claim 0, further comprising a tether controller to control a distance between the anchor device and the buoyant device, wherein the distance between the anchor device and the buoyant device correlates to the strain of the one or more magnetostrictive elements.
The device of claim 0, wherein the tether controller comprises:
- a load sensor to monitor a tensile load on the one or more magnetostrictive elements;
- and
- a pulley to change the distance between the anchor device and the buoyant device according to a target tensile load on the one or more magnetostrictive elements.
A method for generating electricity, the method comprising:
- utilizing the motion of a body of water, including wave motion, to cause changes in the strain of one or more magnetostrictive elements;
- and
- using a corresponding change in magnetic field around the magnetostrictive elements to generate an electric voltage and/or electric current in one or more electrically conductive coils or circuits that are in the vicinity of the magnetostrictive elements.
A device for generating electricity, wherein the device comprises:
- a buoy deployed in a body of water;
- a magnetostrictive element mechanically coupled to the buoy, wherein the motion of the body of water, including wave motion, causes motion of the buoy, which in turn causes changes in the strain of the magnetostrictive element;
- and
- an electrically conductive coil or circuit within the vicinity of the magnetostrictive element, wherein a corresponding change in magnetic field around the magnetostrictive element generates an electric voltage and/or electric current in the electrically conductive coil or circuit.
(canceled)
The method of claim 21, wherein a first end of the one or more magnetostrictive elements is coupled to an anchor at a substantially fixed location, and a second end of the one or more magnetostrictive elements is coupled to the buoy, wherein the buoy changes positions in response to the wave motion of the body of water and causes a distance between the anchor and the buoy to change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.