Remotely reconfigurable high pressure fluid passive control system for controlling bi-directional piston pumps as active sources of high pressure fluid, as inactive rigid structural members or as isolated free motion devices

A method for permitting a plurality of parallel-acting bi-directional pumps to be configured into a plurality of operational modes, the plurality of parallel-acting bi-directional pumps being positioned between barges of an articulating barge wave energy converter system positioned in sea water that experiences wave motion, said method comprising:

• providing a plurality of bi-directional pumps, each bi-directional pump having a single piston and piston rod that can translate within a cylinder in two opposite directions, each piston separating said corresponding cylinder into two chambers, each piston displacing sea water located in each chamber when said piston is in motion due to external forces acting through each piston rod and each cylinder;
• coupling each chamber, through a valve network, to a high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold, said high pressure manifold having an output for delivering the high pressure sea water to a desalination system and wherein said suction manifold provides a sea water input into said bi-directional pump system;
• and
• controlling said valve network so that each one of said plurality of bi-directional pumps can be configured to deliver high pressure sea water from one of a single-acting pumping mode and a double-acting pumping mode, said single-acting pumping mode delivering high pressure sea water to said desalination system during piston motion in one of said two opposite directions and wherein said double-acting pumping mode delivering high pressure sea water to said desalination system during piston motion in both of said two opposite directions, said piston motion in either of said modes occurring by movement of said barges due to wave motion.

A pump system having a plurality of parallel-acting bi-directional pumps that can be configured into a plurality of operational modes and wherein the plurality of pumps are positioned between barges of an articulating barge wave energy converter system positioned in sea water that experiences wave motion, said pump system comprising:

• a bi-directional pump having a single piston and piston rod that can translate within a single cylinder in two opposite directions, said piston separating said cylinder into two chambers, said piston displacing sea water located in each chamber when said piston is in motion due to external forces acting through said piston rod and said cylinder;
• each chamber being in liquid communication through a valve network to a high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold, said high pressure manifold having an output for delivering high pressure sea water to a desalination system and wherein said suction manifold provides a sea water input into said pump system;
• and
• wherein said valve network can be configured to deliver high pressure sea water from one of a single-acting pumping mode and a double-acting pumping mode, said single-acting pumping mode delivering high pressure sea water to said desalination system during piston motion in one of said two opposite directions and wherein said double-acting pumping mode delivers high pressure sea water to said desalination system during piston motion in both of said two opposite directions.

A pump system having a plurality of parallel-acting bi-directional pumps that can be configured into a plurality of operational modes and wherein the plurality of pumps are positioned between barges of an articulating barge wave energy converter system positioned in sea water that experiences wave motion, said pump system comprising:

• a first bi-directional pump having a single piston and piston rod that can translate within a single cylinder in two opposite directions, said piston separating said cylinder into two chambers, said piston displacing sea water located in each chamber when said piston is in motion due to external forces acting through said piston rod and said cylinder;
• each chamber being in liquid communication through a first valve network to a high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold, said high pressure manifold having an output for delivering the high pressure sea water to a desalination system and wherein said suction manifold provides a sea water input into said pump system;
• wherein said valve network can be configured to deliver high pressure sea water from one of a single-acting pumping mode and a double-acting pumping mode, said single-acting pumping mode delivering high pressure sea water to said desalination during piston motion in one of said two opposite directions and wherein said double-acting pumping mode delivers high pressure sea water to said desalination system during piston motion in both of said two opposite directions;
• and
• a second bi-directional pump having a respective single piston, piston rod, single cylinder having two chambers and a valve network through which said two chambers of said second bi-directional pump are in liquid communication with said high pressure manifold, said low pressure manifold and said suction manifold and wherein said valve network of said second bi-directional pump comprises a valve network isolation configuration that isolates said second bi-directional pump's cylinder from the cylinder of said first bi-directional pump, said valve network isolation configuration permitting said piston of said second bi-directional pump to be displaced in said two opposite directions without contributing to said high pressure sea water output.

A pump system having a plurality of parallel-acting bi-directional pumps that can be configured into a plurality of operational modes and wherein the plurality of pumps are positioned between barges of an articulating barge wave energy converter system positioned in sea water that experiences wave motion, said pump system comprising:

• a first bi-directional pump having a single piston and piston rod that can translate within a single cylinder in two opposite directions, said piston separating said cylinder into two chambers, said piston displacing sea water located in each chamber when said piston is in motion due to external forces acting through said piston rod and said cylinder;
• each chamber being in liquid communication through a first valve network to a high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold, said high pressure manifold having an output for delivering the high pressure sea water to a desalination system and wherein said suction manifold provides a sea water input into said pump system;
• wherein said valve network can be configured to deliver high pressure sea water from one of a single-acting pumping mode and a double-acting pumping mode, said single-acting pumping mode delivering high pressure liquid to said desalination system during piston motion in one of said two opposite directions and wherein said double-acting pumping mode delivers high pressure sea water to said desalination system during piston motion in both of said two opposite directions;
• and
• a second bi-directional pump having a respective piston, piston rod, cylinder having two chambers and a valve network through which said two chambers of said second bi-directional pump are in liquid communication with said high pressure manifold, said low pressure manifold and said suction manifold and wherein said valve networks of said first and second bi-directional pumps comprise a valve network rigidizing configuration that prevents the movement of the respective pistons in each of said bi-directional pumps.