A wave energy converter system
AssigneeZoex Corporation
InventorAslihan Korez Penley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a wave energy converter system (1) which is comprised of fenders (10) attached to marine man-made structure (M), such as breakwater/offshore platform/barge/buoy etc., by a link structure (3) and converts 5 the wave motion to clean electricity by direct drive electrical generators attached to said link structure (3).
Claims26
A wave energy converter system (1) for converting wave motion into electricity comprising;
- at least one connection element (2) which is for connection to a marine man-made structure (M),
- at least one link structure (3) which is pivotally mounted to the connection element (2) and characterized by;
- at least one power take-off (PTO) module (5) for converting linear motion to raw electrical output, the PTO module comprising:
- at least one primary actuator (6) attached to the link structure (3);
- at least one secondary actuator (7) attached to the connection element (2) for one or more of tidal tracking, maintenance and survivability modes;
- and
- at least one rocker (8) mounted in relation to the secondary actuator (7) and, mounted in relation to the primary actuator (6) via a link (9);
- and
- at least one fender (10) mounted in relation to the link structure (3).
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, at least one rocker (8) is attached directly to the secondary actuator (7).
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is attached to the primary actuator (6) via a link.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element (2) comprises a sliding mechanism connected to a wall rail.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the link structure (3) is configured to be rotated with the fender (10) around a main bearing (4) pivot point axis in response to waves.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the link structure (3) is fabricated from marine grade steel.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the PTO module (5) is removably mounted on the link structure (3).
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the primary actuator (6) is a direct drive linear generator and is connected to both rocker (8) via link (9) and link structure (3).
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the primary actuator (6) converts the rotary motion of the fender (10) to linear motion.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary actuator (7) is a hydraulic cylinder and is used to adjust the maximum power point to track the tidal rise and fall for maintenance and survival modes.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the PTO module (5) comprises a simple double linkage mechanism for gearing and creates a non-linear relationship between a main bearing (4) pivot angle and a stroke of the primary actuator (6).
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fender is a pneumatic fender.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fender (10) is the main element absorbing the energy from the waves and is attached to the link structure (3) via a strapping arrangement, which preferably comprises at least one chain and at least one strap.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fender (10) is ballasted with the sea water until it submerges against the marine man-made structure (M) in a survivability status.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which comprises a buoyancy control module configured to empty the fender (10) and bring it back to an operational mode.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which comprises at least one cabinet (11) for electrical power conditioning systems.
A wave energy converter system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one connection element (2) is connected to a marine man-made structure (M).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.