Wave energy conversion
OwnerDedger Jonesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for converting the energy of sea waves to useful power through the use of a buoyant float. This float is preloaded (i.e. submerged a predetermined distance beneath the level of a wave trough) and retained at that submerged elevation until such time as it is located beneath a wave crest. The float is then released from beneath the crest to rise through it and the flotational motion is converted to power. The system also provides for an upwardly directed preloading technique and combined systems wherein work is removed in both vertical movement of the float. Unusual gains in efficiency are achieved by this method and system.
Claims49
A method for converting the energy of waves generated within a large body of water into useful power comprising the steps of:
- providing a buoyant body floatable within said water;
- submerging said buoyant body to a predetermined level beneath the immediate surface of said water when situated at the trough of a given said wave;
- retaining said buoyant body at said level of submergence;
- releasing said retained buoyant body for vertical flotational movement through the crest defined portion of a said wave;
- and
- converting said vertical flotational movement into useful power.
A method for converting the energy of waves generated within a large body of water into useful power comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongate buoyant body of predetermined weight floatable within said water, said body having an equilibrium level when floating in said water in a quiescent state;
- retaining said buoyant body at a predetermined level above said equilibrium level;
- releasing said buoyant body for gravitationally induced vertical accelerative movement to a predetermined submerged level beneath said equilibrium level when situated at the trough of a given said wave;
- converting at least a portion of said gravitationally induced movement into useful power;
- retaining said buoyant body at said level of submergence;
- and
- releasing said submerged retained buoyant body for vertical flotational movement through the crest defined portion of a said wave.
A system for converting to a useful power form, the energy of waves present within a body of water, said waves exhibiting a given value of waveform height between crests and troughs, comprising:
- means for defining a support substantially stable with respect to the instantaneous mean height of said waves;
- a buoyant body communicating with and supported for movement from said support, said movement being generally vertical with respect to said body of water;
- actuator means, initially actuable to effect a submergence of said buoyant body to a predetermined level beneath the surface of said body of water and subsequently actuable to release said buoyant body for flotational vertical movement;
- converter means in energy transfer communication with said buoyant body for converting the said flotational vertical movement to a communicable energy form;
- and
- control means for initially actuating said actuator means to effect said submergence substantially when said buoyant body is situated substantially over a said trough and for effecting said subsequent releasing actuation substantially when said buoyant body is situated beneath a said crest.
A system for converting to a useful power form the energy of waves present within a body of water, said waves exhibiting a given value of wavelength and waveform height between crests and troughs, comprising:
- support means including a structure extending between floats mutually spaced a distance corresponding with said wavelength value to effect elevation and descent movement of said structure between first and second heights above said body of water in correspondence with the positioning of said spaced floats substantially at respective spaced adjacent crests and spaced adjacent troughs of a said waveform;
- a buoyant body communicating with and supported for movement from said structure, said movement being generally vertical with respect to said body of water;
- actuator means mounted upon said structure, initially actuable to release said buoyant body for gravitationally induced movement to a predetermined level beneath the surface of said body of water and subsequently actuable to release said buoyant body for flotational vertical movement;
- converter means in energy transfer communication with said buoyant body for converting the said flotational vertical movement to a communicable energy form;
- and
- control means for initially actuating said actuator means when said spaced floats are positioned substantially over said crests and for effecting said subsequent releasing actuation substantially when said floats are positioned within said troughs.
A system for converting to a useful power form the energy of waves present within a body of water, said waves exhibiting a given value of waveform height between crest and troughs, comprising:
- means defining a support positionable above said waves;
- a buoyant body having a predetermined weight communicating with and supported for movement from said support, said movement being generally vertical with respect to said body of water and said buoyant body having a predetermined equilibrium level when floating in a quiescent state;
- actuator means mounted upon said support, initially actuable to release said buoyant body from a predetermined elevation thereof for gravitationally induced movement to a predetermined submerged level wherein said equilibrium level is below the surface of said body of water, and subsequently actuable to release said buoyant body for flotational vertical movement;
- converter means in energy transfer communication with said buoyant body for converting a predetermined portion of the work represented by said gravitationally induced movement into a communicable energy form;
- and
- control means for actuating said actuator means to effect said release of said buoyant body for said gravitationally induced movement to said predetermined submerged level when said buoyant body is situated substantially over a said trough, for effecting the retention of said released buoyant body by said actuator means at said submerged level for effecting the subsequent releasing actuation thereof when said buoyant body is situated beneath a said crest, and for effecting a subsequent retention of said buoyant body by said actuator means when said buoyant body returns by said flotational movement substantially to said predetermined elevation.
A method for converting the energy of waves of given wavelength generated within a large body of water into useful power comprising the steps of:
- providing a floatable support including a structure extending over said waves and supported thereon between buoyant float components mutually spaced a distance substantially corresponding with a said given wavelength;
- providing an elongate buoyant body floatable within said water and releasably supportable from said structure;
- releasing said buoyant body from said structure when said float components are floatably supported upon a said crest to move said buoyant body under gravitationally induced movement submerging said buoyant body beneath the surface of said water and to a predetermined level with respect to said structure when said buoyant body is substantially situated at a trough of said wave;
- retaining said buoyant body at said predetermined level with respect to said structure;
- releasing said retained buoyant body for vertical flotational movement through the crest of said wave when said float components are floatably supported upon a said trough;
- and
- converting said vertical flotational movement into useful power.
A system for converting to a useful power form, the energy of waves present within a body of water, said waves exhibiting a given value of wave form height between crests and troughs, comprising:
- means defining a support positionable above said waves;
- a buoyant body having a predetermined weight communicating with and supported for movement from said support, said movement being generally vertical with respect to said body of water;
- actuator means mounted upon said support, mutually actuable to release said buoyant body from a predetermined elevation thereof for gravitationally induced movement to a predetermined level beneath the surface of said body of water and subsequently actuable to release said buoyant body for flotational vertical movement;
- converter means in energy transfer communication with said buoyant body for converting a predetermined portion of the work represented by said flotational vertical movement and a predetermined portion of the work represented by said gravitationally induced movement into a communicable energy form;
- and
- control means for actuating said actuator means to effect said release of said buoyant body for said gravitationally induced movement to said predetermined level when said buoyant body is situated substantially over a said trough, for effecting the retention of said released buoyant body at said actuator means at said predetermined level, for effecting the subsequent releasing by actuation thereof when said buoyant body is situated beneath said crest, and for effecting a subsequent retention of said buoyant body by said actuator means when said buoyant body returns by said flotational movement substantially to said predetermined elevation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.