Wave driven power generation system

A power generation system for extracting energy from the motion of waves in a wave field and converting the wave energy into useful energy, comprising:

• an array of a plurality of absorber units positioned within a wave field in a predetermined pattern relative to one another;
• each absorber unit including at least one float connected to a buoy by means of a yoke and allowed to move in heave and pitch in response to the motion of the waves;
• energy extracting means disposed on each said absorber unit and extending between said float and yoke responsive to said motion of said float for extracting energy from the motion of the waves;
• and
• energy conversion means disposed on each said absorber unit for converting said extracted energy into useful energy;
• and
• means for accumulating the useful energy generated by all said units.

A flotation member for a power generation system to convert wave energy into useful energy, comprising:

• a nose module;
• a central module affixed to said nose module;
• a rear module affixed to said central module;
• said modules being buoyant permitting the flotation member to be seaworthy;
• and
• said nose and rear modules having ballast enhancing the response of the flotation member to the motion of the waves.

Apparatus for extracting energy from the motion of waves, comprising:

• an absorber unit having a plurality of buoyant members rotatably connected in series to form an articulated absorber unit;
• said absorber unit connected to one end of a yoke;
• a mooring buoy acting as a stable reference platform connected to the other end of said yoke;
• articulation means for connecting said buoyant member to said yoke;
• said absorber unit having a beam and a length, said absorber unit length approximately equal to 0.75 to 1.0 times the average wavelength of the waves;
• said buoyant member moving relative to said yoke in response to the motion of the waves;
• and
• extracting means responsive to the relative movement of said buoyant member and yoke for extracting useful energy.

An apparatus for extracting power from the motion of waves in a wave field, the energy of the wave field being measured by its spectral density function, comprising:

• an absorber unit including a yoke, a raft, and hinge means for rotatably connecting one end of said yoke to the bow of said raft;
• the other end of said yoke being pivotally connected to a mooring buoy;
• said mooring buoy acting as a stable reference platform for said absorber unit;
• hydraulic actuator means extending between said float and yoke and responsive to the heave and pitch of said float caused by the motion of the waves for extracting power from the wave field;
• said extracted power of said absorber unit being measured by the response function of said absorber unit;
• the length of said raft, the beam of said raft, the mass of said raft, the mass moment of inertia of said raft, the impedance of said hydraulic actuator means, the hydrodynamic added mass of said raft, the hydrodynamic damping of said raft, the mass moment of inertia of the added mass to said raft, the moment of the waterplane area of said raft, and the length and mass of said yoke being tuned to produce said response function as to approximate the spectral density function of the wave field whereby maximum power is extracted by said absorber unit from the energy available in the wave field.