Wave energy converter
OwnerAlan A. Wellsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for anchoring a structure such as a wave collector, sediment is pumped from the sea bed into the base of the structure. Hydraulic tuning of a wave energy converter collector, an advantageous rotor structure and a means of smoothing wave-to-electricity energy conversion are also described and claimed.
Claims9
A wave collector comprising a generally hollow canopy having at least one opening for ingress of waves, said canopy having an internal datum level defining a median water level when in use, said at least one opening defining a water inlet area, wherein the ratio of the water inlet area to the internal cross-sectional area of the canopy at the internal datum level is less than 0.7.
A wave energy converter comprising a Darius-type rotor arranged in a housing provided with at least one opening for directing an oscillating air flow onto or away from the rotor in an axisymmetric manner, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of blades in a substantially catenary shape such that centrifugal loads are substantially balanced by blade tension forces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.