Apparatus and method for optimizing the power transfer produced by a wave energy converter (WEC)

A wave energy converter (WEC) comprising:

• a structure which when placed in a body of water includes mechanical parts which move and drive an electric generator in response to waves in the body of water for producing at an output of the electric generator a voltage which is a function of the motion induced by the waves;
• wherein the portion of the structure generating a voltage at the output of the electric generator exhibits one of an inductive and capacitive reactance;
• a load coupled to said output of the electric generator having an impedance whose value is a function of the period of the waves and of the mass of the water and structure which move;
• and
• a reactive component coupled to the output of the electric generator in series with the load, said reactive component being selected to be the other one of said inductive and capacitive reactance exhibited at the output of the electrical generator for enhancing resonance in the WEC.

A power generating system comprising:

• a structure which includes mechanical parts which move and drive an electric generator when the structure is subjected to naturally recurring forces for producing at an output of the electric generator a voltage which is a function of the motion induced by the naturally recurring forces;
• wherein the portion of the structure generating a voltage at the output of the electric generator exhibits one of an inductive and capacitive reactance;
• a load coupled to said output of the electric generator having an impedance whose value is a function of the period of the naturally recurring force and of the mass being moved;
• and
• a reactive component coupled to the output of the electric generator in series with the load, said reactive component being selected to be the other one of said inductive and capacitive reactance exhibited at the output of the electrical generator for enhancing resonance in the power generating system.

A method for optimizing the power transfer in a system including a wave energy converter (WEC) comprising a shell mounted about a piston forming a combination which when placed in a body of water is responsive to waves in the body of water for producing relative motion between the shell and the piston and further including a converter including an electric generator for converting the mechanical motion to produce electric energy at an output of the converter for predetermined conditions of the waves comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining 1/ω CE;
• where:
• ω is equal to the angular frequency of the waves expressible as 2π/T where T is the period of the waves;
• and
• CE is approximately equal to MT/K, where MT is equal to the mass of the shell and the mass of the water moved by the shell and K is an electromechanical coupling constant;
• and
• (b) selecting a load having a value approximately equal to (1/ωCE) and coupling the load to the output of the converter.