US 6,812,588 B1 · Wave energy converter

Abstract

An improved wave energy converter for use in offshore and deep-sea locations. The wave energy converter is adapted for secure attachment to the bottom of a body of water (e.g., the ocean floor), preferably beyond the breaker zone. The wave energy converter is selectively adjustable in length. A hydraulic power generation system is used to convert the energy present in the waves into hydraulic power that can be use to generate electricity and for other purposes, such as desalinization. The system may include a hydraulic piston assembly, a floatation device that is connected to the piston assembly, high and low pressure hydraulic reservoirs, and a hydraulically driven power generator. The floatation device moves upward in response to rising waves, and downward under the force of gravity in response to falling waves. The system utilizes this downward gravitational force to discharge fluid from the piston assembly, which in turn, drives the power generator. A control system is used to detect water conditions and to selectively adjust the length of the support structure and the fluid flow characteristics to dynamically optimize power generation based on changing water conditions.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A wave energy converter comprising:

a support structure fixed to a floor of a body of water;
a piston assembly including a housing that forms a chamber containing an amount of pressurized fluid and having a first end attached to the support structure and a second end, a piston that is slidably disposed within the chamber, and a piston rod that is attached to the piston and that extends from the second end of the housing;
a floatation device that is attached to the piston rod and that is adapted to cause the piston to move upward in the chamber in response to a rising wave, and to move downward by the force of gravity in response to a falling wave, the downward motion and gravitational force being effective to discharge the pressurized fluid from the chamber;
at least one reservoir that is fluidly coupled to the piston assembly and that receives and stores the pressurized fluid;
a hydraulically driven power generator that is fluidly coupled to the at least one reservoir and that receives and utilizes the pressurized fluid to generate electrical power;
and
a control system that is adapted to monitor water conditions and to control operation of the wave energy converter based upon the monitored water conditions by selectively controlling a flow of the pressurized fluid in the wave energy converter.

4 more elements

A wave power generator comprising:

a support structure fixed to a floor of a body of water, the support structure including a pair of telescoping members that are movable relative to each other, effective to adjust a length of the support structure;
a hydraulic assembly that is operatively coupled to the support structure and adapted to cause the telescoping members to move relative to one another, thereby adjusting the length of the support structure;
a hydraulic piston assembly that is attached to the support structure and that contains an amount of pressurized fluid;
a floatation device that is attached to the hydraulic piston assembly and that is adapted to move upward in response to a rising wave and downward under the force of gravity in response to a falling wave, the downward motion being effective to discharge pressurized fluid from the hydraulic piston assembly;
a hydraulically driven power generator that receives the discharged pressurized fluid from the chamber, and utilizes the pressurized fluid to generate electrical power;
and
a control system that is communicatively coupled to the hydraulic assembly and that is adapted to monitor water conditions and to cause the hydraulic assembly to dynamically adjust the length of the support structure based on the monitored water conditions.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wave energy converter

Life of this patent

Wave energy converter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31