US 8,013,462 B2 · Wave energy converter

Abstract

A wave energy converter has a primary body interconnected to a secondary body such that the bodies may oscillate longitudinally relative to one another. A slug mass is visco-elastically connected to the primary body. The slug mass has effective mass, stiffness and damping characteristics. A generator is drivingly connected between the primary and secondary bodies. The generator has a load damping characteristic. At least one of the characteristics is dynamically controllable, allowing the bodies' longitudinal motion to be varied in response to wave motion changes of the wave environment in which the wave energy converter is deployed, to maintain out-of-phase oscillation of the bodies, thus increasing the driving force imparted to the generator and thereby increasing the generator's electrical energy output.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A wave energy converter comprising:

a primary surface-piercing floating body;
a secondary surface-piercing floating body interconnected to the primary body for longitudinal oscillation of the primary and secondary bodies relative to one another;
a slug mass visco-elastically connected to the primary body, the slug mass having an effective mass characteristic, a stiffness characteristic and a damping characteristic;
and
a generator drivingly connected between the primary and secondary bodies, the generator having a load damping characteristic;
wherein;
at least one of the effective mass characteristic, the stiffness characteristic, the slug mass damping characteristic and the generator load damping characteristic is dynamically controllable;
the primary body comprises a pillar;
the slug mass is supported inside the pillar;
and
the secondary body comprises at least two rigidly interconnected floats spaced-apart from one another and spaced outwardly from the pillar.

8 more elements

A method for controlling a wave energy converter having a primary surface-piercing floating body , a secondary surface-piercing floating body interconnected to the primary body for longitudinal oscillation of the primary and secondary bodies relative to one another, a slug mass, a visco-elastic connection between the slug mass and the primary body, an electrical generator drivingly connected between the primary and secondary bodies, and a sensor, wherein:

the slug mass has an effective mass characteristic, a stiffness characteristic and a damping characteristic;
the generator has a load damping characteristic;
the sensor is electronically coupled to the slug mass, to the primary body, to the visco-elastic connection, and to the generator;
the sensor produces an output signal representative of a position of the primary body relative to a position of the secondary body;
the method comprising:
detecting the sensor output signal;
processing the detected sensor output signal to derive a representation of relative movement between the slug mass and the primary body;
producing a first control signal corresponding to the derived representation of relative movement between the slug mass and the primary body;
and
applying the first control signal to at least one of the slug mass and the visco-elastic connection to vary at least one of the effective mass characteristic of the slug mass, the stiffness characteristic of the slug mass and the damping characteristic of the slug mass.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wave energy converter

Life of this patent

Wave energy converter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29