Inertial mass power generation
AssigneeKnowledge Based Systems, Inc.
InventorsPaul M. Koola, Richard J. Mayer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and systems, as well as methods and articles of manufacture, may operate to receive oscillatory motion at an inertial mass to impart motion to a fluid, rotate a turbine or vibrate a beam using the motion imparted to the fluid, and generate power using a generator mechanically coupled to the turbine or beam. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Claims27
An apparatus for harvesting wave energy, comprising:
- a housing having a positive buoyancy with respect to a liquid;
- an inertial pump comprising a flexible membrane attached to an inertial mass to generate flow in a fluid responsive to oscillating motion, the inertial pump disposed within the housing;
- a first unidirectional turbine to rotate in response to the flow in the fluid sent from the inertial pump;
- and
- a generator to generate power in response to rotation of the turbine.
A system for harvesting wave energy, comprising:
- a housing having a positive buoyancy with respect to a first fluid;
- an inertial pump comprising a flexible membrane attached to an inertial mass to generate flow in a second fluid responsive to wave motion in the first fluid, the inertial pump disposed within the housing;
- a first unidirectional turbine to rotate in response to the flow in the second fluid in a first direction;
- and
- a generator to generate power in response to rotation of the turbine.
A system for harvesting wave energy, comprising:
- a housing having a positive buoyancy with respect to a first fluid;
- an inertial pump comprising a flexible membrane attached to an inertial mass to generate flow in a second fluid responsive to wave motion in the first fluid, the inertial pump disposed within the housing;
- a self-rectifying turbine to rotate in response to the flow in the second fluid in both a first direction and a second direction;
- and
- a generator to generate power in response to rotation of the turbine.
A system for harvesting wave energy, comprising:
- a housing having a positive buoyancy with respect to a first fluid;
- an inertial pump with a retentively coupled inertial mass to generate flow in a second fluid responsive to wave motion in the first fluid, the wave motion to induce an oscillating motion of the inertial mass;
- a vortex induced vibrating beam to vibrate due to the flow in the second fluid;
- and
- a generator to generate power in response to vibration of the beam.
A method for harvesting wave energy, comprising:
- receiving oscillatory motion at an inertial mass to impart motion to a fluid, the inertial mass attached to a flexible membrane forming part of an inertial pump disposed in a housing having a positive buoyancy with respect to a liquid;
- rotating a turbine using the motion imparted to the fluid;
- and
- generating power using a generator mechanically coupled to the turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.