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US 8,723,351 B2Granted
Multi-mode wave energy converter devices and systems
AssigneeOcean Power Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid B. Stewart, James E. Eder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wave energy converter (WEC) system includes WEC devices which can function to produce useful energy (power) efficiently in response to heave motion and/or pitch motion and/or roll motion. Pitch responsive devices are deployed around the outer periphery of a container and one (or more) heave responsive device is located about the center of the container. The pitch responsive devices may be of the type defined as PDWECs which include two reaction masses which are primarily operable in response to pitching motion or they may be of the type which includes one reaction mass operable in response to pitch and/or heave motion.
Claims26
A multi-mode wave energy converter (WEC) buoy comprising:
- a container designed to extend along a surface of a body of water and to be responsive to heave motion and to pitch motion of the waves in the body of water;
- a heave responsive wave energy converter (WEC) device mounted within, and generally about, the center portion of the container to respond primarily to heave motion of the container;
- N pitch responsive wave energy converter (WEC) devices mounted within the container and generally about the outer periphery of the container designed to respond to pitch motion of the container;
- where N is equal to or greater than 1;
- and
- a power take-off (PTO) device coupled to each one of said heave responsive (WEC) device and said pitch responsive (WEC) devices to produce useful energy.
3 more elements
A wave energy converter (WEC) buoy comprising:
- a container designed to extend along the surface of a body of water and to be responsive to motion of waves in the body of water;
- said container having a top and a bottom;
- a top pulley positioned about the top of the container and a bottom pulley positioned about the bottom of the container;
- a reaction mass having a top attachment point and a bottom attachment point,
- means coupled between the top and bottom attachment point of the reaction mass to cause the reaction mass to travel between the top and bottom pulleys in response to wave motion, said means also including means for driving an electric generator to produce electrical energy and also including means tending to control the position of the reaction mass so it is positioned generally midway between the top and bottom pulleys.
2 more elements
A wave energy converter (WEC) buoy comprising:
- a container designed to extend along the surface of a body of water and to be responsive to motion of waves in the body of water;
- said container having a top and a bottom;
- a top pulley positioned about the top of the container and a bottom pulley positioned about the bottom of the container;
- a reaction mass having a top side and a bottom side,
- connecting means coupled from the top side of the reaction mass around the top pulley and around the bottom pulley to the bottom side of the reaction mass to cause the reaction mass to travel between the top and bottom pulleys in response to wave motion,
- an electric generator;
- means responsive to the movement of said connecting means coupled to the electric generator for driving the electric generator and producing electrical energy;
- and
- control means coupled to one of said electric generator, pulleys and connecting means tending to control the position of the reaction mass so it is positioned generally midway between the top and bottom pulleys.
6 more elements
A wave energy converter (WEC) buoy comprising:
- a container designed to extend along the surface of a body of water and to move in response to motion of waves in the body of water;
- said container having a top and a bottom region;
- a drum rotatably mounted about its center between the top and bottom region of the container;
- a reaction mass attached via a lever arm, of predetermined length to the outer periphery of the drum;
- said reaction mass moving up and down in response movement of the container;
- a spring attached at one end to the outer periphery of the drum and at its other end to a selected point of the container for providing a counter force to the movement of the reaction mass;
- and
- a power take off device (PTO) responsive to movement of the reaction mass to produce useful energy.
5 more elements
A wave energy converter (WEC) buoy comprising:
- a container designed to extend along the surface of a body of water and to be responsive to motion of waves in the body of water;
- said container having a top and a bottom;
- a drum of diameter rotatably mounted about its center between the top and bottom of the container;
- a reaction mass attached via a lever arm of fixed length to the outer periphery of the drum;
- a spring attached at one end to the outer periphery of the drum and at its other end to a selected point of the container;
- and
- a power take off device (PTO) responsive to movement of the reaction mass to produce useful energy.
4 more elements
A wave energy converter (WEC) buoy comprising:
- a container designed to extend along the surface of a body of water and to be responsive to motion of waves in the body of water;
- said container having a top and a bottom;
- a drum/cam having a central pivot point and a variable radius for causing the outer envelope of the drum/cam to have a variable distance from the central pivot, said drum/cam mounted about its center pivot point between the top and bottom of the container;
- a reaction mass rigidly attached via a lever arm of fixed length to the outer periphery of the drum/cam to enable the reaction mass to rotate up and down about the central pivot;
- a spring attached at one end to the outer periphery of the drum and at its other end to a selected point of the container;
- and
- a power take off device (PTO) responsive to movement of the reaction mass to produce useful energy.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.