Wave energy electrical power generation

#This disclosure relates to wave-energy conversion devices, and more particularly to devices for conversion of wave energy to generation of electrical power.

#Devices for generation of electrical power by conversion of wave energy are known, e.g., from Wells U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,413; from Houser et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,377; from Fredriksson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,712; from Hirsch U.S. Pat. No. 7,199,481; and from Buffard et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,781,903.

#According to one aspect of the disclosure, a wave energy electric power generation system comprises: a buoyant body responsive to vertical wave movement and an associated, relatively vertically stationary body; a working compressor comprising a compressor cylinder and a compressor piston, the compressor piston being mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the compressor cylinder to alternately compress air in opposed air compressor chambers; a pressure regulator comprising a pressure regulator tank defining a regulator chamber in communication with the compressor cylinder for alternately receiving compressed air from each of the opposed air compression chambers, a floating piston disposed within the pressure regulator tank and mounted to apply pressure to compressed air received into the regulator chamber, and a pressure controller coupled to the floating piston for controlling pressure applied by the floating piston to compressed air in the regulator chamber and an hydraulic dampening system coupled to the floating piston for restricting unwanted vertical oscillations of the floating piston, for output of a continuous flow of compressed air at relatively constant pressure; and an air turbine and generator set disposed in communication with the pressure regulator for receiving the output of the flow of compressed air from the pressure regulator at relatively constant pressure to rotate the air turbine to drive the generator for generation of electric power.

#FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of one implementation of a wave energy electrical power generation system of the disclosure, while FIG. 1A is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of another implementation of a wave energy electrical power generation system of the disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic side plan view of the air compressor of the power generation system of FIG. 1, with a piston mounted to a central rod for vertical movement relative to a cylinder, and the piston and cylinder sealed together by depressurized rolling diaphragms.

#FIGS. 3 and 3A are side and top section views, respectively, of the air compressor of FIG. 2, showing inter-engagement of a square shaft and square orifice, for resisting rotational movement of the piston relative to the compressor cylinder, where FIG. 3A is taken at the line 3A-3A of FIG. 3.

#Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

#Referring to FIG. 1 et seq., a wave energy electrical power generation system 10 of the disclosure has a large floating buoy 12, having a diameter, D, e.g. about fifteen feet, anchored to the sea floor, S. A cylindrical wall 14 extends below the buoy 12 to define a close-fitting chamber 16. The chamber wall defines a plurality of open water flow orifices 18 above and below a neutral buoyancy piston 20, which is positioned in the region of a narrow plug orifice 22 in a relatively vertically stationary position.

#An upper body portion 24 of the floating buoy 12 defines a chamber 26, within which are disposed the components of the system 10 for conversion of wave energy for generation of electricity, including an air compressor 28, a pressure regulator 30, a closed air reservoir 32, and an air turbine and generator set 34.