Inertial pneumatic wave energy device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566596-B2
Application number	US-202117489510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2021
Priority date	May 17, 2018
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A buoyant wave energy device is disclosed that incorporates an open-bottomed tube of substantial length in which is partially enclosed a first body of water that oscillates in response to wave action. The device incorporates a buoy to which an upper end of the tube is connected and inside of which is trapped a second body of water of substantial mass. A differential phase in the oscillations of the water trapped in the tube, and the oscillations of the buoy of augmented mass, result in the periodic compression of a pocket of air trapped at the top of the tube, and in the subsequent expulsion of pressurized air through a turbine, thereby generating electrical power.

First claim

We claim:

1. A buoyant wave energy converter, comprising:
a bulbous upper hull; and
a tubular water channel descending from the bulbous upper hull;
a water ballast compartment integrated into the bulbous upper hull;
a gas accumulator in fluid communication with the water ballast compartment;
a gas turbine configured to be rotated by gas exiting the gas accumulator; and
an electrical generator operatively connected to the gas turbine;
whereby a first side of the bulbous upper hull has a lesser draft than a second side of the bulbous upper hull; and
whereby rising and falling movement of the buoyant wave energy converter generates a lateral thrust.

2. The buoyant wave energy converter of claim 1 , wherein the tubular water channel has an airfoil profile.

3. The buoyant wave energy converter of claim 1 , wherein the bulbous upper hull has a slanted bottom surface.

Assignees

• Lone Gull Holdings Ltd

Inventors

• Sheldon-Coulson Garth Alexander
• Moffat Brian Lee
• Place Daniel William

Classifications

• H02K7/1823

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title

• F05B2220/706

  an electrical generator · CPC title

• F03B13/24 Primary

  to produce a flow of air, e.g. to drive an air turbine {(F03B13/142 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• Y02E10/30

  Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient · CPC title

• F05B2240/95

  offshore · CPC title