Wave energy device with constricted tube and generator pod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11754034-B2
Application number	US-202217895010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2022
Priority date	Aug 22, 2016
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A wave energy converter utilizes a flotation module that rises and falls with the passage of waves, a submerged tube containing a constriction which multiplies the speed of the water passing therethrough, a turbine (or other hydrokinetic apparatus) positioned so as to extract energy from the accelerated flow of water within and/or through the tube, and a submerged gas- or liquid-filled chamber housing one or more energy conversion components (e.g. generators, transformers, rectifiers, inverters). By providing a chamber in proximity to the turbine, generators can be placed in closer proximity to the turbine that turns them, and the shared shaft can be shorter than if the generators were placed in the buoy adjacent to the surface.

First claim

We claim:

1. A positively buoyant wave energy converter, comprising:
a water-conducting tube having at least one constriction for accelerating fluid flowing therein;
a fluid channel configured to receive fluid pressurized by water oscillating in the water-conducting tube;
a turbine disposed in the fluid channel;
a generator operatively coupled to the turbine for generating electricity from a rotation of the turbine;
an enclosure configured to contain a pressurized gas; and
a gas replenishment unit configured to add gas to the enclosure.

2. A positively buoyant wave energy converter, comprising:
a water-conducting tube having at least one constriction for accelerating fluid flowing therein;
a fluid channel configured to receive fluid pressurized by water oscillating in the water-conducting tube;
a turbine disposed in the fluid channel;
a generator operatively coupled to the turbine for generating electricity from a rotation of the turbine;
an enclosure configured to confine a pressurized gas; and
an air pump adapted to add air to the enclosure.

3. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 1 , wherein the gas is nitrogen.

4. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 1 , wherein the gas is air.

5. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 1 , wherein the gas is hydrogen.

6. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 1 , further comprising electrolyzing equipment.

7. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 1 , further comprising a chemical fuel generator.

8. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 2 , wherein the gas is nitrogen.

9. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 2 , wherein the gas is air.

10. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 2 , wherein the gas is hydrogen.

11. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 2 , further comprising electrolyzing equipment.

12. The positively buoyant wave energy converter of claim 2 , further comprising a chemical fuel generator.

Assignees

• Lone Gull Holdings Ltd

Inventors

• Moffat Brian Lee
• Sheldon-Coulson Garth Alexander

Classifications

• F03B13/183 Primary

  of a turbine-like wom · CPC title

• F03B13/10 Primary

  Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors · CPC title

• F03B13/22 Primary

  using the flow of water resulting from wave movements to drive a motor or turbine {(F03B13/144 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F05B2210/404

  bidirectional, i.e. in opposite, alternating directions · CPC title

• F05B2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title