Inertial hydrodynamic pump and wave engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11891975-B2
Application number	US-202318130343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2023
Priority date	Aug 14, 2018
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.

First claim

We claim:

1. A self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus adapted to float at a surface of a body of water and oscillate vertically in response to ocean waves, comprising:
a hydroelectric reservoir enclosure adapted to confine a water reservoir;
a water tube extending downwardly from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure and configured to convey water into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically;
a water turbine configured to rotate in response to water flowing from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure;
an electrical generator operatively coupled to the water turbine;
an electrolyzer operatively connected to the electrical generator; and
a propulsion system.

2. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gas enclosure in fluid communication with the electrolyzer for storing gas evolved by the electrolyzer.

3. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system includes a water jet.

4. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system includes a rigid sail.

5. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzer is adapted to evolve hydrogen gas.

6. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube includes an upward-pointing frustoconical tube section configured to accelerate water upwardly to the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically.

7. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure is further adapted to confine a gas pocket to pressurize water in the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.

8. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube includes an upwardly diverging section.

9. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube comprises an unconstricted hollow cylinder.

10. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube includes a bend to discharge water laterally into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.

11. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control system adapted to adjust an electrical load on the electrical generator.

12. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a generator control system adapted to adjust magnitudes of resistive torque applied to the water turbine by the generator.

13. A self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus adapted to float at a surface of a body of water and oscillate vertically in response to ocean waves, comprising:
a hydroelectric reservoir enclosure adapted to confine a water reservoir;
a water tube extending downwardly from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure and configured to convey water into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically;
a magnetohydrodynamic generator adapted to generate electricity in response to water flowing from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure;
an electrolyzer operatively connected to the magnetohydrodynamic generator; and
a propulsion system.

14. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a gas enclosure in fluid communication with the electrolyzer for storing gas evolved by the electrolyzer.

15. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the propulsion system includes a water jet.

16. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the propulsion system includes a rigid sail.

17. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the electrolyzer is adapted to evolve hydrogen gas.

18. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube includes an upward-pointing frustoconical tube section configured to accelerate water upwardly to the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically.

19. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure is further adapted to confine a gas pocket to pressurize water in the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.

20. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube includes an upwardly diverging section.

21. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube comprises an unconstricted hollow cylinder.

22. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube includes a bend to discharge water laterally into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.

23. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a control system adapted to adjust an electrical load on the magnetohydrodynamic generator.

24. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a generator control system adapted to alter rates of water flowing from the hydroelectric reservoir.

25. A self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus adapted to float at a surface of a body of water and oscillate vertically in response to ocean waves, comprising:
a reservoir enclosure adapted to confine a water reservoir;
a water tube extending downwardly from the reservoir enclosure and configured to convey water into the reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically;
a propeller adapted to propel the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus;
a pressurized-water-powered propeller motor operatively coupled to the propeller and configured to rotate the propeller in response to water flowing from the reservoir enclosure.

26. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the pressurized-water-powered propeller motor includes a water turbine.

27. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the pressurized-water-powered propeller motor includes a hydraulic motor.

28. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the reservoir enclosure is further adapted to confine a gas pocket to pressurize water in the reservoir enclosure.

Assignees

• Lone Gull Holdings Ltd

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F03B17/06 Primary

  using liquid flow {with predominantly kinetic energy conversion}, e.g. of swinging-flap type {, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" (F03B13/264 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B63B22/18

  having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether · CPC title

• H02K7/1823

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title

• H02K44/085

  with conducting liquids · CPC title

• B63B2209/14

  energy generated by movement of the water · CPC title