Method and apparatus for wave energy conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018230961-A1
Application number	US-201815896335-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 14, 2018
Priority date	Feb 14, 2017
Publication date	Aug 16, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wave energy conversion cylinder includes an outer cylinder and a center rod disposed along an axis of the outer cylinder. A plurality of electrically-conductive windings are disposed about an inner circumference of the outer cylinder. A magnet is slidably disposed on the center rod. A buoyancy cylinder is disposed outwardly of the outer cylinder. A first moveable ring weight may be slidably disposed along the axis of the center rod and a second moveable ring weight may be slidably disposed along the axis of the center rod. The first moveable ring weight and the second moveable ring weight facilitate control to tune a mass moment of inertia of the wave energy conversion cylinder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wave energy conversion cylinder comprising:
an outer cylinder; a center rod disposed along an axis of the outer cylinder; a plurality of electrically-conductive windings disposed about an inner circumference of the outer cylinder; a magnet slidably disposed on the center rod; and a buoyancy shell disposed outwardly of the outer cylinder.

2 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 1 , comprising:
a first moveable ring weight slidably disposed along the axis of the center rod; and a second moveable ring weight slidably disposed along the axis of the center rod.

3 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 1 , wherein movement of the magnet along the center rod induces an electrical current in the plurality of electrically-conductive windings.

4 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 1 , comprising a bracket slidably disposed on the center rod.

5 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 4 , comprising a plurality of bearing devices that facilitate movement of the bracket.

6 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of bearing devices are ball rollers.

7 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 4 , wherein the magnet is coupled outwardly of the bracket.

8 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 1 , comprising an absorber block disposed at an end of the outer cylinder so as to dampen movement of the magnet.

9 . The wave energy conversion cylinder of claim 1 , comprising a cable box disposed at an end of the outer cylinder, the cable box being electrically coupled to the plurality of electrically-conductive windings.

10 . A wave-energy conversion farm comprising;
at least one wave energy conversion device, the at least one wave energy conversion device comprising at least one wave energy conversion cylinder, the at least one wave energy conversion cylinder comprising: an outer cylinder; a center rod disposed along an axis of the outer cylinder; a plurality of electrically-conductive windings disposed about an inner circumference of the outer cylinder; a magnet slidably disposed on the center rod; a buoyancy shell disposed outwardly of the outer cylinder; and an umbilical electrically coupled to the plurality of electrically-conductive windings and electrically coupled to a power grid.

11 . The wave-energy conversion farm of claim 10 , comprising at least one anchor coupled to the at least one wave energy conversion device.

12 . The wave-energy conversion farm of claim 10 , wherein the at least one wave energy conversion device comprises three wave energy conversion cylinders arranged in a triangular pattern.

13 . The wave-energy conversion farm of claim 10 , wherein the at least one wave energy conversion device comprises twelve wave energy conversion cylinders arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

14 . A method of converting wave energy, the method comprising:
providing a wave energy conversion cylinder, the wave energy conversion cylinder comprising:
an outer cylinder;
a center rod disposed along an axis of the outer cylinder;
a plurality of electrically-conductive windings disposed about an inner circumference of the outer cylinder;
a magnet slidably disposed on the center rod; and
a buoyancy cylinder disposed outwardly of the outer cylinder;
connecting the plurality of electrically-conductive windings to a power grid; subjecting the wave energy conversion cylinder to wave action on a body of water; and inducing an electrical current in the plurality of electrically-conductive windings responsive to movement of the magnet.

15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising connecting a plurality of wave energy conversion cylinders together to form a wave energy conversion farm.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising anchoring the wave energy conversion farm.

17 . The method of claim 14 , comprising adjusting at least one of a first moveable ring weight and a second moveable ring weight.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising tuning a mass moment of inertia of the wave energy conversion cylinder.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein tuning the mass moment of inertia of the wave energy conversion cylinder comprises matching a natural frequency of the wave energy conversion cylinder with an excitation frequency.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a position of the first moveable ring weight and the second moveable ring weight are adjusted remotely.

Assignees

• Texas A & M Univ Sys

Inventors

• Kang Heonyong
• Kim Moohyun

Classifications

• F03B11/063

  Arrangements for balancing axial thrust · CPC title

• F03B15/00

  Controlling (controlling in general G05 {; regulation of plants characterised by the use of siphons F03B13/086}) · CPC title

• F03B13/1845 Primary

  and the wom slides relative to the rem · CPC title

• F05B2270/202

  Tuning to wave conditions · CPC title

• F05B2250/44

  one element moving inside another one, e.g. wave-operated member (wom) moving inside another member (rem) · CPC title