Systems and methods for wave energy conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9581128-B2
Application number	US-201314402392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2013
Priority date	May 25, 2012
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

Systems for wave energy conversion that have components that can survive the harsh marine environment and that can be attached to fixed structures, such as a pier, and having the ability to naturally adjust for tidal height and methods for their use are presented.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for generating electrical energy from wave motion in a fluid, the system comprising:
a structure, the structure being substantially stationary in response to wave motion in a wave medium, the structure comprising:
a rotating component in a linear to rotary convertor (L-R convertor), the rotating component being operatively connected to an electricity generating component;
a linear motion component in the L-R convertor; the linear motion components operatively connected to the rotating component; motion of the linear motion component results in or from rotation of the rotating component; and
a first force field generating component operatively connected to the linear motion component; and

a float member at least partially surrounding a portion of the structure; the float member moving substantially vertically in response to a wave moving the wave medium; the float member comprising a second force field generating component; the first force field generating component and the second force field generating component configured to hold the linear motion component substantially stationary with respect to the float member;
wherein the linear motion component comprises a substructure, the substructure comprising the first force field generating component; the first force field generating component and the second force field generating component hold said substructure substantially stationary with respect to the float member;
wherein the rotating component comprises:
a fixed screw disposed substantially parallel to an axis of the structure and substantially in a vertical direction defined by motion of the float member in response to the wave moving the wave medium; and
a cap subcomponent, the cap subcomponent being disposed above and substantially surrounding the fixed screw; an interior surface of the cap subcomponent being threaded; a thread of the interior surface of the cap subcomponent being operatively connected and engaged with a thread of the fixed screw; substantially vertical motion of the cap subcomponent corresponding to rotation of the cap subcomponent; the cap subcomponent being disposed above, separated from and operatively coupled to said substructure; the cap subcomponent being operatively connected to the electricity generating component.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the linear to rotary convertor is a nut/screw combination; the screw being operatively connected to the electricity generating component and rotatable; the nut being the linear motion component; and wherein the first force field generating component and the second force field generating component configured to substantially prevent rotation of the linear motion component.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the nut is disposed on the screw and configured such that motion of the nut result in or from rotation of the screw; wherein the force field generating component is operatively connected to the nut; and wherein the first force field generating component and the second force field generating component are configured to substantially prevent rotation of the nut and to hold the nut substantially stationary with respect to the float member.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the first force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components; and wherein the second force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components; and wherein the second force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a cage substructure; the electricity generating component being disposed inside the cage substructure; the cage substructure comprising a third force field generating component; and wherein the float member comprises a fourth force field generating component; the third force field generating component and the fourth force field generating component hold the cage substructure substantially stationary with respect to the float member.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein an exterior surface of the cage substructure comprises protrusions; said exterior surface being opposite an interior surface of said structure; and wherein at least a portion of said interior surface comprises grooves; said protrusions and said grooves being operatively connected and engaged and configured to substantially prevent rotation of said cage substructure.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the first force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components; wherein the second force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components; the third force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components; and the fourth force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said substructure comprises one or more first permanent magnets; said one or more first permanent magnets being disposed on a surface of said substructure; said surface of said substructure being opposite a surface of said cap subcomponent; and wherein said cap subcomponent comprises one or more second permanent magnets; wherein like poles of said one or more first permanent magnets and said one or more second permanent magnets are opposite each other.

10. A system for generating electrical energy from wave motion in a fluid, the system comprising:
a structure, the structure being substantially stationary in response to wave motion in a wave medium, the structure comprising:
a rotating component in a linear to rotary convertor (L-R convertor), the rotating component being operatively connected to an electricity generating component;
a linear motion component in the L-R convertor; the linear motion components operatively connected to the rotating component; motion of the linear motion component results in or from rotation of the rotating component; and
a first force field generating component operatively connected to the linear motion component; and

a float member at least partially surrounding a portion of the structure; the float member moving substantially vertically in response to a wave moving the wave medium; the float member comprising a second force field generating component; the first force field generating component and the second force field generating component configured to hold the linear motion component substantially stationary with respect to the float member;
wherein the linear motion component comprises a substructure, the substructure comprising the first force field generating component; the first force field generating component and the second force field generating component hold said substructure substantially stationary with respect to the float member;
wherein an exterior surface of the rotating component is threaded; said exterior surface being opposite an interior surface of said structure; and wherein at least a portion of said interior surface is threaded; a thread of said exterior surface and a thread of said interior surface of said structure being operatively connected and engaged; substantially vertical motion of a cap subcomponent corresponding to rotation of the cap subcomponent; the rotating component being disposed above, separated from and operatively coupled to said substructure; the rotating component being operatively connected to the electricity generating component.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first force field generating component comprises magnetic field generating components; and wherein the second force field generating c

Assignees

• Macdonald Daniel G
• Cantara Justin
• Nathan Craig
• Lopes Amy M
• Green Brandon E
• Univ Massachusetts

Inventors

• Macdonald Daniel G
• Cantara Justin
• Nathan Craig
• Lopes Amy M
• Green Brandon E

Classifications

• F03B13/1855 Primary

  where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression (F03B13/187, F03B13/1875 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E10/38

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F03B13/16 Primary

  using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, {i.e. a "wom"} and another member, {i.e. a reaction member or "rem"} · CPC title

• F05B2260/302

  by means of magnetic or electromagnetic forces · CPC title

• Y02E10/30

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