A FLOATABLE WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER AND A METHOD FOR IMPROVINGTHE EFFICIENCY OF A FLOATABLE WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER

• Main Authors: MCCARTHY, MICHAEL JOHN MARTIN, WHELAN, MICHAEL MARTIN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 24.04.2008
• Subjects: BLASTING; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

A wave energy converter (1) comprises a housing (2) extending between a f orward end (3) and an aft end (4). Three upstanding air chambers (15) are lo cated in the housing (2) and three corresponding water accommodating ducts ( 16) extend aft from the air chambers (15) and terminate in aft water accommo dating openings (17) for accommodating water into and out of the air chamber s (15) as the housing (2) oscillates by pitching in response to passing wave s. An air accommodating duct (21) communicates with the air chambers (15) th rough a manifold (20) for accommodating air into and out of the air chambers (15) as the water level (19a) falls and rises within the air chambers (15) as the housing (2) oscillates. A self-rectifying turbine (22) located in the air accommodating duct (21) powers an electrical generator (24) for generat ing electricity. A buoyancy tank (31) is located on the housing (2) above th e water accommodating ducts (16) aft of the air chambers (15) for maintainin g the housing (2) floating in the water. A first stabilising plate (28) exte nding in a generally forwardly downwardly direction extends from a lower slo ping portion (27) at the forward end (3) of the housing (2) for controlling the pitching oscillating motion of the housing (2) relative to wave motion f or in turn enhancing the power output producedby the converter (1). A forwar d ballast tank (31) and a pair of second stabilising plates (30) extending u pwardly from the housing (2) enhance the stability of the converter (1).</SD OAB>