초록 ▼

This invention relates to a system for the generation of useful energy from the power in ocean waves. The wave power generation system is an array of individual absorber units each consisting of a buoyant raft, connected to a stable mooring assembly by means of a yoke so as to allow relative motion

This invention relates to a system for the generation of useful energy from the power in ocean waves. The wave power generation system is an array of individual absorber units each consisting of a buoyant raft, connected to a stable mooring assembly by means of a yoke so as to allow relative motion between the buoyant raft and the mooring assembly in response to the motion of the waves. A linkage between the buoyant raft and the yoke allows conversion of the relative motion into mechanical, hydraulic and/or electrical power. The system is designed to be responsive to the broad spectrum of frequencies present in ocean waves. The response characteristics of the individual absorber units can be changed to match the conditions of the incident waves in order to provide maximum power conversion efficiency. Each unit of the array is tuned to a condition for maximum power absorption by control of the shape, mass, moments, and power extraction impedance. The system is deployed so as to minimize the capital and operating cost of the system. The deployment configuration is selected to produce minimum aesthetic effect on the environment yet be close enough to shore to keep electrical transmission and mooring costs to a minimum and to extract the maximum amount of power per unit area of installation. The system is capable of producing base load power to a large electrical grid.

대표청구항 ▼

A power generation system for extracting energy from the motion of waves in a wave field and converting the energy into useful energy, comprising: a floating structure rotatably connected to a mooring buoy by means of a yoke and allowed to move in heave and pitch in response to the motion of the wav

A power generation system for extracting energy from the motion of waves in a wave field and converting the energy into useful energy, comprising: a floating structure rotatably connected to a mooring buoy by means of a yoke and allowed to move in heave and pitch in response to the motion of the waves in the wave field; said mooring buoy acting as a stable reference platform to said floating structure; energy extraction means extending between said floating structure and said yoke and responsive to said motion of said floating structure for extracting energy from the heave and pitch motion of the waves; and energy conversion means disposed on said floating structure for converting said extracted energy into useful energy.