Oscilla Power Inc.

Other

Andrew Joseph Gill

Balakrishnan G Nair

Zachary R Murphree

Jesse Alan Nachlas

Timothy R Mundon

Brian J Rosenberg

Ian McCauley

Ken Fitzgerald

Ben Ackers

A wave energy conversion (WEC) system includes a float body, a heave plate, a tether, and a controller. The tether couples the heave plate to the float body. The controller controls the tether between survivability modes. Each survivability mode adjusts a tension and/or length of the tether.

Survivability of wave energy convertors

An apparatus for harvesting electrical power from mechanical energy is described. The apparatus includes: a flux path. The flux path includes: a magnetic material having a magnetic property that is a function of stress on the magnetic material; a first magnetically conductive material proximate the magnetic material; a magnet in the flux path, wherein a magnetomotive force of the magnet causes magnetic flux; and a component configured to transfer changes in load caused by an external source to the magnetic material.

Apparatus for harvesting electrical power from mechanical energy

An apparatus harvests electrical power from mechanical energy. The apparatus includes first and second load-bearing structures, a plurality of magnetostrictive elements, and an electrical circuit or coil. The load-bearing structures experience a force from an external source. The magnetostrictive elements are arranged between the load-bearing structures. The load-bearing structures transfer at least a portion of the force to at least one of the magnetostrictive elements. In this way, at least one of the magnetostrictive elements experiences the force transferred from the load-bearing structures. The force on the magnetostrictive element causes a change in magnetic flux of the magnetostrictive element. The electrical circuit or coil is disposed within a vicinity of the magnetostrictive element which experiences the force. The electrical circuit or coil generates electric power in response to the change in the magnetic flux of the magnetostrictive element.

Energy harvesting methods and devices, and applications thereof

Embodiments of an apparatus for harvesting electrical power from fluid motion are described. The apparatus includes a magnetostrictive component having an internal pre-stressed magnetostrictive core. A magnetic property of the magnetostrictive core is configured to change with changes in stress within the magnetostrictive core along at least one direction within the magnetostrictive component. Also, forces at least partially due to fluid motion results in changes of stress within the magnetostrictive core and consequently change the magnetic property. The magnetostrictive component is further configured such that the change in the magnetic property will result in a change in the magnetic flux, which can be used to generate electrical power.

Mechanical energy harvester

An apparatus for harvesting electrical power from hydrodynamic energy, the apparatus including a buoy or other water flotation device connected to an anchor by a tether and a magnetostrictive component having an internal pre-stressed magnetostrictive core that experiences at least a part of load changes experienced by the tether. The magnetic property of the magnetostrictive core is configured to change with changes in stress within the magnetostrictive core along at least one direction within the magnetostrictive component. The hydrodynamic energy acting on the buoy or other water flotation device results in changes in force within the tether, which in turn changes the stress within the magnetostrictive core and consequently changes a magnetic property. The magnetostrictive component is also configured such that the change in the magnetic property will result in a change in magnetic flux, which change can be used to generate electrical power.

Wave energy harvester with improved performance

A method and device for energy conversion from a moving fluid to electrical energy. The device includes at least one magnetic structure, at least one coil structure, a rotating component, and a rotary to linear motion conversion mechanism. The at least one coil structure includes electrically conductive material. The rotating component rotates relative to a corresponding axis of rotation in response to forces applied by the moving fluid on a structure coupled to the rotating component. The rotary to linear motion conversion mechanism is coupled to the rotating component. Rotation of the rotating component around the corresponding axis of rotation generates a relative linear displacement between the at least one magnetic structure and at least one coil in the at least one coil structure. The relative linear displacement between the at least one magnetic structure and the at least one coil generates electrical energy in the at least one coil structure.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Andrew Joseph Gill