Other

Oscilla Power Inc.

Timothy R Mundon

Balakrishnan G Nair

Brian J Rosenberg

Andrew Joseph Gill

Jeff Campbell

Ken Fitzgerald

Joseph Van 't Hoff

Ben Ackers

Ian McCauley

Jennifer Vining

A wave energy converter (WEC) system includes a float, a drivetrain, a reaction structure coupled to the drivetrain by at least one tendon, and a power dissipation system coupled to the drivetrain. The power dissipation system is configured to manage peak loads in the WEC system by dissipating peak energy spikes caused by relative movement of the reaction structure and the float.

Power dissipation in wave energy converter systems

A system includes an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), a reaction structure configured to deploy from a body of the UUV, and one or more tendons connecting the reaction structure to the body of the UUV, wherein the reaction structure deploys at a depth below the body of the UUV. The system further includes one or more power take-out (PTO) units coupled to or between the reaction structure and the UUV. The system further includes a control unit coupled to the one or more PTO units to convert energy from waves on a surface of a body of water for use in other systems within the UUV.

Systems and methods for integrated wave power charging for ocean vehicles

A system converts mechanical wave energy into electrical energy. The system includes a wave energy converter (WEC), which includes a surface float, a reaction structure, a plurality of flexible tethers, and a plurality of drivetrains. Each flexible tether connects the surface float to the reaction structure. Each drivetrain is connected to a corresponding flexible tether. Each flexible tether has a length established to treat the system as an inverse pendulum to utilize a horizontal surge motion of the surface float to present tension at the corresponding drivetrain for production of electrical energy from the horizontal surge motion.

Wave energy conversion of horizontal surge motion

A system includes a float including a drivetrain, a reaction structure coupled to the drivetrain by a tendon, and an extension spring having a first end coupled to a fixed point on the tendon and a second end configured to be disposed at a fixed location relative to the drivetrain. The extension spring is configured to experience an elastic force in response to tension on the first end of the extension spring away from the drivetrain.

Extension spring and fairlead based power take-out for wave power systems

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for WEC system for a wave energy converter. The system includes a buoyant object, a reaction body and a line coupling the reaction body and the buoyant object. The system further includes a drivetrain coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body. The drivetrain includes a sheave coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body and an actuator coupled to the sheave. The line is coupled to the sheave, wherein movement of the buoyant object relative to the reaction body applies a force to the sheave. The force on the sheave drives the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to apply a spring force.

Drivetrain for a wave energy converter

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

A wave energy converter includes a surface float including a non-axisymmetric profile, a reaction plate configured to be submerged below a water surface, and more than one flexible tether, each mechanically coupled to both the surface float and the reaction plate, the reaction plate having a moment of inertia in pitch and roll greater than a moment of inertia in pitch and roll of the surface float.

Wave energy converter

A device for generating electrical energy from mechanical motion includes a surface float and at least one force modifier disposed at least partially within the interior of the surface float, the force modifier to receive an input force at a pumping cylinder and apply a modified force to a generator through a driving cylinder. The pumping cylinder or the driving cylinder is a tandem cylinder.

Power take off system for wave energy convertor

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for power transfer system for a wave energy converter. The system includes a plurality of hydraulic cylinders including a first cluster of input cylinders and a second cluster of output cylinders. The input cylinders are coupled to an underwater structure and are configured to receive an input force from a relative motion between a buoy housing and the underwater structure. The output cylinders are configured to transfer an output force to an electric generator. The power transfer system further includes a hydraulic connection between the input cylinders and the output cylinders. The hydraulic connection is configurable to switch a portion of the hydraulic cylinders into and out of the hydraulic connection between the input cylinders and the output cylinders.

Fluid power gearbox and drivetrain for a wave energy converter

A system for transporting a buoy and a heave plate. The system includes a buoy and a heave plate. An outer surface of the buoy has a first geometrical shape. A surface of the heave plate has a geometrical shape complementary to the first geometrical shape of the buoy. The complementary shapes of the buoy and the heave plate facilitate coupling of the heave plate to the outer surface of the buoy in a transport mode.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Timothy R Mundon