Muroran Institute of Technology

Tomiji Watabe

Hideo Kondo

Kenji Yano

Seiichi Asano

Kyokai Okuda

Matao Takagi

Yasuhiko Dote

Toshihiko Matsuda

According to the present invention, a simple, strong and economical resonant type apparatus for absorbing wave energy which can generate electric power at high efficiency, yet can withstand extraordinary sea phenomenon such as typhoon with minimum investment and maintainance costs.

Method and apparatus for absorbing wave energy and generating electric

At least one caisson which is part or all of a breakwater forms a water chamber therein whose closure is a pendulum having a natural period in rocking or oscillating the same as a period of stationary wave surges caused in the water chamber by rocking movement of the pendulum owing to wave force impinging against the pendulum. At least one double-acting piston and cylinder assembly is connected to the pendulum, so that when a piston of the assembly is reciprocatively moved by the pendulum, pressure difference between cylinder chambers on both sides of the piston of the assembly controls a change-over valve which in turn controls hydraulic pressure discharged from the cylinder chambers to be supplied to a plurality of hydraulic motors respectively having accumulators of a type wherein accumulated pressure and volume of the hydraulic liquid are proportional to each other, whereby driving a common generator alternately by the hydraulic motors.

Method and apparatus for generating electric power by waves

A resonant type apparatus for absorbing wave energy arranged at wave-breaking facilities, which comprises, a caisson having a bottom plate, side plates, a backside plate and a top plate at least a part of which is omitted. A water chamber in the caisson has a length in a directional parallel to the side walls which is larger than 1/4 of the wave length Lc of a stationary wave within the water chamber, and a node of the stationary wave in the water chamber is formed at a distance Lc/4 from the backside plate. A pendulum is arranged at the position of the node of the stationary wave for swinging with a natural period Tp which is substantially the same value as the natural period Tw of the stationary wave, whereby the pendulum is swung by the stationary wave to absorb and convert wave energy to useful available energy at high efficiency.

Resonant type apparatus for absorbing wave energy arranged at

Growing community of inventors

Noboribetsu, Japan

Tomiji Watabe