A WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER WITH A CHANNEL FEEDING A WHIRLPOOL

摘要

A wave energy converter (100) has floating elements (101) having buoyancy to pitch up and down with wave movement. A connector links the element to a prime mover (102). A tilt means enhances tilting motion of a fore element end upwards with a wave crest and an aft element end downward with a wave trough. The tilt means may include fins (103) mounted at different fore-aft positions on the elements, each fin being arranged in a configuration extending from the fore end downwardly towards the aft end. The tilt means may include air pockets (510) which move in a switching manner between the fore and aft ends to provide bi-stable positions.