WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER SYSTEM OF IMPROVED EFFICIENCY AND SURVIVABILITY

摘要

A known type of surface wave energy converter comprises a submerged elongated tube (10) supported by, but being vertically movable relative to, an anchored float (16). The tube (10) vertically reciprocates in response to overpassing surface waves and drives a transducer (44) for generating useful energy. Improvements include: a motion translator (38, 50, 54) between the tube and the transducer for reducing the stroke length of the transducer (44) and magnifying the force transmitted to the transducer (44); an energy buffer system (60, 62a, 62b) for limiting the travel of the tube (10) in response to excessively large surface waves, a gravity anchor (20) for the system for absorbing energy from even greater amplitude waves; means for adjusting buoyancy in response to changing conditions, and pressure relief valves for automatically reducing excessive tube driving pressures caused by excessively large overpassing waves. Energy present in tilting movements of the apparatus is optionally captured in horizontally disposed transducers.