WAVE ENERGY GENERATOR

摘要

An apparatus and method for converting the motion of waves on a body of fluid into useable energy. The apparatus includes a floating or fixed rotatable support structure (5), a lever arms) (2) pivotally supported from the support structure and a wave follower(s) (1) fixed to one end of the lever arm(s) and positioned on the body of fluid. The lever arm is connected to an energy transfer device such as a piston rod (7) which drives a load in response to the action of waves on the wave follower. The wave follower is designed such that the upper portion (23) is constructed of a buoyant substance and the lower portion (24) constructed in the form of a hollow chamber (24a), open at the bottom (24b), with the seaward face (27a) being angled so as to harness the energy of the lateral force of the wave. The open bottom allows the chamber to fill with fluid on the rise of a wave. As the wave falls, suction, created by the closing of a valve (10) located in the upper portion, together with surface adhesion, restricts fluid from flowing out of the chamber, thus causing the wave follower to be pulled down by the weight of the fluid in the chamber. As the wave rises, hydraulic force is transmitted through the fluid in the open-bottomed chamber to the buoyant upper portion (23) causing the wave follower to rise. Extending seaward, vertical and inclined funnelling panels (4) will funnel the wave inward and upward toward the wave follower, thus amplifying the suave height.