Abstract: Wave energy conversion systems (WECS) with internal power take-off mechanisms using internal inertias as well as WECS using a submerged water head for driving a turbine at a steady rate. The WECS involving internal inertias is effected through relative oscillation between masses inside the hull of watercraft excited by wave motion and whereby the masses' oscillations are captured by actuators (e.g., hydraulic) that pressurize a fluid or generate electricity. Different relative oscillation mechanisms are disclosed herein. The WECS involving a submerged water head involve the use of asymmetric floats, arranged in a circular orientation for omni-directional wave energy capturing, that drive respective pistons that pressurize the water head and drive the turbine. Alternatively, the use of articulating raft/barges or floats coupled via a lever arm can be used instead of the asymmetric floats for pressurizing the water head.

Abstract: A potable water producing system for disposition at a salt water body and methods of producing potable water are provided. The system includes a wave energy conversion system (AWECS) and a portable filtration system. The AWECS forms a floating articulated barge having an onboard desalination system including reverse osmosis membranes. The filtration system is a sand filter residing on a damping plate submerged in the salt water body and filters the adjacent salt water for providing filtered salt water to the onboard desalination system. Wave action on the articulated barge provides energy to pump and pressurize the filtered salt water from the sand filter to the reverse osmosis membranes to produce potable water. The wave action on the articulated barge effects shaking of the reverse osmosis membranes, thereby rendering them self-cleaning. The potable water can be used for various applications, e.g., bottling, replenishing aquifers, ground and/or aquifer remediation, irrigation, etc.

Abstract: A hinge system and method for an Articulated Wave Energy Conversion System (AWECS) that provides for hinge and piston pump displacements due to multi-axis forces in allowing adjacent barges of the AWECS to pivot with respect to one another due to wave motion. The hinge system uses a plurality of parallel hinges, and axle segments, coupled between adjacent barges wherein the hinges are coupled to upright trusses positioned transversely along facing edges of each barge. Hinge bracing includes lower V-shaped struts that act as lower stops when the barges pitch up and also include upper struts that act as upper stops when the barges pitch down. The pumps are positioned in parallel. The pumps have special couplings such as ball joint couplings that permit motions other than longitudinal pump/ram motions due to multi-axis forces generated by the wave motion and thus provide omni-directional stress relief to the pumps.

Abstract: Wave energy conversion systems (WECS) with internal power take-off mechanisms using internal inertias as well as WECS using a submerged water head for driving a turbine at a steady rate. The WECS involving internal inertias is effected through relative oscillation between masses inside the hull of watercraft excited by wave motion and whereby the masses' oscillations are captured by actuators (e.g., hydraulic) that pressurize a fluid or generate electricity. Different relative oscillation mechanisms are disclosed herein. The WECS involving a submerged water head involve the use of asymmetric floats, arranged in a circular orientation for omni-directional wave energy capturing, that drive respective pistons that pressurize the water head and drive the turbine. Alternatively, the use of articulating raft/barges or floats coupled via a lever arm can be used instead of the asymmetric floats for pressurizing the water head.

Abstract: An articulating wave energy conversion system (AWECS) formed of a forward barge hingedly-coupled to a two-part aft barge configuration for reducing the attenuation of available wave energy along the length of the AWECS. The two-part aft barge includes a buoyant section that is either rigidly-connected, or unitized with, a lever-arm barge. The lever-arm barge includes a draft that is much smaller than the drafts of the forward barge and buoyant section. In addition, the lever-arm barge includes a large waterplane area that results in large hydrostatic forces as the waves pass. One or more intermediate barges may be hingedly-coupled between the forward barge and the aft barge. Pumps can be positioned across every hinge to convert the barge articulations into mechanical energy for driving the pumps based on wave motion for a variety of functions, such as water desalination, electrical energy generation, etc.

Abstract: A potable water producing system for disposition at a salt water body and methods of producing potable water are provided. The system includes a wave energy conversion system (AWECS) and a portable filtration system. The AWECS forms a floating articulated barge having an onboard desalination system including reverse osmosis membranes. The filtration system is a sand filter residing on a damping plate submerged in the salt water body and filters the adjacent salt water for providing filtered salt water to the onboard desalination system. Wave action on the articulated barge provides energy to pump and pressurize the filtered salt water from the sand filter to the reverse osmosis membranes to produce potable water. The wave action on the articulated barge effects shaking of the reverse osmosis membranes, thereby rendering them self-cleaning. The potable water can be used for various applications, e.g., bottling, replenishing aquifers, ground and/or aquifer remediation, irrigation, etc.

Abstract: A potable water producing system for disposition at a salt water body and methods of producing potable water are provided. The system includes a wave energy conversion system (AWECS) and a portable filtration system. The AWECS forms a floating articulated barge having an onboard desalination system including reverse osmosis membranes. The filtration system is a sand filter residing on a damping plate submerged in the salt water body and filters the adjacent salt water for providing filtered salt water to the onboard desalination system. Wave action on the articulated barge provides energy to pump and pressurize the filtered salt water from the sand filter to the reverse osmosis membranes to produce potable water. The wave action on the articulated barge effects shaking of the reverse osmosis membranes, thereby rendering them self-cleaning. The potable water can be used for various applications, e.g., bottling, replenishing aquifers, ground and/or aquifer remediation, irrigation, etc.

Abstract: An articulating wave energy conversion system (AWECS) formed of a forward barge hingedly-coupled to a two-part aft barge configuration for reducing the attenuation of available wave energy along the length of the AWECS. The two-part aft barge includes a buoyant section that is either rigidly-connected, or unitized with, a lever-arm barge. The lever-arm barge includes a draft that is much smaller than the drafts of the forward barge and buoyant section. In addition, the lever-arm barge includes a large waterplane area that results in large hydrostatic forces as the waves pass. One or more intermediate barges may be hingedly-coupled between the forward barge and the aft barge. Pumps can be positioned across every hinge to convert the barge articulations into mechanical energy for driving the pumps based on wave motion for a variety of functions, such as water desalination, electrical energy generation, etc.

Abstract: A bi-directional pump system that can be configured for a plurality of operating modes. The bi-directional pump system includes a plurality of bi-directional pumps each having their own valving system that are connected to a common high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold. Via the respective valve systems, each pump can be configured into: (1) a single-acting pumping mode; (2) a double-acting pumping mode; (3) an inactive free motion mode; and (4) an inactive rigid mode. One exemplary application of the bi-directional pump system is on an articulated wave energy conversion system that consists of three floating barges: a front barge, a center barge and a rear barge where the front barge and center barge are hingedly connected as are the center barge and the rear barge. A first set of the bi-directional pumps span the first hinge connection and the second set of bi-directional pumps span the second hinge connection.

Abstract: A hinge system and method for an Articulated Wave Energy Conversion System (AWECS) that provides for hinge and piston pump displacements due to multi-axis forces in allowing adjacent barges of the AWECS to pivot with respect to one another due to wave motion. The hinge system uses a plurality of parallel hinges, and axle segments, coupled between adjacent barges wherein the hinges are coupled to upright trusses positioned transversely along facing edges of each barge. Hinge bracing includes lower V-shaped struts that act as lower stops when the barges pitch up and also include upper struts that act as upper stops when the barges pitch down. The pumps are positioned in parallel. The pumps have special couplings such as ball joint couplings that permit motions other than longitudinal pump/ram motions due to multi-axis forces generated by the wave motion and thus provide omni-directional stress relief to the pumps.

Abstract: A bi-directional pump system that can be configured for a plurality of operating modes. The bi-directional pump system includes a plurality of bi-directional pumps each having their own valving system that are connected to a common high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold. Via the respective valve systems, each pump can be configured into: (1) a single-acting pumping mode; (2) a double-acting pumping mode; (3) an inactive free motion mode; and (4) an inactive rigid mode. One exemplary application of the bi-directional pump system is on an articulated wave energy conversion system that consists of three floating barges: a front barge, a center barge and a rear barge where the front barge and center barge are hingedly connected as are the center barge and the rear barge. A first set of the bi-directional pumps span the first hinge connection and the second set of bi-directional pumps span the second hinge connection.

Abstract: A hinge system and method for an Articulated Wave Energy Conversion System (AWECS) that provides for hinge and piston pump displacements due to multi-axis forces in allowing adjacent barges of the AWECS to pivot with respect to one another due to wave motion. The hinge system uses a plurality of parallel hinges, and axle segments, coupled between adjacent barges wherein the hinges are coupled to upright trusses positioned transversely along facing edges of each barge. Hinge bracing includes lower V-shaped struts that act as lower stops when the barges pitch up and also include upper struts that act as upper stops when the barges pitch down. The pumps are positioned in parallel. The pumps have special couplings such as ball joint couplings that permit motions other than longitudinal pump/ram motions due to multi-axis forces generated by the wave motion and thus provide omni-directional stress relief to the pumps.

Abstract: A bi-directional pump system that can be configured for a plurality of operating modes. The bi-directional pump system includes a plurality of bi-directional pumps each having their own valving system that are connected to a common high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold. Via the respective valve systems, each pump can be configured into: (1) a single-acting pumping mode; (2) a double-acting pumping mode; (3) an inactive free motion mode; and (4) an inactive rigid mode. One exemplary application of the bi-directional pump system is on an articulated wave energy conversion system that consists of three floating barges: a front barge, a center barge and a rear barge where the front barge and center barge are hingedly connected as are the center barge and the rear barge. A first set of the bi-directional pumps span the first hinge connection and the second set of bi-directional pumps span the second hinge connection.

Abstract: A potable water producing system for disposition at a salt water body and methods of producing potable water are provided. The system includes a wave energy conversion system (AWECS) and a portable filtration system. The AWECS forms a floating articulated barge having an onboard desalination system including reverse osmosis membranes. The filtration system is a sand filter residing on a damping plate submerged in the salt water body and filters the adjacent salt water for providing filtered salt water to the onboard desalination system. Wave action on the articulated barge provides energy to pump and pressurize the filtered salt water from the sand filter to the reverse osmosis membranes to produce potable water. The wave action on the articulated barge effects shaking of the reverse osmosis membranes, thereby rendering them self-cleaning. The potable water can be used for various applications, e.g., bottling, replenishing aquifers, ground and/or aquifer remediation, irrigation, etc.

Abstract: A bi-directional pump system that can be configured for a plurality of operating modes. The bi-directional pump system includes a plurality of bi-directional pumps each having their own valving system that are connected to a common high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold. Via the respective valve systems, each pump can be configured into: (1) a single-acting pumping mode; (2) a double-acting pumping mode; (3) an inactive free motion mode; and (4) an inactive rigid mode. One exemplary application of the bi-directional pump system is on an articulated wave energy conversion system that consists of three floating barges: a front barge, a center barge and a rear barge where the front barge and center barge are hingedly connected as are the center barge and the rear barge. A first set of the bi-directional pumps span the first hinge connection and the second set of bi-directional pumps span the second hinge connection.

Abstract: A hinge system and method for an Articulated Wave Energy Conversion System (AWECS) that provides for hinge and piston pump displacements due to multi-axis forces in allowing adjacent barges of the AWECS to pivot with respect to one another due to wave motion. The hinge system uses a plurality of parallel hinges, and axle segments, coupled between adjacent barges wherein the hinges are coupled to upright trusses positioned transversely along facing edges of each barge. Hinge bracing includes lower V-shaped struts that act as lower stops when the barges pitch up and also include upper struts that act as upper stops when the barges pitch down. The pumps are positioned in parallel. The pumps have special couplings such as ball joint couplings that permit motions other than longitudinal pump/ram motions due to multi-axis forces generated by the wave motion and thus provide omni-directional stress relief to the pumps.

Abstract: A bi-directional pump system that can be configured for a plurality of operating modes. The bi-directional pump system includes a plurality of bi-directional pumps each having their own valving system that are connected to a common high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold. Via the respective valve systems, each pump can be configured into: (1) a single-acting pumping mode; (2) a double-acting pumping mode; (3) an inactive free motion mode; and (4) an inactive rigid mode. One exemplary application of the bi-directional pump system is on an articulated wave energy conversion system that consists of three floating barges: a front barge, a center barge and a rear barge where the front barge and center barge are hingedly connected as are the center barge and the rear barge. A first set of the bi-directional pumps span the first hinge connection and the second set of bi-directional pumps span the second hinge connection.

Abstract: A bi-directional pump system that can be configured for a plurality of operating modes. The bi-directional pump system includes a plurality of bi-directional pumps each having their own valving system that are connected to a common high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold. Via the respective valve systems, each pump can be configured into: (1) a single-acting pumping mode; (2) a double-acting pumping mode; (3) an inactive free motion mode; and (4) an inactive rigid mode. One exemplary application of the bi-directional pump system is on an articulated wave energy conversion system that consists of three floating barges: a front barge, a center barge and a rear barge where the front barge and center barge are hingedly connected as are the center barge and the rear barge. A first set of the bi-directional pumps span the first hinge connection and the second set of bi-directional pumps span the second hinge connection.

Abstract: A bi-directional pump system that can be configured for a plurality of operating modes. The bi-directional pump system includes a plurality of bi-directional pumps each having their own valving system that are connected to a common high pressure manifold, a low pressure manifold and a suction manifold. Via the respective valve systems, each pump can be configured into: (1) a single-acting pumping mode; (2) a double-acting pumping mode; (3) an inactive free motion mode; and (4) an inactive rigid mode. One exemplary application of the bi-directional pump system is on an articulated wave energy conversion system that consists of three floating barges: a front barge, a center barge and a rear barge where the front barge and center barge are hingedly connected as are the center barge and the rear barge. A first set of the bi-directional pumps span the first hinge connection and the second set of bi-directional pumps span the second hinge connection.