Inertial hydrodynamic pump and wave engine
A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.
1. A self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus adapted to float at a surface of a body of water and oscillate vertically in response to ocean waves, comprising:
a hydroelectric reservoir enclosure adapted to confine a water reservoir;
a water tube extending downwardly from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure and configured to convey water into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically;
a water turbine configured to rotate in response to water flowing from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure;
an electrical generator operatively coupled to the water turbine;
an electrolyzer operatively connected to the electrical generator; and
a propulsion system.
2. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gas enclosure in fluid communication with the electrolyzer for storing gas evolved by the electrolyzer.
3. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system includes a water jet.
4. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system includes a rigid sail.
5. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzer is adapted to evolve hydrogen gas.
6. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube includes an upward-pointing frustoconical tube section configured to accelerate water upwardly to the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically.
7. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure is further adapted to confine a gas pocket to pressurize water in the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.
8. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube includes an upwardly diverging section.
9. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube comprises an unconstricted hollow cylinder.
10. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water tube includes a bend to discharge water laterally into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.
11. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control system adapted to adjust an electrical load on the electrical generator.
12. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a generator control system adapted to adjust magnitudes of resistive torque applied to the water turbine by the generator.
13. A self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus adapted to float at a surface of a body of water and oscillate vertically in response to ocean waves, comprising:
a hydroelectric reservoir enclosure adapted to confine a water reservoir;
a water tube extending downwardly from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure and configured to convey water into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically;
a magnetohydrodynamic generator adapted to generate electricity in response to water flowing from the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure;
an electrolyzer operatively connected to the magnetohydrodynamic generator; and
a propulsion system.
14. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a gas enclosure in fluid communication with the electrolyzer for storing gas evolved by the electrolyzer.
15. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the propulsion system includes a water jet.
16. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the propulsion system includes a rigid sail.
17. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the electrolyzer is adapted to evolve hydrogen gas.
18. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube includes an upward-pointing frustoconical tube section configured to accelerate water upwardly to the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically.
19. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure is further adapted to confine a gas pocket to pressurize water in the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.
20. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube includes an upwardly diverging section.
21. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube comprises an unconstricted hollow cylinder.
22. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the water tube includes a bend to discharge water laterally into the hydroelectric reservoir enclosure.
23. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a control system adapted to adjust an electrical load on the magnetohydrodynamic generator.
24. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a generator control system adapted to alter rates of water flowing from the hydroelectric reservoir.
25. A self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus adapted to float at a surface of a body of water and oscillate vertically in response to ocean waves, comprising:
a reservoir enclosure adapted to confine a water reservoir;
a water tube extending downwardly from the reservoir enclosure and configured to convey water into the reservoir enclosure when the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus oscillates vertically;
a propeller adapted to propel the self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus;
a pressurized-water-powered propeller motor operatively coupled to the propeller and configured to rotate the propeller in response to water flowing from the reservoir enclosure.
26. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the pressurized-water-powered propeller motor includes a water turbine.
27. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the pressurized-water-powered propeller motor includes a hydraulic motor.
28. The self-propelled oceanic energy storage apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the reservoir enclosure is further adapted to confine a gas pocket to pressurize water in the reservoir enclosure.