Recirculating inertial fluid dynamics pump and wave engine with suspension working fluid

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein include a buoyancy-type wave energy converter comprising an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, and a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket. In the embodiments, an injection tube is located between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and is fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber. In the embodiments, the injection tube propels fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline, with the upper chamber adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber submerged below the waterline. In the embodiments, the fluid has a density greater than the density of seawater.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] Cross-reference regarding related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63 / 620,718 filed January 12, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this specification. Background Technology

[0003] Waves moving across the surface of the ocean tend to move relatively slowly. Likewise, their oscillations tend to have relatively long periods, for example, of about 10 to 20 seconds. However, despite their relatively slow motion, waves tend to retain and / or release a significant amount of energy. For this reason, extracting energy from ocean waves is a desirable yet difficult task. Embodiments of the present disclosure efficiently extract energy from ocean waves with a robust and relatively inexpensive design having few moving parts. means of solving the problem

[0004] The present specification discloses an embodiment of a wave energy converter of a type that incorporates upper and lower air pockets sealed within respective upper and lower chambers. These upper and lower gas pockets are typically both pressurized above atmospheric pressure and function as springs. Additionally, upper and lower liquid reservoirs are sealed within the upper and lower chambers, respectively. At least one "inertia tube" connects these chambers. The inertia tube tends to be at least partially filled with a liquid fluidly continuous with the liquid in the lower chamber reservoir. The liquid within the inertia tube tends to be "suspended" or rise due to the elevated pressure in the lower air pocket (relative to the pressure in the upper air pocket). The wave-induced vertical vibration of the embodiment causes the liquid mass suspended within the inertia tube to vibrate in this manner. As this mass, i.e., the liquid within the inertia tube, vibrates, it captures and stores energy (as kinetic and gravitational potential energy), and a portion of the liquid mass can be released from the upper inlet of the inertia tube. During this process, liquid tends to be drawn from the lower liquid reservoir through the lower inertia tube inlet up into the inertia tube and into it to replace the liquid released from the upper inertia tube inlet.

[0005] An embodiment of the wave energy converter disclosed herein captures energy from an incident wave, and the captured energy lifts a fluid from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir, wherein the increased head pressure of the fluid (with respect to at least one reference reservoir in the embodiment) causes the fluid to flow through a turbine and powers the turbine.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid lifted by the inertial tube and discharged as effluent from the fluid turbine never leaves the interior of the embodiment. Thus, a special fluid may be used within the embodiment. For example, the embodiment may use an alkaline solution, seawater, or fresh water, and the embodiment may perform electrolysis on the same liquid that is lifted and flows through the turbine of the embodiment by using a portion of the power generated by its respective generator.

[0007] The embodiments of the present disclosure dramatically reduce, if not eliminate, the risk of biocontamination and corrosion on internal surfaces, structures, mechanisms, and / or other components thereof.

[0008] All potential variations in size, shape, thickness, material, orientation, and / or other embodiments-specific variations of the general creative designs, structures, systems, and / or methods disclosed herein are included within the scope of this disclosure and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0009] Scope of the present disclosure

[0010] The embodiments illustrated and discussed in connection with the drawings included herein are provided for the purpose of explaining some of the basic principles of the present disclosure. However, the scope of the present disclosure includes all embodiments that differ from the idealized and / or exemplary examples presented. The present disclosure includes such embodiments that incorporate and / or utilize modern, future, and / or unknown components, devices, systems, etc. as substitutes for functionally equivalent, similar, and / or similar components, devices, systems, etc. used in the embodiments illustrated and / or discussed herein for the purposes of explanation, illustration, and example.

[0011] Any “generator” mentioned, discussed, and / or specified in this disclosure includes, but is not limited to, any device, machine, module, and / or system that generates electric power, pressurized hydraulic fluid, or compressed air by utilizing the mechanical energy of a rotating shaft and / or performs some other useful work or produces some other useful product. Any “generator” mentioned, discussed, and / or specified in this disclosure may be a generator, an alternator, or any other mechanism, device, and / or component that converts energy from one form of work to another, which includes, but is not limited to, any mechanism, device, and / or component that converts the rotational motion of a turbine shaft into electric power. Additionally, within the scope of this disclosure are magnetohydrodynamic generators that generate electricity directly from the flow of a liquid without the need for connection to a turbine and an associated rotating shaft. It should be understood that the combination of a turbine and an axially connected generator may be replaced by a magnetohydrodynamic generator under appropriate circumstances and with appropriate selection of the working fluid.

[0012] The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments having, incorporating, including, and / or utilizing any number of inertia tubes and inertia tubes of any and all shapes, sizes, diameters, drafts, tapers, and cross-sectional areas, and embodiments having and / or utilizing any number of constrictions within and / or along the length of the inertia tubes and constrictions of any and all absolute and / or relative cross-sectional areas, shapes, profiles, and relative positions. The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments having, incorporating, including, and / or utilizing inertia tubes made of any and all materials. The scope of the present disclosure includes inertia tubes that are entirely cylindrical and do not incorporate constrictions or bends. The scope of the present disclosure includes inertia tubes that are non-cylindrical and include curvatures and / or constrictions along their length.

[0013] The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments having, incorporating, including, and / or utilizing fluid and / or hydrokinetic turbines of any and all types, any and all diameters, any and all efficiencies, any and all rated powers, and made of any and all materials.

[0014] The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments having, integrating, including, and / or utilizing a plurality of fluid turbines in series, for example, a plurality of turbines extracting energy from the same fluid flow and / or within the same effluent tube.

[0015] The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments having, incorporating, including, and / or using any number of fluid chambers and fluid chambers of any design, size, shape, volume, relative and / or absolute position within the embodiments. The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments having, incorporating, including, and / or using fluid chambers made of any and all materials.

[0016] The scope of the present disclosure includes generators, alternators, etc., wherein the amount, degree, and / or magnitude of a resistance torque applied to a fluid turbine operably connected to the generator, alternator, etc., can be actively controlled to optimize energy extraction from the fluid flowing through each turbine.

[0017] The scope of the present disclosure includes, in particular, the use of adjustable guide vanes, dampers, and / or other flow control surfaces, and / or other obstacles to flow, which may be used to adjust the velocity of the fluid flowing through each fluid turbine to optimize energy extraction from the turbine and the fluid flowing through each of their respective inertial fluid tubes. Many embodiments of the present disclosure include, incorporate, and / or utilize at least one buoyancy part. These buoyancy parts may be referred to as hollow floating modules, buoys, buoyancy capsules, buoyancy chambers, buoyancy compartments, buoyancy enclosures, buoyancy vessels, hollow balls, and / or hollow ellipsoids. Many terms, names, technical terms, and / or labels may appropriately distinguish the buoyancy part of the embodiment from its other components, features, and / or elements, and the scope of the present disclosure incorporates any naming practices and / or choices and is not limited by the nomenclature used to describe the embodiment or its part. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0018] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 to 3. FIG. 5 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 to 4. FIG. 6 is a top-down plan view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 to 5. FIG. 7 is an upward bottom view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 to 6. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 to 7. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a side cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 to 8. FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 10 to 13. FIG. 15 is a top-down plan view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 10 to FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is an upward bottom view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 10 to FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 10 to FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 is a perspective system diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a schematic energy flow diagram of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a side perspective view of the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 24 is a schematic side view of the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 25 is a process flow diagram of a chemical process of the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 26 is a side perspective view of the 10th embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a computing system that can be integrated with any embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a server system that can be integrated with any embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 29 is a process flowchart illustrating the process of the 11th embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 30 is a process flowchart illustrating the process of the 12th embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 31 is a process flowchart illustrating the process of the 13th embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 32 is a process flowchart illustrating the process of the 14th embodiment of the present disclosure. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0019] For a more complete understanding of the nature and purpose of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following drawings and the examples provided therein do not constitute any limitation, express or implied, to the scope of the present disclosure. Various embodiments or aspects of the present disclosure are described herein. In some embodiments, different embodiments are practiced separately. However, the embodiments are not limited to the separately practiced embodiments. For example, two or more different embodiments may be combined together to be practiced as a single device, process, structure, etc. In some cases, entire embodiments may be combined together. In other cases, a portion of a first embodiment may be combined with a portion of one or more different embodiments. For example, a portion of a first embodiment may be combined with a portion of a second embodiment, or a portion of a first embodiment may be combined with a portion of a second embodiment and a portion of a third embodiment. FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment (100) of the present disclosure.

[0020] The embodiment floats adjacent to the upper surface (101) of the water body through which waves pass.

[0021] The embodiment includes an upper hollow chamber (102), a shrink tube (103-105), and a lower hollow chamber (106). In the example of FIG. 1, the upper hollow chamber (102) and the lower hollow chamber (106) are spherical, ellipsoidal, or spherical segments. However, in other cases, one or both of the upper hollow chamber (102) and / or the lower hollow chamber (106) may have different geometric shapes such as cubic, pyramidal, conical, truncated, or any other three-dimensional chamber. The shrink tube (103-105), which is a various inertial tube, is configured to allow the vibration of a column of water within it and to move water (forward) from the lower hollow chamber (106) to the upper hollow chamber (102). The shrink tube consists of an upper tube portion (103) with a relatively small diameter, a truncated shrink portion (104), and a lower tube portion (105) with a relatively large diameter. However, in some similar embodiments, the tube (103-105) may have a substantially constant diameter over its entire length. In some embodiments, the tube (103-105) may be referred to as an injection tube.

[0022] In some embodiments, the embodiment (100) may include an upper hollow chamber (102) and a lower hollow chamber (106) having a diameter of about 20 meters or less, about 10 meters or less, or about 1 meter or less. However, a larger diameter may also be used. The length of the shrink tube (103-105) may be about 100 meters or less, about 50 meters or less, about 20 meters or less, or about 1 meter or less. However, in some embodiments, a larger length may also be used. More generally, the length of the shrink tube (103-105) may be related to the diameter of one or both of the hollow chambers (102 or 106) by a ratio (tube length:chamber diameter) of 3:1 or greater, 5:1 or greater, or 10:1 or greater. However, in some embodiments, a smaller ratio may also be used.

[0023] The pressurized gas pocket (not visible) within the lower hollow chamber (106) is fluidly connected to the extended lower effluent gas pocket (not visible) within the interior of the hollowly extended lower effluent gas chamber (108) by the effluent gas pocket pipe (107).

[0024] The upper effluent fluid storage tank (not visible) inside the upper hollow chamber (102) is fluidically connected to the lower effluent fluid storage tank (not visible) inside the lower hollow chamber (106) by a liquid effluent pipe (109).

[0025] The embodiment (100) illustrated in FIG. 1 uses a working fluid composed of high-salinity water. Other similar embodiments use a working fluid composed of water and / or aqueous solutions of various concentrations of other solutes, including but not limited to solutions of potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, and sodium hydroxide.

[0026] More generally, the embodiment (100) may use a working fluid that may be one of many different materials when the embodiment is sealed from a body of water. That is, the working fluid that is in the liquid effluent pipe (109) and discharged as effluent from the fluid turbine (not shown) never leaves the interior of the embodiment (100). Thus, a special fluid may be used within the embodiment. Thus, the embodiment (100) reduces, if not eliminates, the risk of biocontamination and corrosion on internal surfaces, structures, mechanisms, and / or other components thereof.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the working fluid may include a solution, suspension, colloid, emulsion, etc. Where there may be a tendency for particles to separate from the working fluid (e.g., precipitation, sedimentation, etc.), the motion of the working fluid due to wave vibration may be sufficient to prevent or mitigate precipitation and / or sedimentation. However, some embodiments may be selected due to resistance to sedimentation and / or precipitation.

[0028] One such working fluid is an iron ore suspension. The iron ore suspension may comprise water (e.g., fresh water, brine, deionized water, etc.) or an aqueous solution (e.g., having a solute such as one or more of potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, and sodium hydroxide) combined with iron ore particles. Such solutions may be considered as metal oxide suspensions. The iron ore particles may comprise any suitable iron ore, such as hematite (Fe2O3) or magnetite (Fe3O4). The iron ore particles may be of any suitable size. For example, an average particle diameter of 30 μm or less has been shown to provide excellent performance in terms of remaining in the suspension without precipitation. The iron ore particles for the working fluid may also comprise an average particle diameter of 50 nm to 1,000 nm. However, iron ore particles having a diameter smaller than 50 nm may be used, and / or iron ore particles having a diameter larger than 30 μm may be used. The concentration of iron ore particles in the suspension may be up to the maximum solubility of the solution. Although iron ore suspensions have been shown to be beneficial for various purposes, it should be understood that in different embodiments, other metal oxide particles may be retained in the solution to produce a suitable working fluid, and / or the working fluid may be a high-density non-metal oxide suspension. Non-metal oxide suspensions may include silica suspensions, non-metal nitride suspensions, and non-metal carbide suspensions. Additionally, while an aqueous carrier is conceived in some embodiments, other non-aqueous carriers may be used to form the working fluid suspension.

[0029] Because iron ore significantly increases the density of the working fluid, the use of an iron ore suspension may be particularly beneficial in the composition of Example (100). For example, the density of the working fluid may range from about 1,100 kilograms per cubic meter to about 3,000 kilograms per cubic meter. In the Example, the density of the working fluid may be at least 1.5 times greater than the density of pure water. A denser working fluid increases the mass of the working fluid compared to when the working fluid is only water. Vibrating the increased mass by the Example provides more kinetic energy (while maintaining other dimensions consistently). Alternatively, the same amount of energy may be generated by an Example having smaller dimensions (compared to a water-based system). That is, among other advantages, Example (100) may be manufactured with less material and / or may be easier to transport. In some Examples, the working fluid may have a viscosity greater than that of water (e.g., seawater). For example, the working fluid may have a viscosity in the range of about 1.0 mPa·sec to about 500 mPa·sec. In certain embodiments, the viscosity of the working fluid is 500 mPa·sec or less.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1.

[0031] The atmospheric equilibrium hole (110) fluidly connects the upper effluent gas pocket (not visible) inside the upper hollow chamber (102) to the atmosphere.

[0032] As used herein, “fluidically connected” may be used interchangeably with “fluidically coupled,” “fluidly coupled,” or any of its derivatives. More generally, “fluidly connected,” “fluidly coupled,” “fluidically connected,” or “fluidically coupled” may refer to two components configured to allow the transfer of one or more fluids (e.g., gas and / or liquid) between the two components. For example, the first chamber may be fluidly coupled to the second chamber when gas from the first chamber can flow from the first chamber to the second chamber or from the second chamber to the first chamber (actively (e.g., via pumping) or passively (e.g., via differential pressure). Fluidly coupled components may be directly connected to each other; that is, there may be no intervening components between the first component and the second component. In other cases, one or more additional intervening components (e.g., pipes, valves, chambers, reactors, etc.) may be provided between the first component and the second component, provided that one or more fluids can be delivered between the first chamber and the second chamber along a path containing one or more intervening components. Furthermore, while "components" may be fluidly coupled to each other, the concept of fluid coupling is not limited to structures such as chambers, vessels, etc. That is, a first volume of liquid or gas may be connected to a second volume of liquid or gas, even if neither or both of the first volume and the second volume are limited by any specific structure. It can be fluidically coupled. For example, the fluid volume within the chamber can be fluidly coupled to a generally unconfined volume (e.g., a body of water or atmosphere) surrounding the chamber through pipes, tubes, ports, openings, or other passages passing through the surface of the chamber.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0034] When opened, a water replenishment valve (not shown) in a water replenishment pipe (111) in a lower hollow chamber (106) fluidically connects a lower effluent fluid reservoir (not shown) inside the lower hollow chamber to a reverse osmosis membrane (not shown), which in turn fluidly connects to a body of water (101) in which the embodiment floats. The reverse osmosis membrane replenishes and / or restores the volume, mass, and / or amount of water in the lower effluent fluid reservoir by allowing relatively fresh water to flow from the body of water to the lower effluent fluid reservoir under osmotic pressure.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 1 to 3.

[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 1 to 4.

[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates a top-down plan view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 1 to 5.

[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates an upward bottom view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 1 to 6.

[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 1 to 7, the vertical cross-sectional plane is specified in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and the cross-section is taken across line 8-8.

[0040] The embodiment (100) illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 floats adjacent to the upper surface (101) of a body of water through which waves pass.

[0041] The interior of the shrink tube (103-105) is fluidically connected to the interior of the lower hollow chamber (106) through the lower shrink tube inlet (139). Then, in response to the gas pressure applied to the free surface (128) of the lower effluent fluid storage tank (127) by the pressurized lower effluent gas pocket (114), a portion of the fluid in the lower effluent fluid storage tank flows upward into the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment, and accordingly, the free surface (112) of the fluid (113) in the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment rises to a height (118) above the free surface (128) of the lower effluent fluid storage tank and below the upper inlet (134) of the shrink tube. The depth (118) of the free surface (112) of the fluid within the shrink tube of the embodiment is determined by a combination of forces, including but not limited to: gas pressure applied by a pressurized lower effluent gas pocket (114) that pushes down (and tends to raise) the free surface (112) of the lower effluent fluid reservoir; the gravitational weight of the fluid (113) within the shrink tube (which tends to lower the free surface (112)); and gas pressure of a discharge gas pocket (115) that pushes down (and tends to lower) the free surface (112) of the fluid within the shrink tube of the embodiment.

[0042] Similarly, the interior of the liquid effluent pipe (109) is fluidically connected to the interior of the lower hollow chamber (106) through the lower inlet (137) of the liquid effluent pipe. And, in response to the gas pressure applied to the free surface (128) of the lower effluent fluid reservoir (127), the fluid within the liquid effluent pipe (109) is positioned at a nominal and / or resting depth (120) that places this fluid over the free surface (128) of the lower effluent fluid reservoir and over the fluid turbine and generator assembly (121). The depth (120) of the free surface (117) of the upper effluent fluid reservoir (119) of the embodiment is determined by a combination of forces including but not limited to: gas pressure applied by a pressurized lower effluent gas pocket (114) that pushes down (and tends to raise the free surface (117)) the free surface (128) of the lower effluent fluid reservoir; The gravitational weight of the fluid within the liquid effluent pipe (tends to lower the free surface (117); and the gas pressure of the upper effluent gas pocket (116) (which is approximately 1 atmosphere and / or equal to the pressure of the atmospheric air outside and / or above Example (100)).

[0043] When in a resting state, the position of the free surface (117) of each upper effluent fluid storage tank (119) of the embodiment, as well as the position of the free surface (112) of the fluid within the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment, are positionally stable, and their relative separation, i.e., the relative difference between their respective depths (120 and 118), corresponds to and / or (at least partially) arises from the relative difference between the pressure of each upper effluent gas pocket (116) and the pressure of the discharge gas pocket (115).

[0044] Similarly, the pressure of the fluid flowing (122) from the discharge fluid reservoir (123) of the embodiment into and / or within the fluid turbine (121) of the embodiment is a combination of the hydrostatic head pressure of the fluid flowing into the fluid turbine (derived from and / or relative to the depth of the fluid turbine relative to the free surface (124) of the discharge fluid reservoir) and the pressure of the gas in the discharge gas pocket (115). And, the pressure resisting the flow of the fluid passing through the fluid turbine and into the upper effluent fluid reservoir (119) of the embodiment is a combination of the hydrostatic head pressure of the fluid adjacent to the effluent side of the fluid turbine through which the effluent fluid flows from the said fluid turbine (derived from and / or relative to the depth of the fluid turbine relative to the free surface (117) of the upper effluent fluid reservoir (119)) and the atmospheric pressure of the gas in the upper effluent gas pocket (116).

[0045] Accordingly, the net pressure and / or delta pressure of the fluid flowing through the fluid turbine (121) of the embodiment is equal to the value obtained by subtracting the pressure of the fluid flowing out of the fluid turbine (125) from the pressure of the fluid flowing into the fluid turbine (122). And, thus, the pressure driving the fluid to flow through the fluid turbine (121) of the embodiment is the result of a combination of net hydrostatic pressure and / or head pressure equal to the difference in relative height of the free surface of the fluid in the discharge fluid storage tank (123) and the upper effluent fluid storage tank (119) and the difference in gas pressure equal to the difference in net value of the discharge gas pocket (115) and the upper effluent gas pocket (116).

[0046] The fluid turbine (121) of the embodiment is embedded in and / or attached thereto within a vertical separation wall (126) that separates the discharge fluid storage tank (123) from the upper effluent fluid storage tank (119) and also separates the discharge gas pocket (115) from the upper effluent gas pocket (116). The fluid turbine within the vertical separation wall fluidically connects the discharge fluid storage tank (123) and the upper effluent fluid storage tank (119), and fluid from the discharge fluid storage tank flows through the fluid turbine and through it into the upper effluent fluid storage tank.

[0047] When the wave lifts and drops the embodiment, the inertia of the fluid (113) within the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment resists the wave-driven vertical acceleration, causing the fluid to move downward and upward in opposition to the vertical movement of the embodiment and the shrink tube surrounding the fluid.

[0048] When the embodiment (100) is accelerated upward, for example, in response to the crest of an approaching wave, the fluid (113) in the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment experiences downward acceleration in the reference frame of the embodiment (for example, as a result of its inertia moving downward relative to the shrink tube that resists upward vertical motion and moves upward by this), thereby typically causing its free surface (112) to move downward (132) in the reference frame of the embodiment, thereby increasing the volume of the fluid in the lower effluent fluid storage tank (127), which causes the free surface (128) of the fluid to rise and eventually compress the pressurized gas in the pressurized lower effluent gas pocket (114), which increases the "overpressurized" pressure potential energy in the pressurized lower effluent gas pocket. In response to an increase in pressure of the gas within the pressurized lower effluent gas pocket (i.e., to a pressure greater than its nominal and / or resting pressure), a portion of the gas within the pressurized lower effluent gas pocket may flow into the effluent gas pocket pipe (107) (129) and thereby flow into the complementary effluent pocket (131) of the pressurized gas within the extended lower effluent gas chamber (108) (130).

[0049] When the free surface (112) of the fluid (113) in the shrink tube (103-105) moves downward (132) from the reference frame of the embodiment, the available volume in the pressurized discharge gas pocket (115) is expanded, thereby reducing the pressure of the corresponding gas in the pressurized discharge gas pocket, which increases the "lower pressure" pressure potential energy in the corresponding pressurized discharge gas pocket.

[0050] When the embodiment (100) is accelerated downward, for example, in response to the trough of an approaching wave, the fluid (113) in the shrink tube (103-105) experiences an upward acceleration in the reference frame of the embodiment (for example, as a result of its inertia moving upward against the shrink tube that resists downward vertical motion and thus moves downward), thereby causing its free surface (112) to likewise move upward (132) in the reference frame of the embodiment. When the embodiment is in a resting state before moving downward, the upward movement of the fluid (113) in the shrink tube compresses the gas in the pressurized discharge gas pocket (115) and, similarly, reduces the volume of the fluid in the lower discharge fluid reservoir (127), thereby reducing the pressure of the gas in the lower discharge gas pocket (114) in a manner similar but opposite to the pressure transfer between the pressurized discharge gas pocket and the lower discharge gas pocket that occurs in response to the upward movement of the embodiment.

[0051] However, when the embodiment (100) descends following the rise of the embodiment, the fluid (113) in the shrink tube (103-105) not only moves upward (in the reference frame of the embodiment) as a result of its own inertia resisting the downward movement of the embodiment, but also moves upward and its rise is accelerated by the pressure imbalance and / or non-nominal difference between the lower effluent gas pocket (114) and the discharge gas pocket (115). The non-nominal and / or excessive pressurization of the gas in the lower effluent gas pocket, such as that caused by the previous rise of the embodiment, applies an upward "pushing from below" force to the fluid in the shrink tube, thereby accelerating the rise of the fluid in response to the subsequent descent of the embodiment. And, the non-nominal and / or insufficient pressurization of the gas in the pressurized discharge gas pocket, such as that caused by the previous rise of the embodiment, applies an upward "pulling from above" force to the fluid in the shrink tube, thereby further accelerating the rise of the fluid in response to the descent of the embodiment.

[0052] Regardless of whether the descent of the embodiment follows the rise of the embodiment or occurs for the embodiment in a resting state, the resulting rise of the fluid (113) within the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment results in the compression and relative pressurization of the gas within the pressurized discharge gas pocket (115) and the relative depressurization of the gas within the lower discharge gas pocket (114), thereby storing potential energy in each gas pocket. Any deviation of the pressure of the discharge gas pocket or the lower discharge gas pocket from its nominal and / or resting pressure represents the potential energy of each gas pocket. Furthermore, due to the respective influence on the position of the free surface (112) of the fluid within the shrink tube, the pressures of the two gas pockets tend to be inversely related, that is, an increase in pressure in one typically corresponds to and / or entails a decrease in pressure in the other.

[0053] During the wave-induced and / or wave-driven vibration, when the fluid (113) in the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment rises sufficiently fast and / or sufficiently far, a portion of the risen fluid tends to be discharged (133) and / or out of the upper inlet (134) of the shrink tube, and this discharged fluid tends to flow onto and through the free surface (124) of the discharge fluid reservoir (123), thereby flowing into and combining with the contents of the discharge fluid reservoir.

[0054] The fluid flowing from the discharge fluid storage tank (123) into the fluid turbine (121) of the embodiment and through it (122) then flows out of the turbine as an effluent into the upper effluent fluid storage tank (119) (125). And, as the effluent from the fluid turbine increases the fluid volume in the upper effluent fluid storage tank and raises the free surface (117) of the upper effluent fluid storage tank, a portion of the fluid tends to flow downward (135) into and through the liquid effluent pipe (109) of the embodiment fluidly connecting the upper effluent fluid storage tank to the lower effluent fluid storage tank (127), then flow out (136) through the lower inlet (137) of the liquid effluent pipe and flow into the lower effluent fluid storage tank, and then, in response to the downward movement of the embodiment, for example, the fluid in the lower effluent fluid storage tank flows into the lower portion (105) of the shrink tube through the lower inlet (139) of the shrink tube (103-105) (138).

[0055] Accordingly, as the embodiment (100) moves up and down in response to the waves striking it, the fluid (113) from inside the shrink tube (103-105) of the embodiment is periodically and / or occasionally raised to a sufficient degree for a portion of the fluid to be discharged (133) from the upper inlet (134) of the shrink tube and added to the discharge fluid reservoir (123). Then, the fluid in the discharge fluid reservoir flows through the fluid turbine (121) of the embodiment, thereby causing a fluid turbine generator operably connected thereto to produce power. The fluid turbine (121) may include any structure configured to convert the kinetic energy of the fluid into rotational energy. For example, the fluid turbine (121) may include a fluid or flow velocity turbine. In some cases, the fluid turbine (121) may be considered a pressure regulator. Any type of pressure regulator may be used instead of the fluid turbine (121) or in conjunction with the fluid turbine (121). The pressure regulator may also include a filter and / or membrane. In some cases, the vertical separator (126) may include a fluid turbine (121), a filter, or both the fluid turbine (121) and the filter. More generally, but not limited to, a pressure regulator passing through the vertical separator (126) may be used to perform useful operations such as energy generation, filtration, purification, desalination, element extraction, etc. The pressure regulator may maintain a pressure difference such that the pressure on one side of the pressure regulator (e.g., within the discharge gas pocket (115)) is higher than the pressure on the other side of the pressure regulator (e.g., within the effluent gas pocket (116) and / or gas pocket (114). The effluent from the fluid turbine is added to the upper effluent fluid reservoir (119), from where it flows downward (135) through the liquid effluent pipe (109), and then joins the lower effluent fluid reservoir (127).And, the fluid in the lower effluent fluid storage tank is drawn upward into the shrink tube through the lower inlet (139) of the shrink tube (138), rises again in the shrink tube, and is discharged again from the upper inlet (134) of the shrink tube (133). Thus, the fluid in the embodiment is recirculated through a vertical fluid circuit that increases its own potential energy, and then dissipates the added fluid potential energy to power a fluid turbine and an operablely connected generator, thereby converting a portion of the fluid potential energy added to and / or input to the risen fluid into electricity.

[0056] Since the fluid within the embodiment (100) tends to be maintained within the embodiment, specialized, modified, and / or customized fluids may be used within the embodiment. For example, the fluids used within the embodiments of the present disclosure may consist of, but are not limited to, fresh water, concentrated brine solutions, alkaline aqueous solutions (e.g., sodium hydroxide dissolved in fresh water), carbonaceous liquids (e.g., oil), and / or combinations of such specialized fluids. In the embodiments (100) illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, since the fluids used within the embodiments will be exposed to the atmosphere through the atmospheric equilibrium hole (110), particularly volatile fluids, or fluids that would be harmful to introduce into the environment, would not be preferred fluids in the illustrated embodiments (100).

[0057] Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to those exemplified in FIGS. 1 through 8 omit the atmospheric equilibrium hole (110) and capture gas within the gas pocket of the embodiment in the same manner as capturing each fluid. These embodiments may use a gas or combination of gases selected to reduce, if not eliminate, corrosion of the internal surface, structure, and / or mechanism. Such gases include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, ammonia, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

[0058] In relation to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, the gas pressure within the upper effluent gas pocket (116) is fluidly connected to the atmosphere outside the embodiment and above by the atmospheric equilibrium hole (110). In response to a difference in gas pressure, the gas within the upper effluent gas pocket may be discharged into the atmosphere (140), or air in the atmosphere may flow into the upper effluent gas pocket (140).

[0059] The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 incorporate, utilize, and / or include a block (141) of cement, concrete, and / or other cementitious material positioned and / or fixed thereto within the embodiment in the lower portion of the interior of the lower hollow chamber (106). This cement block increases the density of the embodiment, thereby adjusting, correcting, and / or positioning its external perpendicular line (142) to a favorable location on the embodiment, for example, near the equator of the upper hollow chamber (102) and / or near the widest horizontal cross-section. The cement block also lowers the center of gravity of the embodiment, thereby improving the positional stability of the embodiment when the embodiment is shaken by waves (e.g., promoting the vertical orientation of the embodiment). Other embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, those utilizing thicker steel walls and / or other ballast materials placed in the lower hollow chamber, omit the cement block. More generally, a ballast material (e.g., block (141)) may be attached to the embodiment (100) at a vertical midpoint of the embodiment (100) or at any location below it. The vertical midpoint may be a midpoint along a line drawn from the top of the extended lower effluent chamber (108) and the bottom of the lower hollow chamber (106). In other cases, the mass of the portion of the embodiment (100) below the vertical midpoint may be greater than the mass of the portion of the embodiment (100) above the vertical midpoint.

[0060] The embodiment (100) illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 incorporates a secondary, complementary, and / or extension of the “primary” pressurized lower effluent gas pocket (114). The complementary effluent gas pocket (131) inside the extended lower effluent gas chamber (108) is fluidly connected to the gas pocket (114) inside the lower hollow chamber (106) (i.e., to the pressurized lower effluent gas pocket (114)). Because the effluent gas pocket is thus divided into two fluidly connected gas pockets, namely the lower effluent gas pocket (114) and the complementary effluent gas pocket (131), the buoyancy of the lower hollow chamber (106) is reduced, thereby increasing the vertical stability of the embodiment. The extended lower effluent gas chamber (108) may be located in the upper half of the embodiment (100). In some cases, the extended lower effluent gas chamber (108) may be positioned coaxially above the upper hollow chamber (102). Positioning the extended lower effluent gas chamber (108) coaxially above the embodiment may reduce or eliminate the possibility of the embodiment overturning due to the redistribution of buoyancy.

[0061] The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 utilize a fluid composed of concentrated and / or high-salinity aqueous brine. Additionally, a portion of the power generated by a fluid turbine and generator assembly (121) is used to power a brine electrolytic cell (not shown), which converts the water in the brine fluid into hydrogen and oxygen gases, thereby causing a loss of water from the brine solution over time. Regardless of the cause of the water loss, the embodiment (100) can replenish the water in the brine fluid by periodically and / or as needed by opening a water replenishment valve (143), and / or thereby adjust and / or change the concentration of the brine fluid, the opening of which allows water (e.g., seawater) from the water body (101) to flow into the water replenishment pipe (111) (144), whereby the corresponding inflow of external water (101) is blocked by a forward osmotic semipermeable membrane. Since the fluid of the illustrated embodiment is a concentrated brine, i.e., a brine with a higher solute concentration than seawater, osmotic pressure exists across the membrane, and fresh water from the water body (101) can flow (145) into the concentrated brine solution within the embodiment through the forward osmosis membrane to dilute it, for example, thereby replacing the water consumed through the synthesis of hydrogen and oxygen gases. At the same time, salts, organic substances, and other solutes that may be present in the water body outside the embodiment cannot pass through and / or flow through the forward osmosis membrane, and such passage poses a risk of causing "contamination" of the purity of the concentrated brine solution within the embodiment. Avoiding such brine contamination and maintaining the purity of the concentrated brine solution of the embodiment is desirable as it tends to promote long-term and maintenance-free operation of the embodiment.

[0062] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment (100) illustrated in FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectional view of the same embodiment (100) of the present disclosure illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, the vertical cross-sectional plane is specified in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and the cross-section is taken across line 8-8.

[0063] FIG. 10 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment (150) of the present disclosure.

[0064] The embodiment floats adjacent to the upper surface (151) of the water body through which waves pass.

[0065] The embodiment includes an upper hollow chamber (152), an annular working fluid return channel (153), a contractile inertia tube (not visible) positioned coaxially within the annular working fluid return channel, and a lower hollow chamber (154).

[0066] A pressurized gas pocket (not visible) within a lower hollow chamber (154) is fluidically connected to a complementary effluent gas pocket (not visible) within a complementary effluent gas chamber (156) by means of an effluent gas pocket pipe (155). The gas flow between the pressurized gas pocket within the lower hollow chamber and the complementary effluent gas pocket is regulated, altered, and / or controlled by an effluent gas control valve (157). When the effluent gas control valve is open, gas can flow between the pressurized gas pocket within the lower hollow chamber and the complementary effluent gas pocket. When the effluent gas control valve is closed, gas cannot flow between the pressurized gas pocket within the lower hollow chamber and the complementary effluent gas pocket, and the respective gas pockets are not fluidly connected.

[0067] The pressurized working fluid (not visible) in the pressurized working fluid reservoir (not visible) inside the upper hollow chamber (152) is fluidically connected to the working fluid turbine and generator (not visible) in the working fluid turbine pipe (158), which may sometimes be referred to as the effluent tube. The pressurized working fluid in the pressurized working fluid reservoir flows from the pressurized working fluid reservoir into the upper part of the working fluid turbine pipe through the working fluid turbine pipe inlet (not visible), and flows through it to the working fluid turbine, causing the rotor of the working fluid turbine to rotate, which ultimately causes the operably connected generator to produce power. In an alternative embodiment, a magnetohydrodynamic generator replaces the turbine and generator.

[0068] The working fluid effluent from the working fluid turbine flows into the lower part of the working fluid turbine pipe and then flows out of the working fluid turbine pipe through the working fluid turbine pipe outlet (not visible). The effluent flowing out of the lower working fluid turbine pipe outlet flows into the interior of the annular working fluid return channel (153), flows downward through it, and flows into the working fluid effluent storage tank (not visible) inside the lower hollow chamber (154).

[0069] The annular working fluid return channel (153) passes through the hull and / or wall of the lower hollow chamber (154) at location (159). The effluent gas pocket pipe (155) passes through the hull and / or wall of the lower hollow chamber at location (160).

[0070] The wave action in the embodiment (150) causes the working fluid within a contracting inertia tube (not visible) positioned coaxially within the annular working fluid return channel (153) to vibrate. As the working fluid (not visible) and / or the free surface of the working fluid (not visible) vibrates within the contracting inertia tube, it rises occasionally and / or periodically above the upper inlet (not visible) of the contracting inertia tube, thereby transferring a portion of the working fluid raised thereby from the interior of the contracting truncated conical tube to a pressurized working fluid reservoir (not visible). Over time, the portion of working fluid added to the pressurized working fluid reservoir flows into and through the working fluid turbine, thereby causing a generator operably connected thereto to produce power. The working fluid turbine effluent flows into and down through the annular working fluid return channel (153), and subsequently flows into the working fluid effluent reservoir (not visible). And, subsequently, in response to additional wave action in the embodiment (150), the working fluid in the working fluid effluent reservoir flows into and up through the contracting inertia tube, and is occasionally and / or periodically discharged from the contracting truncated conical tube into the pressurized working fluid reservoir, thereby continuing the circulating flow through the embodiment.

[0071] The embodiment (150) converts wave action and / or wave energy into power through the circulating flow of the working fluid through its contracting inertia tube (not visible) and its annular working fluid return channel (153), in which the working fluid flows between the upper (not visible) and lower (not visible) working fluid reservoirs of the embodiment and the rising and pressurized working fluid from the upper working fluid reservoir flows back to the lower working fluid reservoir through the working fluid turbine.

[0072] The embodiment (150) illustrated in FIG. 10 uses a working fluid composed of water and potassium hydroxide at a weight concentration of 25 wt% / weight. Other similar embodiments use a working fluid composed of fresh water or an aqueous solution of various concentrations of other solutes, including but not limited to solutions such as sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride, etc. In other similar embodiments, the working fluid may comprise an iron ore suspension as described in more detail herein.

[0073] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the same embodiment (150) of the present disclosure exemplified in FIG. 10.

[0074] FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the same embodiment (150) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

[0075] FIG. 13 shows a side view of the same embodiment (150) of the present disclosure as illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12.

[0076] FIG. 14 shows a side view of the same embodiment (150) of the present disclosure as illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13.

[0077] FIG. 15 illustrates a top-down plan view of the same embodiment (150) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 10 to FIG. 14.

[0078] FIG. 16 illustrates an upward bottom view of the same embodiment (150) of the present disclosure as exemplified in FIG. 10 to FIG. 15.

[0079] FIG. 17 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the same embodiment (150) of the present disclosure as illustrated in FIG. 10 to 16, the vertical cross-sectional plane is specified in FIG. 12, and the cross-section is taken across line 17-17.

[0080] The embodiment (150) illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 17 floats adjacent to the upper surface (151) of a body of water through which waves pass.

[0081] The upper gas pocket (161) inside the upper hollow chamber (152) pushes down the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) inside the constricted inertia tube (163) of the embodiment (tends to decrease the height of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162), while the lower gas pocket (164) inside the lower hollow chamber (154) pushes down the free surface (166) of the effluent working fluid reservoir (168), which ultimately pushes up the working fluid (162) inside the constricted inertia tube (tends to increase the height of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162). The weight of the working fluid (162) inside the constricted inertia tube adds a downward force to the working fluid (tends to decrease the height of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162). When the embodiment is in a resting state, the relative height and / or position of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) inside the contracting inertia tube is such that the downward force acting on the working fluid (162) is approximately equal to the upward force acting on the working fluid.

[0082] The downward force affecting the relative height of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) inside the constricted inertia tube (163) includes, but is not limited to: the pressure of the gas in the gas pocket (161) inside the upper hollow chamber (152); and the intrinsic weight of the working fluid (162) inside the constricted inertia tube between the free surface (165) of the working fluid and the free surface (166) of the effluent working fluid reservoir (168).

[0083] The upward force affecting the relative height of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) inside the contraction inertia tube (163) includes, but is not limited to, the pressure of the gas inside the lower gas pocket (164) inside the lower hollow chamber (154).

[0084] When the embodiment (150) accelerates up and down in response to the passage of waves in its buoyant upper hollow chamber (152) and / or is accelerated, the inertia of the working fluid (162) inside the contracting inertia tube (163) causes the working fluid to resist the vertical acceleration of the embodiment and the associated acceleration of the contracting inertia tube. Accordingly, in response to and / or as a result of the wave action in the embodiment, the working fluid (162) inside the contracting inertia tube of the embodiment tends to generate up and down vibrations (167).

[0085] When the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) within the contracting inertia tube (163) moves upward (167) relative to its resting and / or equilibrium position, the nominal and / or resting volume of the gas within the upper gas pocket (161) is reduced, thereby increasing the pressure of the gas within the said gas pocket relative to its nominal and / or resting pressure. And, as the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) within the contracting inertia tube moves upward relative to its resting and / or equilibrium position, the working fluid from the working fluid reservoir (168) within the lower hollow chamber (154) is drawn upward into the contracting inertia tube (179), thereby lowering the free surface (166) of the said working fluid reservoir (168), which causes the pressure of the gas within the lower gas pocket (164) within the lower hollow chamber (154) to decrease. And, when the free surface (166) of the working fluid reservoir (168) moves downward while the free surface (165) of the working fluid in the contracted truncated conical tube moves upward, the resulting increase in separation of the contracted inertia tube and the free surface (165) of the working fluid in the effluent working fluid reservoir (168) effectively increases the downward weight of the working fluid (162) in the contracted inertia tube.

[0086] Accordingly, when the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) within the contracting inertia tube (163) moves upward (167) relative to its resting and / or equilibrium position, the increase in pressure in the upper gas pocket (161) and the increase in weight of the working fluid (162) within the contracting inertia tube (163) apply a downward "pushing" force to the working fluid (162), whereas the decrease in pressure in the lower gas pocket (164) applies a downward "pulling" force to the working fluid (162). These downward forces counteract the upward movement of the working fluid within the contracting inertia tube, and the relative strength of these forces increases as the relative height of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) above its nominal and / or resting height increases. The force opposing the upward movement of the free surface (165) of the working fluid within the contracting inertia tube decelerates the upward movement of the working fluid (162), eventually stopping and / or halting the upward movement of the said free surface (165), and then causes the working fluid (162) and said free surface (165) to accelerate downward.

[0087] When the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube (163) moves downward (167) relative to its resting and / or equilibrium position, the nominal and / or resting volume of the gas in the upper gas pocket (161) is increased, thereby causing the pressure of the gas in the said gas pocket to decrease relative to its nominal and / or resting pressure. And, as the free surface (165) of the working fluid in the contracting inertia tube moves downward relative to its resting and / or equilibrium position, the working fluid (162) from the contracting inertia tube flows into the effluent working fluid reservoir (168), thereby raising the free surface (166) of the said effluent working fluid reservoir, so as to increase the pressure of the gas in the lower gas pocket (164). And, when the free surface (166) of the working fluid reservoir (168) moves upward while the free surface (165) of the working fluid in the contracting inertia tube moves downward, the resulting reduction in separation of the contracting inertia tube and the free surface (165) of the working fluid in the effluent working fluid reservoir causes the downward weight of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube to decrease.

[0088] Accordingly, when the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube (163) moves downward (167) relative to its resting and / or equilibrium position, the increase in the upward force imparted to the working fluid (162) by the pressure reduction of the upper gas pocket (161), the weight reduction of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube (163), and the increased pressure of the gas in the lower gas pocket (164) combine to counteract the downward movement of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube, and the relative strength of these forces increases as the relative distance of the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) below its nominal and / or resting height increases. The force opposing the downward movement of the free surface (165) of the working fluid within the contracting inertia tube decelerates the downward movement of the working fluid (162), eventually stopping and / or halting the downward movement of the said free surface (165), and then causes the said free surface (165) to accelerate upward.

[0089] Accordingly, the working fluid (162) inside the constricted inertia tube (163) of the embodiment acts as a central mass and / or weight (although not of constant size) operably connected and / or coupled to the upper gas pocket (161) and lower gas pocket (164), which act as springs coupled to the corresponding central mass. As waves act on the embodiment to drive the embodiment up and down, the central mass (162) vibrates up and down to exchange its kinetic and potential energy with the potential energy of the gas pocket springs (161, 164). The gas pocket springs provide a restoring force to the central mass (162). And, the displacement of the central mass changes the potential energy of the respective upper and lower gas pocket springs. The embodiment (150) is similar to a spring mass oscillator in some ways.

[0090] Occasionally and / or periodically, vibration (167) of the working fluid (162) within the contracting inertia tube (163) carries the free surface (165) of the working fluid to a position above the upper inlet (169) of the contracting inertia tube, and as a result, discharge (170) of the working fluid occurs from the inside of the contracting inertia tube onto the free surface (171) of the pressurized working fluid reservoir (172) within the upper hollow chamber (152).

[0091] The working fluid from the pressurized working fluid reservoir (172) flows into an inlet (173) at the upper end of the working fluid turbine pipe (158), and then flows into and through the rotor of the working fluid turbine (174) of the embodiment, thereby causing the turbine rotor to rotate, which eventually causes a generator (built into the turbine and not visible) connected operablely to produce power. The working fluid turbine (174) may include any structure configured to convert the kinetic energy of the fluid into rotational energy. For example, the working fluid turbine (174) may include a fluid or flow rate turbine. In some cases, the working fluid turbine (174) may be considered a pressure regulator. Any type of pressure regulator may be used instead of the working fluid turbine (174) or in conjunction with the working fluid turbine (174). The pressure regulator may also include a filter and / or membrane. In some cases, the working fluid turbine pipe (158) may include the working fluid turbine (174), a filter, or the working fluid turbine (174) and a filter. More generally, but not limited to, a pressure regulator within the working fluid turbine pipe (158) may be used to perform useful operations such as energy generation, filtration, purification, desalination, element extraction, etc. The pressure regulator may maintain a pressure difference such that the pressure above the pressure regulator (e.g., within the upper hollow chamber (152)) is higher than the pressure below the pressure regulator (e.g., within the lower hollow chamber (154)).

[0092] The effluent working fluid flowing out of the working fluid turbine (174) flows (175) from the outlet at the lower end of the working fluid turbine pipe (158), flows into the annular working fluid return channel (153), and accordingly flows downward through the annular working fluid return channel (176). When it reaches the lower annular hole and / or inlet (177), the working fluid flows out of the annular working fluid return channel (178) and flows into the effluent working fluid reservoir (168) in the lower hollow chamber (154), thereby raising the free surface (166) of the effluent working fluid reservoir (168).

[0093] As the embodiment (150) moves up and down in response to wave action in the buoyant upper hollow chamber (152), and as the free surface (165) of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube (163) moves up and down (167), the working fluid flows back and forth (179) between the working fluid reservoir (168) and the interior of the contracting inertia tube, resulting in vibrational rise and fall of the free surface (166) of the effluent working fluid reservoir (168) and corresponding vibrational rise and fall of the gas pressure in the lower gas pocket (164). While the working fluid flows back and forth (179) between the working fluid reservoir (168) and the interior of the contracting inertia tube, the net flow is upward and corresponds to the discharge (170) of the working fluid from the contracting inertia tube into the pressurized working fluid reservoir (172).

[0094] The interior of the annular working fluid return channel (153) is fluidically connected to the upper gas pocket (161) in the upper hollow chamber (152) by a pressure equalization pipe (180) through which gas flows in and out between the gas pocket (161) and the interior of the annular working fluid return channel (181). Thus, the hydraulic pressure of the working fluid (172) flowing into and through the working fluid turbine (174) is related to the separation of the free surface (171) of the pressurized working fluid reservoir (172) in the upper hollow chamber (152) and the free surface (182) of the working fluid in the annular working fluid return channel. That is, since both volumes of the working fluid are exposed to and pressurized by the same gas pocket (161), the main difference, if not the only difference, in their pressure potential energy is related to the vertical separation of their respective free surfaces, and is mainly, if not entirely, hydrostatic potential energy.

[0095] To reduce the buoyancy of the lower hollow chamber (154), a portion of the pressurized lower gas pocket (164) is isolated to a complementary, secondary, and / or extended effluent gas chamber (156). An effluent gas pocket pipe (155) fluidically connects the lower gas pocket (164) within the lower hollow chamber (154) to the extended gas pocket (183) within the complementary effluent gas chamber (156). When the effluent gas control valve (157) is opened, gas can flow freely between the lower gas pocket (164) and the extended gas pocket (183) (e.g., 184 and 185). When the effluent gas control valve is closed, gas cannot flow between the lower gas pocket (164) and the extended gas pocket (183). The effluent gas control valve allows the control system of the embodiment (not shown) to adjust the rate at which a change in the relative height of the free surface (166) of the effluent working fluid reservoir (168) in the lower hollow chamber causes a change in the pressure of the gas in the lower gas pocket (164). This is similar to changing the spring constant of the lower gas pocket spring (164), and such a change in the spring constant of the lower gas pocket spring can be used by the control system of the embodiment to change the vibration behavior of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube (163), and in particular the magnitude of the vibration.

[0096] For example, in particularly violent wave conditions where the vibration (167) of the working fluid (162) in the contracting inertia tube (163) may be excessive and / or excessive, increasing the "stiffness" of the lower gas pocket spring (164) of the embodiment control system (not shown) can reduce the magnitude of the working fluid vibration in the contracting inertia tube (by adjusting the degree of opening of the control valve (157)) and can provide the control system of the embodiment with a useful option to mitigate such vibration (e.g., reduce the risk of structural damage to the embodiment).

[0097] The embodiment (150) accommodates, incorporates, utilizes, and / or includes a block (186) and / or slab of cement, concrete, and / or other cementitious material positioned within the lower portion of the lower hollow chamber (154) and / or fixed thereto. This cement block increases the density of the embodiment, thereby adjusting and / or positioning its external perpendicular (187) to a favorable location on the embodiment, for example, near the equator of the upper hollow chamber (152) and / or near the widest horizontal section. The cement block also lowers the center of gravity of the embodiment, thereby improving the positional stability of the embodiment when the embodiment is shaken by waves (e.g., promoting the vertical orientation of the embodiment). Other embodiments of the present disclosure, such as thicker steel walls, a smaller lower gas pocket (164), a larger complementary effluent gas chamber (156), and / or using a working fluid of greater relative density, omit the cement block. Another embodiment employs a different type of ballast, for example, bulk iron ore placed in a lower hollow chamber (154).

[0098] It should be understood that the benefits provided by including a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump as part of a buoyant wave energy converter (WEC) can lead to more effective and environmentally sound production of energy products. For example, the sealed environment within the recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump enables the use of working fluids that can reduce corrosion, while preventing the release of elements, solutions, chemicals, etc., that do not occur naturally into surrounding waters. As used herein, energy products may include, but are not limited to, fuels (e.g., hydrogen and / or carbon-containing fuels), chemicals (e.g., HCl), biological species, digital goods and / or services, etc. In some cases, "chemicals" may be used to refer to energy products that are fuels (e.g., hydrogen gas) and / or non-fuel chemicals (e.g., HCl). Since the WEC may be located offshore, energy products may be transported back to land for consumption, use, storage, etc. Examples of systems or processes for the production and transport of energy products in the WEC are described in relation to FIGS. 19 through 32.

[0099] FIG. 19 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment (250) of the present disclosure. The embodiment (250) floats adjacent to the upper surface (251) of a body of water through which waves pass. The embodiment (250) of FIG. 19 may be similar to the embodiment (150) of FIG. 17, except for the addition of an energy product generating chamber (290). For example, the embodiment (250) may include an upper hollow chamber (252) fluidically coupled to a lower hollow chamber (254) by an inertia tube (263). An annular fluid return channel (253) may surround the inertia tube (263). An operating fluid turbine pipe (258) may fluidly coupled the upper hollow chamber (252) to the annular fluid return channel (253). A pressure regulator (274) (such as any pressure regulator described in more detail herein) may be provided along the operating fluid turbine pipe (258). In certain cases, the pressure regulator (274) is a turbine configured to generate electrical energy. Ballast (286) may be coupled to the lower half of the embodiment (250). An effluent gas chamber (256) may be provided above the upper hollow chamber (252), and the effluent gas chamber (256) may be fluidly coupled to the lower hollow chamber (254) by an effluent pipe (255). The operation of the embodiment (250) may be similar to the operation of the embodiment (150) described above. More generally, vibrations of the embodiment (250) in response to waves in a body of water may create a pressure difference across the pressure regulator (274) to drive the working fluid (272) across the pressure regulator (274) to provide useful work such as generating electrical energy (as indicated by arrows (273 and 275).

[0100] More specifically, the pressure regulator (274) may include a hydroelectric turbine such as a reaction turbine (e.g., propeller turbine, bulb turbine, Straflot turbine, tube turbine, Kaplan turbine, Francis turbine, or kinetic turbine) or an impulse turbine (e.g., Pelton turbine, or cross-current turbine). In some cases, a single turbine is used in the pressure regulator (274), and in other cases, a plurality of turbines arranged in series are used in the pressure regulator (274). Although a single pressure regulator (274) is illustrated in the embodiment (250), the embodiment may include a plurality of pressure regulators (274).

[0101] A pressure regulator (274) may be coupled to a generator (not shown). The pressure regulator (274) provides rotational energy that is converted into electrical energy by the generator. The electrical energy may be stored (e.g., in a battery) or consumed for one or more purposes described in more detail herein. While a generator is one option, other types of generators may also be used. For example, the generator described herein may include any generator, alternator, other mechanism, device, and / or component that converts one form of energy into another. In some cases, one or more of the energy generation systems may be replaced with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator that generates electricity directly from the flow of liquid without the need for connection to a turbine and an associated rotating shaft. That is, a combination of a turbine connected to the generator by a shaft may, in some cases, be replaced with an MHD generator through the selection of an appropriate working fluid.

[0102] The embodiment (250) may generate a significant amount of energy that needs to be stored or used in a useful manner. In some cases, the energy generated from the embodiment (250) may be stored in a battery. The battery may provide an accessible energy source to power one or more electrical components integrated into the embodiment. Alternatively (or additionally), the embodiment (250) may provide a material conversion process to "store" the energy in a more transportable form. For example, the energy generated by the embodiment (250) may be stored in the form of an energy product, such as as described in more detail herein.

[0103] If the energy product is hydrogen gas, an electrolytic cell (291) may be provided on the embodiment (250). The electrolytic cell (291) may be fluidly coupled to a water source, such as water (292) within the chamber (290). The water (292) may be deionized, filtered, and / or otherwise purified. Water (292) may be provided to the embodiment (250) as a precursor material. The energy generated by the embodiment (250) may be consumed by the electrolytic cell (291) to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen gas may be stored in the internal volume (293) of the chamber (290) or in any other confined space associated with the embodiment (250). The oxygen gas may be released into the atmosphere. After hydrogen gas is generated, the gas may be periodically collected (i.e., removed from or offloaded from the embodiment (250)) by an external vessel, ship, airship, submarine, drone, or any other vehicle as described in more detail in the specification.

[0104] The embodiment (250) may be an autonomous device capable of moving and / or navigating around a body of water in a controlled manner. The propulsion of the embodiment (250) may be driven through one or more different mechanisms using active and / or passive systems. One or more rudders (not shown) may be coupled to the embodiment (250) to provide directional control, rotational control, and / or similar things to the embodiment (250).

[0105] In some embodiments, the propulsion of the embodiment (250) may be provided through one or more active propulsion devices. For example, in some cases, a propeller or the like may be used. The energy to drive the active propulsion device may be obtained from a battery charged through the energy generation of the embodiment (250) or through the wave energy generation of the embodiment (250). In other cases, hydrogen or other gas generated in the embodiment (250) may be consumed to power the active propulsion device (e.g., through the use of a fuel cell).

[0106] The embodiment (250) may include an enclosure (295). The enclosure (295) may be a waterproof chamber for securing one or more electrical components. For example, a computing system, a positioning system, and / or a communication system may be provided within the enclosure (295). The computing system may provide one or more processors and associated hardware and / or software that enable control of the embodiment (250). For example, the computing system may control power generation by controlling, for instance, the flow rate of water to an energy generation device (290). The positioning system may include a GPS, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other suitable navigation system. The positioning system may control the propulsion and steering systems to navigate the embodiment (250). The communication system may include an antenna, a receiver, and associated circuitry, hardware, and / or software. The communication system may provide a communication link to an external system, another wave energy generation system, etc. It should be understood that the system described in the enclosure (295) in the embodiment (250) is essentially exemplary and that many different systems, control devices, and / or similar things may be provided in the enclosure (295).

[0107] As described in more detail below, the energy product produced by the Example (250) may be delivered to the coast (or near the coast) for subsequent use, storage, etc. The energy product may be transported to the coast via one or more vessels. In some cases, the energy product is transported to the coast without further modification. For example, hydrogen gas may be produced by the Example (250), and the hydrogen gas is transported to the coast. In other cases, the energy product may be used to produce a different energy product. For example, the energy product may be a precursor used to produce an alternative energy product (e.g., an energy product having a higher energy density). In one example, the hydrogen energy product may be converted into methanol or ammonia through a chemical reaction with one or more other precursor gases. This additional conversion may occur in the Example (250) or during the transport of the energy product to the coast.

[0108] FIG. 20 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment (350) of the present disclosure. The embodiment (350) may be similar to the embodiment (250) described above, except for the energy products generated or produced by the embodiment (350). For example, the embodiment (350) floats adjacent to the upper surface (351) of a body of water through which waves pass. The embodiment (350) may include an upper hollow chamber (352) fluidically coupled to a lower hollow chamber (354) by an inertia tube (363). An annular fluid return channel (353) may surround the inertia tube (363). An operating fluid turbine pipe (358) may fluidly coupled the upper hollow chamber (352) to the annular fluid return channel (353). A pressure regulator (374) (such as any pressure regulator described in more detail herein) may be provided along the operating fluid turbine pipe (358). In certain cases, the pressure regulator (374) is a turbine configured to generate electrical energy. Ballast (386) may be coupled to the lower half of the embodiment (350). An effluent gas chamber (356) may be provided above the upper hollow chamber (352), and the effluent gas chamber (356) may be fluidly coupled to the lower hollow chamber (354) by an effluent pipe (355). The operation of the embodiment (350) may be similar to the operation of the embodiment (150) described above. More generally, vibrations of the embodiment (350) in response to waves in a body of water may create a pressure difference across the pressure regulator (374) to drive the working fluid (372) across the pressure regulator (374) to provide useful work such as generating electrical energy (as indicated by arrows (373 and 375). The embodiment (350) may also include an enclosure (395) having a computing system, etc. In the case of generating hydrogen as one energy product, an electrolytic cell (391) in water (392) in a chamber (390) can be used to convert water (392) into oxygen and hydrogen.Hydrogen gas can be stored within the internal volume (393) of the chamber (390), and oxygen gas can be released into the atmosphere.

[0109] However, instead of producing only fuel or chemicals as energy products, the embodiment (350) may produce biological products. The biological products may include one or more of marine algae (e.g., microalgae and / or macroalgae), seagrass, other marine plants, fish, krill, or other marine organisms. More specifically, the power generated through the operation of the pressure regulator (374) may be used to power lighting (342), lamps, thermal devices (e.g., heaters), and / or similars. For example, the lighting (342) may be light-emitting diode (LED) lighting or any other suitable light source for generating electromagnetic radiation (343). The electromagnetic radiation (343) may be consumed by the biological products within the embodiment (350) to induce the growth of the biological products.

[0110] As illustrated in FIG. 20, the light (342) may be arranged, attached, or otherwise coupled to the inner surface of the upper hollow chamber (352). Although it is illustrated as being directly coupled to the inner wall surface, other embodiments may include suspending the light (342) within the inner volume of the upper hollow chamber (352). The light (342) in FIG. 20 is depicted as being submerged in water (372). However, in other embodiments, the light (342) may be provided over the surface of the water (377) within the upper hollow chamber (352).

[0111] In one case, a roughly circular net (341) designed to promote the growth of biological products (e.g., algae and / or other marine-based plant life) is positioned adjacent to the surface of the water (372), spanning and / or adjacent to the approximately flow-vertical and / or horizontal cross-section of the water (342). The net (342) traps the biological products within the lower portion of the water (372), thereby tending to reduce, if not prevent, the outflow and / or loss of the large algae through the pressure regulator (374) in the operating fluid turbine pipe (358). In another embodiment, other structures (e.g., sieves, catches, meshes, or grids) are positioned in the water flow path to the pressure regulator (374) to prevent the outflow or loss of biological products.

[0112] Periodically, biological products may be removed from the water (372) by a vessel, platform, or other vessel. The vessel may insert a suction tube into and through the access tube (345). Once inserted into and through the access tube (345), the inserted suction tube is positioned near the bottom of the water (372) reservoir of the embodiment to suck up a portion of the biological products therein. A complementary access tube (not shown), and / or a complementary channel within a single access suction tube (345) may return water to the reservoir while the biological products are being removed from the water (372) reservoir, thereby maintaining and / or preserving the original water level of the water (372) in the reservoir.

[0113] The access tube (372) allows algae, water, nutrients, and / or other materials to be added to and / or withdrawn from the water (372) storage tank when the storage tank is sealed in a different way inside the upper hollow chamber (352). Because the access tube is open to the atmosphere at its upper inlet (347) (as indicated by arrow (348)) and open to water and biological products in the water (373) at its lower inlet (344), the water (372) from the storage tank rises freely within the algae access tube (345). Due to the pressure of the air trapped within the air pocket inside the upper hollow chamber (352) and the corresponding pressure of the water (372), the surface of the water (346) within the access tube (345) tends to rise to a height above the surface of the water (372) in the storage tank, and the hydrostatic pressure corresponds approximately to the air pressure inside the upper hollow chamber (352). However, in another embodiment, the access tube (345) may be sealed to maintain an environmental seal within the embodiment (350).

[0114] The scope of the present disclosure includes a complementary vessel for periodically harvesting a biological product grown within an embodiment, as well as a coastal facility, floating platform and / or other vessel where the harvested algae are processed and / or stored, as well as a method for harvesting the biological product, wherein: a wave energy converter of the type disclosed herein is deployed over a body of water; electrical energy produced by said wave energy converter operating on waves is used to power an LED or other lamp or other light source mounted inside or outside the wave energy converter, and / or an LED or other lamp or other light source suspended from a wall, surface and / or structural member inside or outside the wave energy converted biological product is allowed to grow in an enclosure, cavity, or near said wave energy converter using light from said lamp as a source of metabolic energy; said biological product (or a product or byproduct produced therefrom, e.g., seaweed oil or fish oil, etc.) is transferred to a vessel or other floating vessel; The above vessel or floating vessel delivers the above biological product (or products or by-products produced therefrom, e.g., seaweed oil or fish oil, etc.) to a coastal facility for processing and / or storage.

[0115] The aquaculture configuration embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20 may also include fish in water (372). If one or more fish species capable of eating and / or consuming the type(s) of algae grown in the embodiment are selected and included in each growth area before each growth cycle, a portion of these fish may be harvested along with any remaining algae that are not eaten. The scope of the present disclosure includes a method for harvesting fish, wherein: a wave energy converter of the type disclosed herein is deployed over a body of water; electrical energy produced by said wave energy converter is used to power LEDs or other lamps or other light sources mounted inside or outside said wave energy converter, as well as LEDs or other lamps or other light sources suspended from walls, surfaces and / or structural members inside or outside said wave energy converter; and algae are allowed to grow in an enclosure, cavity, or near said wave energy converter using light from said lamps as a source of metabolic energy; Fish or other marine organisms are allowed to grow in an enclosure, cavity, or near the wave energy converter, and are supplied at least partially to the algae as a source of metabolic energy; said fish or other marine organisms are transferred to a vessel or other floating vessel; said vessel or floating vessel transfers said fish and / or other marine organisms (or products or by-products produced therefrom, e.g., fishmeal or fish oil) to a coastal facility for processing and / or storage.

[0116] The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments utilizing a water storage lamp and / or an inertial water tube lamp that emits light of any single wavelength, any range of wavelengths, and / or any combination of wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths.

[0117] Now, referring to FIG. 21, a side perspective view of a system comprising a WEC (400) fluidically coupled to a vessel (406) according to an embodiment is shown. In an embodiment, the WEC (400) may be similar to any embodiment described in more detail herein. For example, the WEC (400) may include a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump. The WEC (400) obtains, extracts, harvests, receives, and / or collects energy from waves moving across the surface (405) of the body of water on which the WEC (400) floats. A portion of the energy extracted by the WEC (400) from the passing waves is converted into electricity by a hydroelectric turbine (not shown) and a generator (not shown). A portion of the generated electricity is used to produce energy products (e.g., liquid fuel, gaseous fuel, chemicals, biological products, etc.). For example, a water electrolysis device (not visible) inside the WEC (400) can be used to convert some of the water contained in a storage tank (not visible) inside the WEC (400) into hydrogen gas. Some of the synthesized hydrogen gas is captured in a hydrogen storage tank (not visible) inside the WEC (400).

[0118] Periodically, the vessel (402) approaches the WEC (400) and positions itself near the WEC device (400). When it is sufficiently close to the WEC (400), the vessel (400) deploys a hose connection remote operation vehicle (hose connection ROV) (403) attached to the first end of the transfer hose (404). The hose connection ROV (403) pulls the transfer hose (404) toward the WEC (400). The hose connection ROV (403) moves itself across the WEC hull until it is attached to the hull of the WEC (400) in a translational manner and is positioned above and / or on the port (not visible) of the WEC (400). The hose-connected ROV (403) then connects itself and the attached hydrogen transfer hose to the hydrogen port of the WEC (400), thereby allowing the energy product to be removed and / or flow from the WEC (400) to the vessel (406), whereby it is subsequently stored in one or more of the storage containers (not shown) on and / or on the vessel (406). In another embodiment, a manual retractable pull-out system is used to connect the hose (404) to the port on the WEC (400). In some cases, the transfer of the energy product from the WEC (400) to the vessel (406) is passive (e.g., when a pressure difference drives the product from the WEC (400) to the vessel (406)). In other cases, a pump, winch, or other mechanical force may be used to actively transport the energy product from the WEC (400) to the vessel (406).

[0119] Although the vessel (406) of FIG. 28 is depicted as a boat, it should be understood that any suitable transport vehicle may be used to offload energy products from the WEC device (400). For example, a submarine, an aircraft (e.g., a helicopter, an airplane, a maneuverable airship, a drone, etc.) may also be used to offload energy products from the WEC (400). In an embodiment, the vessel (406) may transport the energy products directly to the shore, or the vessel (406) may be an intermediate transport unit that delivers the energy products to a second vessel or a platform within the water where the WEC (400) is floating.

[0120] Now, referring to FIG. 22, a schematic diagram of a wave energy harvesting system (500) is shown. The wave energy harvesting system (500) may include a first free-floating body (501) and a second free-floating body (580) that can be temporarily coupled to each other while floating on the surface (505) of a body of water (504). In an exemplary embodiment, the first free-floating body (501) may be configured as a wave engine (501) (e.g., a WEC including a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump as described herein), and the second free-floating body (580) may be a storage vessel (580) such as a tanker (580). In some embodiments, the wave engine (501) may be operable to receive a conduit assembly (541) fluidly communicating with a conduit (540) from a storage vessel (580) and thereby include a receiving port (520) that fluidly connects the wave engine (501) to the storage vessel (580) through the conduit (540) for the transfer of one or more fluids between them. Although fluid communication and connection between the wave engine (501) and the storage vessel (580) are described in more detail with reference to FIG. 22, it should be understood that non-fluid products may also be transferred between the wave engine (501) and the storage vessel (580).

[0121] In an embodiment, fluid communication (or fluid coupling) between the wave engine (501) and the storage vessel (580) may be made possible through the use of an automatic, autonomous, and / or manual system. In some embodiments, for example, the conduit assembly (541) may include one or more fluid nozzles (not shown in FIG. 29) operable to discharge one or more fluid streams to orient the conduit assembly (541) toward the receiving port (520).

[0122] A set of orthogonal coordinate axes (550) is illustrated in FIG. 22 to contextualize the locations of various components of a wave energy harvesting system (500). Specifically, x-, y-, and z-axiss are provided that are mutually perpendicular to each other, where the x- and z-axiss define the plane of the schematic diagram illustrated in FIG. 22 and the y-axis is perpendicular thereto. In some embodiments, the direction of gravity may be parallel to and coincide with the negative direction of the z-axis.

[0123] Although illustrated in the present specification in the context of a wave engine, the first free floating body (501) may be configured as any free floating body capable of self-propulsion by utilizing one or more surrounding environmental forces to, for example, extract energy from stored fuel, induce a flow of pressurized water, and / or translate along the surface (505) of a body of water (504). For example, the first free floating body (501) may be a vessel (501) (e.g., a deployment vessel, a tanker, or other storage vessel or other transport vessel), a buoy (501), a wind turbine (501), a marine platform (501) such as a data center, etc.

[0124] In an embodiment in which the first free-floating body (501) is configured as a wave engine (501) similar to the embodiment disclosed herein, the working fluid may vibrate within the wave engine (501) in response to the upward and downward motion (506) of the water wave (e.g., positive direction of the z-axis and negative direction of the z-axis, respectively). As described in more detail in the specification, the upward and downward motion (506) may induce the working fluid to pass through a pressure regulator (e.g., a turbine), and the energy therefrom may be captured and converted into an energy product (508) (as indicated by the dashed arrow (526a)). The energy product (508) may include, for example, an electrolysis product or other fuel / chemicals such as H2 gas, HCl, etc., removed carbon, minerals, biological products, digital goods, or, but not limited to, one or more executed computational algorithms such as proof-of-work mechanisms for cryptocurrency, trained machine learning algorithms, etc.

[0125] In some embodiments, the first free floating body (501) may include a first onboard controller or other computing device (510) and / or the second free floating body (580) may include a second onboard controller or other computing device (529), and the first and second onboard controllers (510, 529) each include a non-transient memory in which executable instructions may be stored. The executable instructions may be executed by one or more processors of the first and second onboard controllers (510, 529) to perform various functions of the first and second free floating bodies (501, 580), respectively. Accordingly, the executable instructions may include various routines for operation, propulsion, maintenance, tracking, and testing of the first and second free floating bodies (501, 580). The first and second line controllers (510, 529) may be communicably coupled to various components (e.g., valves, power supply units, etc.) of the first and second free-floating bodies (501, 580) to command their operation and use (wired and / or wireless communication paths between the first and second line controllers (510, 529) and the various components are omitted in FIG. 22 for clarity). For example, to selectively engage and disengage one or more second coupling elements and one or more first coupling elements, the first line controller (510) may command the operation of one or more first coupling elements annularly distributed on the receiving port (520), and the second line controller (529) may command the operation of one or more second coupling elements annularly distributed on the conduit assembly (541) (the first and second coupling elements are not shown in FIG. 22). However, it must be understood that manual self-alignment can be made possible through the use of a retractable withdrawal system.

[0126] In certain embodiments, the first and second onboard controllers (510, 529) may be coupled to a remote controller or computing device (514) so ​​as to be communicable via a wireless network (512). The various controllers (510, 514, 529) may be configured in a substantially similar manner, except for one or more modifications or differences for a given use case, in some examples. For example, the remote controller (514) may be positioned to be accessible to an operator of the wave energy harvesting system (500), for example, within a physical structure (516) on a vessel or on land (518) (as illustrated in FIG. 22). In this way, even when one or both of the first and second free floating bodies (501, 580) are not geographically located within a national or local jurisdiction, one or both of the first and second free floating bodies (501, 580) may nevertheless communicate continuously (e.g., substantially uninterrupted) or periodically with a remote controller (514) that may be geographically located within a national or local jurisdiction (e.g., on land (518)).

[0127] In some embodiments, since the remote controller (514) may be configured for use by an operator, the remote controller (514) may include a user interface that allows the operator to input commands or otherwise modify the operation of the wave energy harvesting system (500). The user interface may include various components for receiving operator input (e.g., a request to orient the conduit assembly (541) toward the receiving port (520)) such as one or more displays, input devices (e.g., a keyboard, a touchscreen, a computer mouse, a pushable button, a mechanical switch, other mechanical actuators, etc.), lighting, etc., to facilitate operator use of the wave energy harvesting system (500). In additional or alternative embodiments, one or both of the first and second onboard controllers (510, 529) may be configured to have a user interface as described above.

[0128] The total energy flow (526) of the wave energy harvesting system (500) is schematically illustrated in FIG. 22, where energy captured from the first free floating body (501) from water induced through it by the upward and downward motion (506) of the water waves (as indicated by the dashed arrow 526a) is converted into an energy product (508) and transferred to the second free floating body (580) (as indicated by the dashed arrow 526b), and then transferred from the second free floating body (580) to a land-based vehicle (530) (as indicated by the dashed arrow 526c) and can be transported to a storage facility and / or end user for consumption. For example, in some embodiments, the wave energy harvesting system (500) may include a plurality of nodes comprising a plurality of first free-floating bodies (501), one or more second free-floating bodies (580) for transporting a plurality of energy products (508) from a plurality of first free-floating bodies (501) to land (518), and one or more land-based vehicles (530) for transporting a plurality of energy products (508) from one or more second free-floating bodies (580) to a storage facility and / or end user. In other cases, the energy products (508) may be transported directly from the second free-floating bodies (580) to a storage facility and / or end user on or within a specific distance of land (518) (e.g., up to 100 kilometers from land, up to 40 kilometers from land, up to 1 kilometer from land, up to 500 meters from land, or up to 50 meters from land). However, in other embodiments, the storage facility or consumption location may be located further away from land.

[0129] In an exemplary embodiment, the energy product (508) may be a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) transferred from the first free floating body (501) to the second free floating body (580) through a conduit (540), and the conduit (540) is configured to temporarily fluidly connect the internal reservoir of the second free floating body (580) to the internal reservoir of the first free floating body (501) through one or more internal passages extending at least the length of the conduit (540) (the internal reservoir and internal passage(s) are not shown in FIG. 22). In a specific embodiment, the conduit (540) may include a plurality of internal passages, each capable of carrying a different fluid between the first and second free floating bodies (501, 580). For example, the conduit (540) may include a first internal passage configured to supply an energy product precursor (509) (e.g., an electrolytic reactant such as deionized water) from the second free floating body (580) to the first free floating body (501) to replace the energy product (508) transferred to the second free floating body (580). Accordingly, in this example, the conduit (540) may further include a second internal passage configured to siphon the energy product (508) (e.g., an electrolytic product such as hydrogen gas) from the first free floating body (501) to the second free floating body (580). Thus, the total energy flow (526) can be maintained by periodically (e.g., once a week) replenishing the capacity of the first free floating body (501) to convert the captured energy into a chemical energy product.

[0130] In some embodiments, the adjustment of the position of the conduit assembly (541) may be performed, for example, based on manual operator input in the user interface of the remote controller (514). In additional or alternative embodiments, the adjustment of the position of the conduit assembly (541) may be automatically adjusted, for example, based on feedback from one or more sensors and / or data received via the wireless network (512). As an example, one or both of the first and second free-floating bodies (501, 580) may include an accelerometer (e.g., an inertial measurement unit; not shown) configured to collect changes in local position data arising from wave motion, for example. As an additional or alternative example, one or both of the first and second free-floating bodies (501, 580) may include a global positioning system (not shown) configured to collect geographic position data. As an additional or alternative example, one or both of the first and second free-floating bodies (501, 580) may include a wind speed sensor (not shown) configured to measure wind speed. As an additional or alternative example, such data (e.g., location data and / or wind speed) may be received via a wireless network (512) in addition to other data such as weather data (e.g., wave height, direction of wave propagation, wave period, weather, etc.). In some embodiments, the direction and magnitude of the applied force may be inferred based on feedback from one or more sensors and / or data received via the wireless network (512), so that specific operating parameters (e.g., one or more continuously adjustable parameters) may be adjusted in response so that changes in individual applied forces can be considered with specificity. However, the use of a passive retractable withdrawal system may allow for a more passive and precise fluid coupling between the free-floating bodies (501, 508) in terms of wave conditions, wind conditions, or other environmental factors.

[0131] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 22, the energy product (508) is generated in the first free floating body (501) and subsequently transported to land (518). That is, the energy product (508) may not undergo any subsequent processing after being produced. However, in other embodiments, the energy product (508) may be further processed to produce an alternative product before reaching land (518) (or near land). For example, the initial energy product (508) may be filtered, compressed (e.g., from gas to liquid), used in a reaction as a precursor, or processed in other ways before reaching land (518) or near land. For example, hydrogen gas may be used as a precursor to produce a more energy-dense substance or fuel, such as methanol, or algae may be processed into algae oil. These processing operations may be implemented on the first free floating body (501), on the second free floating body (580), or on a combination of both the first free floating body (501) and the second free floating body (580). Examples of such processing are illustrated in FIGS. 23 through 25.

[0132] Now, referring to FIG. 23, a side perspective view of an embodiment (550) having a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump and an integrated processing plant on a platform (560) according to an embodiment is shown. The embodiment (550) floats adjacent to the upper surface (551) of a body of water where waves tend to pass over it. The embodiment (550) includes an upper hollow chamber (552). In the embodiment, a central inertial tube (not visible) is coupled to the upper hollow chamber (552). A lower hollow chamber (554) may be provided at the bottom of the central inertial tube. An annular return channel (553) may surround the central inertial tube. A turbine pipe (558) coupling the upper hollow chamber (552) to the annular return channel (553) may include a pressure regulator (such as a turbine) not visible in FIG. 23. A gas effluent pipe (555) can fluidly connect a lower hollow chamber (554) to an upper effluent gas chamber (not shown in FIG. 23). The recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump of embodiment (550) may be similar in configuration and operation to any embodiment described in more detail herein. Additional other inertial hydrodynamic pump architectures (such as those similar to embodiment (100) of FIG. 1) may also be integrated with a treatment plant.

[0133] As described in other embodiments, the energy product (571) may be generated through the conversion of wave energy into electricity. In some embodiments, the energy product (571) may be a gas, such as hydrogen gas, or other fluid. The energy product (571) may be stored in a first storage container (561). Embodiment (550) illustrates a first storage container (561) for the energy product (571) located on a platform (560). Other embodiments may include the first storage container (561) being integrated into an upper hollow chamber (552) and located outside of embodiment (550) (e.g., attached to or otherwise coupled to the outer surface of embodiment (550)), or positioned in an approximate area of ​​embodiment (550) (e.g., on a second floating platform at least temporarily coupled to embodiment (550).

[0134] In an embodiment, the energy product (571) in the first storage container (561) may be used as a precursor for a chemical reaction. In an additional embodiment, the second precursor (572) may be stored in the second storage container (562). For a chemical reaction to convert hydrogen gas into methanol, the second precursor (572) may contain CO2 or other carbon-containing sources. The second precursor (572) may also be produced as an energy product in the embodiment (550), or the second precursor (572) may be periodically replenished by a vessel, etc. The energy product (571) may flow from the first storage container (561) into the reaction device (563) through a pipe (566), and the second precursor (572) may flow from the second storage container (562) into the reaction device (563) through a pipe (565). The reacted product (573) (e.g., a second energy product) can flow into a third storage container (564) through a pipe (567). The reacted product (573) can be periodically removed from the third storage container (564) to be transported to an alternative location (e.g., a body of water (551) or another storage location or facility of use on land). Although a simple reaction process is illustrated in FIG. 23, it should be understood that any suitable conversion, filtration, compression, reaction, treatment, etc., can be implemented in the embodiment (550).

[0135] Now, referring to FIG. 24, a schematic side view of a vessel (630) that may be used to transport an energy product from a WEC (not shown) to land (not shown) is shown. For example, the vessel (630) may be similar to the second free-floating body (580) of FIG. 22. The vessel (630) may include a first storage container (631) for storing an energy product (641). The energy product (641) may be transported to the first storage container (631) from the WEC, or from another vessel (not shown) that has obtained the energy product (641) from the WEC. For example, the energy product (641) may include hydrogen or any other energy product described in more detail herein. The vessel (630) may also include a second storage container (632) for storing an additional precursor (342). In the case of hydrogen to methanol conversion, the additional precursor (642) may contain carbon (e.g., CO2). In the embodiment, the energy product (641) and the precursor (642) flow into the reaction device (633). The combined energy product (641) and the precursor (642) may react within the reaction device (633) to form a reacted product (643) which is transported to a third storage container (635). The reacted product (643) may be transported by the vessel (630) to an alternative storage or use facility (on land or on water (601)). Although a simple reaction process is illustrated in FIG. 24, it should be understood that any suitable conversion, filtration, compression, reaction, treatment, etc., may be implemented on the vessel (630).

[0136] Now, referring to FIG. 25, a drawing is shown that provides a more detailed description of a reaction process that can be used to convert a first energy product into a second energy product according to an embodiment. The conversion shown in FIG. 25 may be implemented on a WEC (e.g., similar to the embodiment (550) of FIG. 23), on a transport vessel (e.g., a vessel (630) similar to FIG. 24), partially on the WEC and partially on the transport vessel, or partially on the first transport vessel and partially on the second transport vessel. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 25, a detailed process is shown in which methanol (CH3OH) is synthesized from CO2 hydrogenation, by CO2 and / or through CO2 hydrogenation. In the embodiment, CO2 is stored in a CO2 tank (659) and H2 is stored in an H2 tank (658). One or both of CO2 and H2 may be energy products generated by the WEC. CO2 and H2 are pumped by pumps (691) and (692) and combined in a mixer (661) with a stream recirculated from a flash vessel (662). The mixed stream (of CO2 and H2 gases) is pumped into a catalytic reactor vessel (663), where an exothermic reaction takes place, and the temperature and pressure can reach 250°C and 65 bar, respectively. After the reaction, the stream exits the catalytic reactor vessel (663), passes through a heat exchanger (667), and then enters a flash vessel (662), where the temperature and pressure will be approximately 30.0°C and 64.5 bar, respectively.

[0137] The streams of H2, CO, and CO2 from the flash vessel (662) are recirculated back to the mixer (661) by the pump (669) after a small amount of gas is purged to further purify the streams. The liquid stream from the flash vessel (662) enters the heat exchanger (667) and is then pumped to the distillation tower (671) by the pump (673). The untreated CH3OH streams entering the distillation tower (671) may be at a temperature and pressure of 85°C and 1.3 bar, respectively. The final separation of CH3OH and water takes place within the distillation tower (671). The gaseous CH3OH is pumped through the compressor pump (678) to the methanol ballast sphere (655), where the CH3OH is cooled until it is liquefied. The water extracted from the untreated aqueous CH3OH is discharged from the bottom of the distillation tower (671). Other processes for synthesizing methanol from CO2 and H2 may be used in place of those known and described in the prior art. Examples utilizing, incorporating, and / or including such other methanol synthesis processes and / or associated mechanisms and equipment are included within the scope of this disclosure. Additionally, while methanol synthesis has been provided as an example, any conversion or reaction of energy products using any suitable chemical reaction, process, treatment, filtration, etc., may be used.

[0138] In several previous embodiments, energy products were defined as physical items (e.g., fuel, chemicals, biological products, etc.), but the embodiments are not limited to these configurations. For example, the power induced by the WEC described herein may be used to power one or more computing systems. These systems may be used to provide computing tasks having monetary or social value. For example, computing tasks may be used to host data centers, implement blockchain mining, machine learning (ML) training, or artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, etc. An example of such a system is provided in FIG. 26.

[0139] Now, referring to FIG. 26, a side perspective view of an embodiment (600) is shown, according to an embodiment, comprising a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump and an integrated computing system (611) on a platform (610) at the top of the embodiment (600). The embodiment (600) floats adjacent to the upper surface (601) of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment (600) includes an upper hollow chamber (602). In the embodiment, a central inertial tube (not shown) is coupled to the upper hollow chamber (602). A lower hollow chamber (604) may be provided at the bottom of the central inertial tube. An annular return channel (603) may surround the central inertial tube. A turbine pipe (608) coupling the upper hollow chamber (602) to the annular return channel (603) may include a pressure regulator (such as a turbine), which is not shown in FIG. 26. The gas effluent pipe (605) can fluidly connect the lower hollow chamber (604) to the upper effluent gas chamber (not shown in FIG. 26). The recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump of embodiment (600) may be similar in configuration and operation to any embodiment described in more detail herein. Additionally, other inertial hydrodynamic pump architectures (such as those similar to embodiment (100) in FIG. 1) may also be integrated with the computing system (611). As described in other embodiments, the energy product may be generated by converting wave energy into electricity. In some embodiments, the energy product may be a gas, such as hydrogen gas, or another fluid. In some cases, the energy product may be stored in a chamber (not shown) located inside or outside of embodiment (600).

[0140] In an embodiment, a platform (610) may be provided on top of an embodiment (600). A computing system (611) may be provided on the platform and may include an enclosure to protect the components from water and elements. Any number of computing systems (e.g., processors, graphics processors, etc.), memory and / or similars may be accommodated within the enclosure. The computing system (611) may consist of multiple processing systems integrated with one another to perform complex computer processing operations. As described above, the computing system (611) may be optimized and / or configured to implement one or more of data center hosting, blockchain mining implementation, ML or AI algorithm training, etc. The results of the computing operation (e.g., blockchain coins or tokens, trained algorithms, data center capacity, etc.) may be transmitted to an external device via a wireless network through one or more antennas (612) or other wireless systems. As described above, the computing system can be powered by the energy generated by the embodiment (600) through the conversion of wave energy into power, or through the re-conversion of energy products stored in the chamber into power (e.g., through the use of a hydrogen fuel cell).

[0141] Now, referring to FIG. 27, a perspective view of a computing system (700) that can be integrated with a WEC, as described in more detail in this specification according to an embodiment, is shown. The computing system (700) may include an array of electronic devices, hardware, and / or software configured to control one or more aspects of a wave energy generating device. Although the components illustrated in FIG. 27 are shown on a single substrate, it should be understood that the components may be on separate substrates, structures, etc. The computing system (700) may be housed within a watertight chamber or enclosure provided on the WEC.

[0142] A computing system (700) may include a computing device (710). The computing device (710) accommodates a substrate. The substrate may include a number of components, including but not limited to a processor (701). The processor (701) may include, but is not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or similar. The processor (701) is physically and electrically coupled to the substrate. Other components of the computing device (710) include, but are not limited to, memory (703), such as volatile memory (e.g., DRAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM), flash memory, and mass storage devices (such as a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital multifunction disc (DVD), etc.). The computing device may include a communication chipset (704), a digital signal processor (705), a chipset (706), an antenna (707), and / or an input / output device (708).

[0143] A computing system (700) may include a communication device (720). The communication device (720) enables wireless communication for the transmission of data to and from the computing system (700). The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communication channels, etc., capable of communicating data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation over a non-solid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not include any wires, although in some embodiments they may not. The communication device (820) may implement any number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 family), IEEE 802.20, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Ev-DO, HSPA+, HSDPA+, HSUPA+, EDGE, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, TDMA, DECT, Bluetooth, derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols designated as 3G, 4G, 5G or higher. The computing system (700) may include a plurality of communication devices (720). For example, the first communication device (720) may be dedicated to short-range wireless communication such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the second communication device (720) may be dedicated to long-range wireless communication such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others. The communication device (720) may be communicationally coupled to one or more antennas, satellite dishes, or other devices that broadcast and / or receive wireless communication. The antennas, etc. may be outside the enclosure, or the antennas may be inside the enclosure.

[0144] The computing system (700) may also include a server rack (730). The server rack (730) may include multiple processors having associated hardware and software. The server rack (730) may execute computational tasks to provide revenue-generating services. The server rack (730) may be powered by energy generated by WEC as described in more detail in this specification. While a constant power supply may be required, the computing system (700) may still function with an intermittent or non-constant power supply provided by wave energy generation. To handle variable power supply, the server rack (730) may include a controller that adjusts the clock speed of the processors. This allows power consumption to be directly controlled to match the available power. In some cases, the server rack (730) may perform data center operations or tasks. The server rack (730) may host and deliver content, or otherwise provide a link between consumers and a centralized data storage device. In some cases, the server rack (730) can perform services with blockchain technology such as cryptocurrency mining. The server rack (730) can also perform services such as ML or AI training.

[0145] The computing system (700) may include a positioning system (740). The positioning system (740) may include one or more modules, components and / or devices for determining the geographical location of a wave energy generating device. In some cases, the positioning system (740) may include a GPS, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope and / or similar. The positioning system (740) may include a processor and / or controller that enables navigation for the wave energy generating device. For example, an actuator may be controlled to steer or orient the wave energy generating device in a specific direction. A propulsion device on the WEC (e.g., a propeller, water get flow, etc.) may also be powered and / or oriented by a component of the positioning system (740).

[0146] The computing system (700) may include a sensor module (750). The sensor module (750) may include a processor, memory, and associated hardware and software to control and / or record data from one or more sensors monitoring various aspects of the WEC. Sensors may include, but are not limited to, pressure sensors, gas composition sensors, water level sensors, temperature sensors, fluid flow sensors, current sensors, power sensors, cameras, optical sensors, etc. Physical sensors may be distributed throughout the WEC, and control circuits / software may be provided within the sensor module (750) in the embodiment (700).

[0147] The computing system (700) may include an interface module (750). The interface module (750) may include one or more components used to interface with a wave energy generating device. The interface module (750) may include one or more input devices. For example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen display, etc., may be provided within the interface module (750). Output devices, such as a display screen, a speaker, etc., may also be provided within the interface module (750). The interface module (750) may further include a camera, a video camera, a biometric screening device, etc.

[0148] The computing system (700) may include a battery module (770). The battery module (770) may include any type of battery. The battery may include a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-based battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery). The battery of the battery module (770) may be charged by electricity generated by the WEC. The battery module (770) may be used as a storage tank for power to supply power to one or more electric components of the embodiment (800), or any other electric device of the wave energy generating device. The battery module (770) may be used to normalize power delivery to the electric components. For example, the battery module may supply power to equalize the total power delivery when the wave energy generating device provides variable power over time.

[0149] Now, referring to FIG. 28, a perspective view of a server rack (730) that can be integrated into a WEC as described in more detail in this specification is shown. As shown, the server rack (730) may include a plurality of server blades (735) provided on a rack (732). The server blades (735) may be communicatively coupled to each other via the rack (732) and / or associated cables to provide enhanced processing power. The server blades (735) may include, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or similar processors.

[0150] In some cases, the server rack (730) is telecommutatively coupled to an antenna (737) to enable wireless communication. The antenna (737) may include a parabolic dish antenna or any other antenna configuration. The ability to wirelessly transmit data from the server rack (730) allows data to be processed remotely from the source of power generation (e.g., in the ocean) while remaining useful to the end consumer. Data transmission, hosting, computing, etc., can be performed at a lower energy cost using these wave energy generation devices. Additionally, the server rack (730) can be passively cooled by the body of water surrounding the wave energy generation device (e.g., the server rack (730) may be in a watertight enclosure submerged in water). In some cases, the server rack (730) functions as cryptocurrency mining equipment powered by energy produced by the WEC.

[0151] FIG. 29 is a process flowchart of a process (810) for generating an energy product with a WEC and transporting the energy product to an alternative location. In an embodiment, the process (810) may begin with an operation (811) comprising converting wave energy into an energy product using a WEC that includes a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump. The WEC may be similar to any WEC described in more detail herein. The energy product may be similar to any energy product described in more detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gaseous fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HCl), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), etc. The generation of the energy product may be accomplished using any process described herein. For example, electricity generated by the WEC may be used to produce the energy product.

[0152] In an embodiment, the process (810) may continue with an operation (812) comprising moving an energy product from the WEC to a transport vessel. The transport vessel may be similar to any vessel described herein. For example, the transport vessel may include a boat, a submersible, an aircraft, or any other vessel capable of controlled movement on, through, and / or over the body of water where the WEC is floating. The energy product may be transferred or moved to the transport vessel (actively or passively) through any mechanism such as a hose, pipe, cable, etc.

[0153] In an embodiment, the process (810) may continue with an operation (813) that involves moving the energy product to a storage facility or power plant by a transport vessel. The storage facility or power plant may be provided at a location different from the approximate location of the WEC. In one embodiment, the location is on land. However, in another embodiment, the location is near land (e.g., up to 100 kilometers from land, up to 40 kilometers from land, up to 1 kilometer from land, up to 500 meters from land, or up to 50 meters from land). In another embodiment, the storage facility may be a second vessel. For example, the first vessel may take the energy product from the WEC and transfer it to the second vessel. The second vessel may then carry the energy product toward the shore.

[0154] FIG. 30 is a process flow diagram of a process (820) for converting a first energy product into a second energy product and transporting the second energy product to a storage facility or power plant. In an embodiment, the process (820) may begin with an operation (821) comprising converting wave energy into a first energy product using a WEC comprising a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump. The WEC may be similar to any WEC described in more detail herein. The first energy product may be similar to any energy product described in more detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gaseous fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HCl), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), etc. The production of the first energy product may be achieved using any process described herein. For example, electricity generated by the WEC may be used to produce the energy product.

[0155] In an embodiment, the process (820) may continue to an operation (822) comprising converting a first energy product into a second energy product through one or more processes on the WEC. The conversion of the first energy product into the second energy product may involve converting one type of fuel or chemical into another fuel or chemical. In one embodiment, the first energy product may include hydrogen, and the second energy product may include methanol. An additional precursor (e.g., CO2) may react with the first energy product to produce the second energy product. For example, a process similar to the one described for FIG. 25 may be used in some embodiments. Other conversion processes, such as filtration, compression (e.g., from gas to liquid), purification, etc., may also be used, though not limited to. The conversion may also involve processing biological products. For example, algae may be processed into algae oil, or fish may be processed into fish oil. The conversion process may be implemented on or near the WEC. For example, a processing plant similar to that shown in Fig. 23 can be provided on the WEC.

[0156] In an embodiment, the process (820) may continue with an operation (823) comprising moving a second energy product from the WEC to a transport vessel. The transport vessel may be similar to any vessel described herein. For example, the transport vessel may include a boat, a submersible, an aircraft, or any other vessel capable of controlled movement on, through, and / or over the body of water where the WEC is floating. The second energy product may be transferred or moved to the transport vessel (actively or passively) through any mechanism such as a hose, pipe, cable, etc.

[0157] In an embodiment, the process may continue with an operation (824) comprising delivering the second energy product to a storage facility or power plant by a transport vessel. The storage facility or power plant may be provided at a location different from the approximate location of the WEC. In one embodiment, the location is on land. However, in another embodiment, the location is near land (e.g., up to 100 kilometers from land, up to 40 kilometers from land, up to 1 kilometer from land, up to 500 meters from land, or up to 50 meters from land). In another embodiment, the storage facility may be a second vessel. For example, the first vessel may take the second energy product from the WEC and deliver it to the second vessel. The second vessel may then carry the second energy product toward the shore.

[0158] FIG. 31 is a process flow diagram of a process (830) for converting a first energy product into a second energy product and transporting the second energy product to a storage facility or power plant. In an embodiment, the process (830) may begin with an operation (831) comprising converting wave energy into a first energy product using a WEC comprising a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump. The WEC may be similar to any WEC described in more detail herein. The first energy product may be similar to any energy product described in more detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gaseous fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HCl), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), etc. The production of the first energy product may be achieved using any process described herein. For example, electricity generated by the WEC may be used to produce the energy product.

[0159] In an embodiment, the process (830) may continue with an operation (832) comprising moving a first energy product from the WEC to a transport vessel. The transport vessel may be similar to any vessel described herein. For example, the transport vessel may include a boat, a submersible, an aircraft, or any other vessel capable of controlled movement on, through, or over the waters on which the WEC is floating. The first energy product may be transferred or moved to the transport vessel (actively or passively) through any mechanism such as a hose, pipe, cable, etc.

[0160] In an embodiment, the process (830) may continue to an operation (833) comprising converting a first energy product into a second energy product through one or more processes on a transport vessel. The conversion of the first energy product into a second energy product may involve converting one type of fuel or chemical into another fuel or chemical. In one embodiment, the first energy product may include hydrogen, and the second energy product may include methanol. An additional precursor (e.g., CO2) may react with the first energy product to produce the second energy product. For example, a process similar to the one described for FIG. 25 may be used in some embodiments. Other conversion processes, such as filtration, compression (e.g., from gas to liquid), purification, etc., may also be used, though not limited to. The conversion may also involve processing biological products. For example, algae may be processed into algae oil, or fish may be processed into fish oil. The conversion process may be implemented on or near the transport vessel. For example, a processing plant similar to that shown in FIG. 24 may be provided on a transport vessel.

[0161] In an embodiment, the process (830) may continue with an operation (834) comprising delivering a second energy product to a storage facility or power plant by a transport vessel. The storage facility or power plant may be provided at a location different from the approximate location of the WEC. In one embodiment, the location is on land. However, in another embodiment, the location is near land (e.g., up to 100 kilometers from land, up to 40 kilometers from land, up to 1 kilometer from land, up to 500 meters from land, or up to 50 meters from land). In another embodiment, the storage facility may be a second vessel. For example, a first vessel may take the energy product from the WEC and deliver it to a second vessel. The second vessel may then carry the energy product toward the shore.

[0162] FIG. 32 is a process flowchart of a process (840) using a WEC to power a computing system to generate a digital product (either directly or through the use of an energy product). In an embodiment, the process (840) may begin with an operation (841) that includes converting wave energy into an energy product using a WEC comprising a recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump. The WEC may be similar to any WEC described in more detail herein. The first energy product may be similar to any energy product described in more detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gaseous fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HCl), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), etc. The generation of the first energy product may be achieved using any process described herein. For example, power generated by the WEC may be used to produce the energy product.

[0163] In an embodiment, the process (840) may continue to an operation (842) that includes powering a computer system coupled to the WEC through the conversion of an energy product from an electric furnace. For example, the energy product may be a fuel (e.g., hydrogen) that can be consumed to generate electricity. This may provide a more stable and consistent power supply than relying on the direct conversion of wave energy from the electric furnace to power the computer system. However, in some embodiments, the WEC may power the computer system directly without the need to generate an intervening energy product to store energy for future use.

[0164] In an embodiment, the process (840) may continue to an operation (843) that may include creating a digital product through the use of a computing system. In an embodiment, the digital product may include a blockchain-based coin, a trained ML algorithm, a trained AI algorithm, a software product, a digital token, server capacity, etc. In some embodiments, the digital product may be stored on a non-transient computer-readable medium (e.g., memory, a disk drive, a CD, a DVD, or other storage medium).

[0165] In an embodiment, the process (840) may continue to an operation (844) comprising wirelessly transmitting a digital product to a receiving device outside the WEC. The receiving device may be a second non-transient computer-readable medium provided at a location far from the WEC. For example, the receiving device may be located on or near land (e.g., up to 100 kilometers from land, up to 40 kilometers from land, up to 1 kilometer from land, up to 500 meters from land, or up to 50 meters from land). In an embodiment, the wireless transmission of the digital product may be transmitted via an antenna or other device for connecting to a wireless network. While the wireless transmission of the digital product may be faster, the physical transport of the digital product stored on the non-transient computer-readable medium may also be provided via a vessel, a wired connection, etc.

[0166] Although the foregoing disclosure describes various embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to any specific embodiment or illustration in this specification. Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize modifications and substitutions to this specification, and the scope of the invention includes all such modifications and substitutions. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be interpreted as being limited by the foregoing description except as explicitly stated therein, but rather the scope of the invention is appropriately determined by the appended claims using the ordinary and general meaning of the words used in the claims, which is consistent with but not limited by the description and drawings of this disclosure.

[0167] yes:

[0168] Example 1: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter comprising: an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket; a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket; and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of seawater.

[0169] Example 2: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in Example 1, with a density in the range of 1,100 kilograms per cubic meter to 3,000 kilograms per cubic meter.

[0170] Example 3: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in Example 1 or Example 2, wherein the density is 3,000 kilograms or less per cubic meter.

[0171] Example 4: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in Examples 1 to 3, wherein the density is greater than the density of high-salinity water.

[0172] Example 5: In Examples 1 to 4, the fluid has a viscosity in the range of 1.0 mPa·sec to 500 mPa·sec, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter.

[0173] Example 6: In Examples 1 to 5, the fluid has a viscosity of 500 mPa·sec or less, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter.

[0174] Example 7: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in Examples 1 to 6, wherein the density is at least 1.5 times greater than the density of pure water.

[0175] Example 8: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 7, the fluid comprises a metal oxide suspension.

[0176] Example 9: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 8, the fluid comprises an iron ore suspension.

[0177] Example 10: In Example 9, the buoyancy-type wave energy converter comprising an iron ore suspension comprising an aqueous solution containing hematite (Fe2O3) particles or magnetite (Fe3O4) particles.

[0178] Example 11: In Example 10, the hematite (Fe2O3) particles or magnetite (Fe3O4) particles have an average particle diameter of 30 μm or less, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter.

[0179] Example 12: In Example 9 or Example 10, the iron ore suspension comprises iron ore particles having an average particle diameter of 50 nm to 1,000 nm, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter.

[0180] Example 13: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 12, the fluid comprises a non-metallic oxide suspension.

[0181] Example 14: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 13, the fluid comprises a silica suspension.

[0182] Example 15: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 14, the fluid comprises a metal or non-metal nitride suspension.

[0183] Example 16: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 15, the fluid comprises a metal or non-metal carbide suspension.

[0184] Example 17: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 16, the fluid comprises an aqueous carrier.

[0185] Example 18: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 17, the fluid comprises a non-aqueous carrier.

[0186] Example 19: The buoyancy-type wave energy converter of Examples 1 to 18, further comprising an effluent tube fluidically coupled to an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the effluent tube returns fluid from a first fluid storage tank to a second fluid storage tank.

[0187] Example 20: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to Example 19, further comprising a pressure regulator in the effluent tube between the first fluid storage tank and the second fluid storage tank.

[0188] Example 21: In Example 20, the pressure regulator is a buoyancy-type wave energy converter comprising a fluid or a flow velocity turbine.

[0189] Example 22: In Example 20 or Example 21, the pressure regulator is a buoyancy-type wave energy converter including a filter.

[0190] Example 23: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 19 to 22, the effluent tube comprises an annular portion coaxial with the injection tube.

[0191] Example 24: The buoyancy-type wave energy converter of Examples 19 to 23, further comprising one or more additional effluent tubes coupled to an upper chamber and a lower chamber to return fluid from a first fluid storage tank to a second fluid storage tank.

[0192] Example 25: The buoyancy-type wave energy converter of Examples 1 to 24, further comprising a gas chamber on the upper chamber, wherein the gas chamber is fluidically coupled to the lower chamber by a gas tube.

[0193] Example 26: The buoyancy-type wave energy converter of Example 25, further comprising an effluent gas control valve in a gas tube, wherein the effluent gas control valve controls the flow of gas between a second gas pocket and a gas chamber.

[0194] Example 27: In Examples 1 to 26, the injection tube has a truncated conical contraction portion, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter.

[0195] Example 28: A buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which, in Examples 1 to 27, the injection tube is a cylindrical tube.

[0196] Example 29: A buoyant wave energy converter according to Examples 1 to 28, further comprising a ballast at or below the vertical midpoint of the buoyant wave energy converter.

[0197] Example 30: In Examples 1 to 29, the injection tube extends below the second gas pocket, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter.

[0198] Example 31: A buoyant wave energy converter according to Examples 1 to 30, further comprising a computing system on the platform of the buoyant wave energy converter.

[0199] Example 32: In Example 31, a buoyant wave energy converter, wherein the computing system is configured to have multiple processing systems integrated with one another to perform complex computer processing operations.

[0200] Example 33: In Example 31 or Example 32, a buoyant wave energy converter configured such that the computing system implements one or more of data center hosting, blockchain mining implementation, machine learning (ML) algorithm training, or artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm training.

[0201] Example 34: A method for generating a computational product, comprising the step of capturing energy from waves in a body of water using a buoyancy wave energy converter, wherein the buoyancy wave energy converter comprises an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket, and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of pure water; and the step of using the captured energy to power a computing system coupled to the buoyancy wave energy converter to generate a computational product.

[0202] Example 35: In Example 34, the calculation product is a digital product, method.

[0203] Example 36: In Example 34 or Example 35, the method in which the computational product is generated by executing the computational algorithm.

[0204] Example 37: In Examples 34 to 36, the calculation product is cryptocurrency.

[0205] Example 38: Method in Examples 34 through 37, wherein the computational product is a trained machine learning algorithm.

[0206] Example 39: In Examples 34 to 38, the computing system is on the platform of a buoyant wave energy converter.

[0207] Example 40: The method of Examples 34 to 39, wherein the computing system is configured to have a plurality of processing systems integrated with one another to perform complex computer processing operations.

[0208] Example 41: The method of Examples 34 to 40, wherein the computing system is configured to implement one or more of data center hosting, blockchain mining implementation, machine learning (ML) algorithm training, or artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm training.

[0209] Example 42: A method for generating a chemical substance, comprising the step of capturing energy from waves in a body of water using a buoyancy wave energy converter, wherein the buoyancy wave energy converter comprises an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket, and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels a fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of pure water; and the step of generating a chemical substance using the captured energy.

[0210] Example 43: In Example 42, the chemical is hydrogen gas, method.

[0211] Example 44: In Example 42, the chemical is methanol, method.

[0212] Example 45: Method in which the chemical is HCl in Example 42.

[0213] Example 46: In Example 42, the chemical is a fuel, method.

[0214] Example 47: A method for generating a biological product, comprising the step of capturing energy from waves in a body of water using a buoyancy wave energy converter, wherein the buoyancy wave energy converter comprises an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket, and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of pure water; and the step of generating a biological product using the captured energy.

[0215] Example 48: In Example 47, the biological product is algae, method.

[0216] Example 49: In Example 47, the biological product is a fish, method.

Claims

Claim 1 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter comprising: an upper chamber having a first fluid storage tank and a first gas pocket; a lower chamber having a second fluid storage tank and a second gas pocket; and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels fluid from the second fluid storage tank to the first fluid storage tank when the upper chamber, the lower chamber and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of seawater. Claim 2 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the density is in the range of 1,100 kilograms per cubic meter to 3,000 kilograms per cubic meter. Claim 3 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, having a density of 3,000 kilograms or less per cubic meter. Claim 4 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the density is greater than the density of high-salinity water. Claim 5 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid has a viscosity in the range of 1.0 mPa·sec to 500 mPa·sec. Claim 6 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid has a viscosity of 500 mPa·sec or less. Claim 7 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the density is at least 1.5 times greater than the density of pure water. Claim 8 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a metal oxide suspension. Claim 9 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises an iron ore suspension. Claim 10 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 9, wherein the iron ore suspension comprises an aqueous solution containing hematite (Fe2O3) particles or magnetite (Fe3O4) particles. Claim 11 In claim 10, the hematite (Fe2O3) particles or magnetite (Fe3O4) particles have an average particle diameter of 30 μm or less, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter. Claim 12 In claim 9, the buoyancy-type wave energy converter comprises an iron ore suspension containing iron ore particles having an average particle diameter of 50 nm to 1,000 nm. Claim 13 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a non-metallic oxide suspension. Claim 14 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a silica suspension. Claim 15 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a suspension of metal or non-metal nitride. Claim 16 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a suspension of metal or non-metal carbides. Claim 17 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises an aqueous carrier. Claim 18 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a non-aqueous carrier. Claim 19 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, further comprising an effluent tube fluidically coupled to an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the effluent tube returns fluid from a first fluid storage tank to a second fluid storage tank. Claim 20 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 19, further comprising a pressure regulator in the effluent tube between the first fluid storage tank and the second fluid storage tank. Claim 21 In paragraph 20, the pressure regulator is a buoyancy-type wave energy converter comprising a fluid or flow velocity turbine. Claim 22 In paragraph 20, the pressure regulator is a buoyancy-type wave energy converter including a filter. Claim 23 In paragraph 19, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter in which the effluent tube comprises an annular portion coaxial with the injection tube. Claim 24 A buoyant wave energy converter according to claim 19, further comprising one or more additional effluent tubes coupled to an upper chamber and a lower chamber to return fluid from a first fluid storage tank to a second fluid storage tank. Claim 25 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, further comprising a gas chamber on an upper chamber, wherein the gas chamber is fluidly coupled to a lower chamber by a gas tube. Claim 26 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 25, further comprising an effluent gas control valve in a gas tube, wherein the effluent gas control valve controls the flow of gas between a second gas pocket and a gas chamber. Claim 27 In paragraph 1, the injection tube has a truncated conical contraction portion, a buoyancy-type wave energy converter. Claim 28 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, wherein the injection tube is a cylindrical tube. Claim 29 A buoyancy-type wave energy converter according to claim 1, further comprising ballast at or below the vertical midpoint of the buoyancy-type wave energy converter. Claim 30 In paragraph 1, the injection tube extends below the second gas pocket, forming a buoyancy-type wave energy converter. Claim 31 A buoyant wave energy converter according to claim 1, further comprising a computing system on the platform of the buoyant wave energy converter. Claim 32 In paragraph 31, a buoyant wave energy converter, wherein the computing system is configured to have a plurality of processing systems integrated with one another to perform complex computer processing operations. Claim 33 In paragraph 31, a buoyant wave energy converter configured to implement one or more of data center hosting, blockchain mining implementation, machine learning (ML) algorithm training, or artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm training. Claim 34 A method for generating a computational product, comprising the step of capturing energy from waves in a body of water using a buoyancy wave energy converter, wherein the buoyancy wave energy converter comprises an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket, and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of pure water; and the step of generating a computational product by using the captured energy to power a computing system coupled to the buoyancy wave energy converter. Claim 35 In paragraph 34, the method, wherein the calculation product is a digital product. Claim 36 In paragraph 34, the method, wherein the computational product is generated by executing a computational algorithm. Claim 37 In paragraph 34, the calculation product is a cryptocurrency, a method. Claim 38 In paragraph 34, the method, wherein the computational product is a trained machine learning algorithm. Claim 39 In paragraph 34, the computing system is on the platform of a buoyant wave energy converter. Claim 40 In paragraph 34, the computing system is configured to have a plurality of processing systems integrated with one another to perform complex computer processing operations. Claim 41 In paragraph 34, a method wherein the computing system is configured to implement one or more of data center hosting, blockchain mining implementation, machine learning (ML) algorithm training, or artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm training. Claim 42 A method for generating a chemical substance, comprising the step of capturing energy from waves in a body of water using a buoyancy wave energy converter, wherein the buoyancy wave energy converter comprises an upper chamber having a first fluid storage tank and a first gas pocket, a lower chamber having a second fluid storage tank and a second gas pocket, and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels a fluid from the second fluid storage tank to the first fluid storage tank when the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of pure water; and the step of generating a chemical substance using the captured energy. Claim 43 In paragraph 42, the chemical substance is hydrogen gas, method. Claim 44 In paragraph 42, the chemical substance is methanol, method. Claim 45 In paragraph 42, the chemical substance is HCl, method. Claim 46 In paragraph 42, the chemical substance is a fuel, method. Claim 47 A method for generating a biological product, comprising the step of capturing energy from waves in a body of water using a buoyancy wave energy converter, wherein the buoyancy wave energy converter comprises an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket, and an injection tube between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, wherein the injection tube propels fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the injection tube vibrate around the waterline while the upper chamber is adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber is submerged below the waterline, and the fluid has a density greater than the density of pure water; and the step of generating a biological product using the captured energy. Claim 48 In paragraph 47, the biological product is algae, method. Claim 49 In paragraph 47, the biological product is a fish, method.

Images