Inertial Hydrodynamic Pump And Wave Engine

Abstract

A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The hydrodynamic pump addresses the problem of efficiently capturing and amplifying energy from long‑period waves to deliver liquid to an elevated and / or pressurised reservoir using minimal moving parts. The hydrodynamic pump comprises an upper hull enclosure adapted to float at a surface of a body of liquid and a liquid collecting chamber at least partially housed within the upper hull enclosure. The liquid collecting chamber is adapted to confine liquid and gas at elevated pressure. The hydrodynamic pump also comprises a liquid pressurizing columnar conduit extending below the upper hull enclosure, the liquid pressurizing columnar conduit comprising an ingress orifice disposed outside the upper hull enclosure, an injection orifice opening into the liquid collecting chamber, and an interior wall defining a liquid pressurizing surface adapted to pressurize liquid in the liquid pressurizing columnar conduit when the hydrodynamic pump oscillates vertically in the body of liquid to inject liquid into the liquid collecting chamber. The hydrodynamic pump further comprises a first effluent conduit configured to drain liquid from the liquid collecting chamber and has an external effluent port for discharging liquid from the first effluent conduit. The hydrodynamic pump also comprises a first flow governor adapted to maintain a liquid pressure gradient between the liquid collecting chamber and the external effluent port.

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