Planetary protection buoy

Abstract

An embodiment may include a system with a pressure vessel, and a heating jacket coupled to the pressure vessel. In an embodiment, the heating jacket comprises a heating element. In an embodiment, the system may also include a steam injector with a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. In an embodiment, the system may further include a first fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the first inlet of the steam injector, and a second fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the outlet of the steam injector. In an embodiment, the system may further include a nozzle assembly, where the nozzle assembly includes a nozzle configured to eject a fluid from the system, and a third fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the nozzle assembly where the third fluidic path is configured to provide the fluid to the nozzle assembly.

Description

[0001] PLANETARY PROTECTION BUOY

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 634,367, filed on

[0004] April 15, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] The continued increase in the generation of greenhouse gasses (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, etc.) has led to growing concerns related to anthropogenic climate change.

[0007] Particularly, the increase in average global temperature may result in potentially disastrous effects to existing environmental conditions that are conducive to life on the planet. In addition to reducing reliance on energy sources that contribute to greenhouse gas generation, various environmental modifications have been proposed to limit the effects of greenhouse gasses on the environment.

[0008] One proposed solution is a process called marine cloud-brightening (MCB). MCB relies on the generation of clouds in ocean environments. An increase in cloud coverage (particularly white stratocumulus clouds) can increase the Earth’s albedo. That is, more light from the Sun will be reflected back into space. This reduces the thermal energy from the Sun that is provided to the Earth, and may be a process that can mitigate temperature increases. MCB techniques include vaporizing sea water to provide salt crystals in the atmosphere that are used to seed clouds.

[0009] For at least the above-mentioned reasons, there exists a need for over the ocean systems with renewable power generation and self-propulsion in order to deploy MCB systems throughout the Earth’s oceans.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Disclosed is a wave energy conversion (WEC) device that comprises an integrated marine cloud-brightening (MCB) system. The WEC device may oscillate in response to waves at a surface of a body of water. As will be described in greater detail herein, the oscillation of the WEC device can be translated into the generation of electrical power. The electrical power of the WEC device can be used to operate the MCB system. In an embodiment, a pressure vessel of the MCB system may be heated (to generate steam and high temperature fluid) with any suitable heating element. For example, an electric heating element may be provided within a jacket that surrounds at least a portion of the pressure vessel. The jacket may be filled with a non-corrosive fluid, such as, but not limited to oil or deionized water. The electric heating element may be powered by energy generated by the WEC device.

[0012] In some embodiments, the MCB system is solid state system. For example, a steam injector is used to supply fluid into the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel may store a combination of seawater and steam. The use of a solid state solution for liquid supply to the MCB system provides a more robust solution that requires less maintenance and allows for a longer lifespan of the MCB system. This is beneficial since the WEC device can be deployed within a body of water (e.g., an ocean, a sea, etc.) and requires minimal contact with supply ships, maintenance personnel, and / or the like. The combination of low maintenance with renewable power generation can allow for the WEC device to operate in a very cost efficient manner. In one embodiment, the pressure vessel may be fluidly coupled to a nozzle assembly. For example, a first pipe may couple a lower portion of the pressure vessel to the nozzle assembly to supply heated fluid to the nozzle assembly, and a second pipe may couple an upper portion of the pressure vessel to the nozzle assembly to supply steam to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly may include a passage suitable for mixing the heated fluid and the steam before being ejected from one or more nozzles (e.g., effervescent nozzles). Upon exiting the effervescent nozzles, the water evaporates leaving salt particles that lead to nucleation of clouds (e.g., stratocumulus clouds) suitable for MCB.

[0013] In another embodiment, the pressure vessel may be fluidly coupled to the nozzle assembly by a single pipe. The single pipe is coupled to the lower portion of the pressure vessel to supply heated fluid to the nozzle assembly. The pressure of the heated fluid and the nozzles can be designed to initiate rapid conversion to steam outside of the nozzle. The steam allows for release of the salt particles that can lead to nucleation of clouds (e.g., stratocumulus clouds) suitable for MCB.

[0014] In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly may include a steam-stack. The steam-stack may be a vertical extension of the nozzle assembly that increases the altitude that the salt particles are emitted from. Such a steam-stack configuration may improve the efficiency of seeding clouds with the MCB system. The steam-stack may also benefit embodiments that are deployed in environments with more extreme weather conditions that give rise to larger waves that may otherwise result in the release of salt particles at low altitudes.

[0015] Embodiments disclosed herein also benefit from cost effective propulsion mechanisms. Efficient propulsion allows for the WEC device to travel across larger areas of the body of water in order to seed clouds for more effective MCB processes. In some embodiments, the WEC device may include a self-propulsion mechanism. The self-propulsion mechanism may utilize structural features that leverage the vertical displacement of the WEC device within the body of water (as a result of passing waves) in order to be propelled without the need for an active propulsion system that consumes electrical power. In one embodiment, a propulsive shroud is coupled to the WEC device in order to enable passive propulsion. Other embodiments may include effluent jets of fluid that exit the WEC device due to pressure within an upper chamber of the WEC device. Passive propulsion methods and systems may be used to direct the WEC device to desired locations through the use of controllable rudders, flaps, and / or the like. Tn other embodiments, active propulsion (e.g., thrusters, propellers, etc.) may be used as an alternative solution and / or in addition to the use of passive propulsion. Power for active propulsion systems may be sourced from electrical power generated by the WEC device.

[0016] Embodiments disclosed herein may include WEC devices with the sole purpose of implementing MCB processes. Other embodiments may include WEC devices that are used to generate one or more energy products while also implementing MCB processes. Such embodiments may offset some or all of the costs associated with providing MCB processes and / or for offsetting some or all of the environmental impact in producing WEC devices. Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein provide persistent ocean systems for enabling efficient MCB processes. Solid-state heating, pressurizations, and / or fluid uptake for an MCB system allows for exceedingly low maintenance that enables long maintenance intervals. This is in sharp contrast to existing MCB solutions that include high-pressure pumps and compressors, and which have maintenance intervals of several thousand hours at best.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a solid-state effervescent system, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a solid-state effervescent system, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of a steam injector, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional illustration of an effervescent nozzle, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a wave energy conversion (WEC) device with a marine cloud-brightening (MCB) system, in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a side view of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a side view of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a side view of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a side view of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 10 is a top-down view of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a bottom-up view of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of a WEC device with an MCB system, in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 13 is a side view of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 14 is a side view of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 15 is a side view of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 16 is a side view of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 17 is a top-down view of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 18 is a bottom-up view of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of WEC device with an MCB system and a propulsive shroud for self-propulsion, in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 20 is a side view of the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 21 is a side view of the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 22 is a side view of the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 23 is a side view of the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG. 24 is a top-down view of the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 25 is a bottom-up view of the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG. 26 is a side perspective view of a WEC device with an MCB system with an upper chamber with an injection tube, in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 27 is a side view of the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 28 is a side view of the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 29 is a side view of the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] FIG. 30 is a side view of the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] FIG. 31 is a top-down view of the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0046] FIG. 32 is a bottom-up view of the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 33 is a side perspective view of a WEC device with an MCB system and an effluent pipe and a rudder, in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 34 is a side view of the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 35 is a side view of the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 36 is a side view of the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 37 is a side view of the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 38 is a top-down view of the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 39 is a bottom-up view of the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0053] FIG. 40 is a side perspective view of a WEC device with an MCB system that includes a steam-stack structure, in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0054] FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view of a WEC device with an MCB system, in accordance with an eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0055] FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view of a WEC device with an MCB system that is used to generate a gas energy product, in accordance with a twelfth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of a WEC device with an MCB system that is used to generate biological energy products, in accordance with a thirteenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a system for offloading energy products from WEC device, in accordance with a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional schematic view for energy flow from a WEC device to shore, in accordance with a fifteenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0059] FIG. 46 is a side perspective view of a WEC device with an MCB system and an onboard chemical processing facility, in accordance with a sixteenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0060] FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a vessel for converting an energy product, in accordance with a seventeenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0061] FIG. 48 is a schematic illustration of a chemical conversion process, in accordance with an eighteenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0062] FIG. 49 is a side perspective view of a WEC device with an MCB system and a digital processing system for generating digital goods, in accordance with a nineteenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0063] FIG. 50 is a side perspective view of a portion of the nineteenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 51 is a side perspective view of a portion of the nineteenth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0065] FIG. 52 is a process flow diagram of a twentieth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0066] FIG. 53 is a process flow diagram of a twenty-first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0067] FIG. 54 is a process flow diagram of a twenty-second embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0068] FIG. 55 is a process flow diagram of a twenty-third embodiment of the present disclosure DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0069] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The following figures, and the illustrations offered therein, in no way constitute limitations, either explicit or implicit, on the scope of the current disclosure. Various embodiments or aspects of the disclosure are described herein. In some implementations, the different embodiments are practiced separately. However, embodiments are not limited to embodiments being practiced in isolation. For example, two or more different embodiments can be combined together in order to be practiced as a single device, process, structure, or the like. The entirety of various embodiments can be combined together in some instances. In other instances, portions of a first embodiment can be combined with portions of one or more different embodiments. For example, a portion of a first embodiment can be combined with a portion of a second embodiment, or a portion of a first embodiment can be combined with a portion of a second embodiment and a portion of a third embodiment.

[0070] The embodiments illustrated and discussed in relation to the figures included herein are provided for the purpose of explaining some of the basic principles of the disclosure. However, the scope of this disclosure covers all related, potential, and / or possible, embodiments, even those differing from the idealized and / or illustrative examples presented. This disclosure covers even those embodiments which incorporate and / or utilize modern, future, and / or as of the time of this writing unknown, components, devices, systems, etc., as replacements for the functionally equivalent, analogous, and / or similar, components, devices, systems, etc., used in the embodiments illustrated and / or discussed herein for the purpose of explanation, illustration, and example.

[0071] The scope of this disclosure includes embodiments possessing, incorporating, including, and / or utilizing, any number of marine cloud-brightening (MCB) systems. In an embodiment, the MCB system may be a solid state system to produce salt particles suitable for seeding clouds (e.g., stratocumulus clouds). The MCB system may include a pressure vessel for storing a fluid with particles and / or solutes suitable for seeding clouds (e.g., seawater, brine, or the like). The fluid within the pressure vessel may be pressurized by steam that is also provided within the pressure vessel. A heating element may be used to heat the fluid to form the steam within the pressure vessel. The heating element may be within a jacket that at least partially surrounds the pressure vessel. Heat transfer between the jacket and the fluid may be improved by providing a fluid within the jacket, such as a non-corrosive fluid (e.g., oil, deionized water, etc.). In an embodiment, the fluid within the pressure vessel is supplied through the use of a steam injector. The steam injector allows for resupplying the pressure vessel without the need for pumps. That is, a solid-state solution for steam generation and fluid resupply is provided. This allows for a significant reduction in complexity and extends the maintenance intervals. The pressure vessel may be fluidly coupled to a nozzle assembly that comprises one or more effervescent nozzles. In one embodiment, a first pipe fluidly couples heated fluid to the nozzle assembly, and a second pipe fluidly couples steam to the nozzle assembly. Tn another embodiment, a first pipe fluidly couples heated fluid to the nozzle assembly.

[0072] In one embodiment, the MCB system is powered by a renewable energy source. For example, wave power, wind power, or solar power may be used in order to power the heating element of the MCB system. In some embodiments, the MCB system may be coupled to a device that is capable of propulsion. The propulsion may include passive propulsion (i.e. , without the need to use energy generated and / or stored by the device), or the propulsion may include active propulsion (i.e., with the use of energy generated and / or stored by the device). The device may be provided in a body of water (e.g., an ocean or a sea) or on land.

[0073] In a particular embodiment, the MCB system is coupled to a wave energy converter (WEC) device. The WEC device may float at a surface of a body of water. Waves passing along the surface of the body of water may induce vertical displacement of the WEC device that results in the injection of fluid into an upper chamber of the WEC device. Pressure within the upper chamber may force water out through an effluent pipe with an energy generation device, such as a turbine. Energy generation devices disclosed herein may include, but are not limited to: fluid and / or hydrokinetic turbines of any and all types, any and all diameters, any and all efficiencies, any and all power ratings, and made of any and all materials; magnetohydrodynamic generators of any and all types, any and all diameters, any and all efficiencies, any and all power ratings, and made of any and all materials; hydraulic pumps, accumulators, and / or generators, of any and all types, any and all diameters, any and all efficiencies, any and all power ratings, and made of any and all materials; pendulum mechanisms, and / or mechanisms possessing, incorporating, including, and / or utilizing, unbalanced and / or off-axis weights, of any and all types, any and all diameters, any and all efficiencies, any and all power ratings, and made of any and all materials; electrical generators and / or alternators of any and all types, any and all diameters, any and all efficiencies, any and all power ratings, and made of any and all materials; and / or energy conversion mechanisms, systems, and / or apparatuses, of any and all types, any and all diameters, any and all efficiencies, any and all power ratings, and made of any and all materials.

[0074] The scope of this disclosure includes embodiments possessing, incorporating, including, and / or utilizing, any number of fluid chambers, and fluid chambers of any design, size, shape, volume, relative and / or absolute position within an embodiment. The scope of this disclosure includes embodiments possessing, incorporating, including, and / or utilizing, fluid chambers made of any and all materials.

[0075] A portion of many embodiments of the present disclosure include, incorporate, and / or utilize, at least one buoyant portion, buoy, vessel, and / or module. These buoyant portions may be referred to as hollow flotation modules, buoys, buoyant capsules, buoyant chambers, buoyant compartments, buoyant enclosures, buoyant vessels, chambers, hollow balls, and / or hollow spheroids. Many terms, names, descriptors, and / or labels, could adequately distinguish an embodiment’s buoyant portion from among its other components, features, and / or elements, and the scope of the present disclosure incorporates any naming convention and / or choice, and is not limited by the nomenclature used to describe an embodiment or its parts.

[0076] Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of an MCB system 100 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. The MCB system 100 may comprise a pressure vessel 112. The pressure vessel 112 may be coupled to a heating jacket 113. The combination of the pressure vessel 112 and the heating jacket 113 may sometimes be referred to as a boiler. In an embodiment, the heating jacket 113 may at least partially surround a portion of the pressure vessel 112. For example, the heating jacket 113 may be a cylindrical shell that is fitted around at least a portion of a length of the pressure vessel 112. The heating jacket 113 may also comprise a cylindrical shell with a bottom cap to cover at least a portion of a length of the pressure vessel 112 and a top or bottom of the pressure vessel 112. The heating jacket 113 may include, but is not limited to, a plain jacket, a half-pipe coil jacket, a dimple jacket, and / or the like.

[0077] In an embodiment, the pressure vessel 112 may comprise a corrosion resistant material suitable for exposure to marine environments. For example, the pressure vessel 112 may comprise corrosion resistant metallic alloy or carbon steel materials with corrosion inhibiting linings (e.g., high-temperature epoxies, ceramic, glass, etc.). The pressure vessel 112 may be manufacture to withstand pressures up to approximately 20 bar, up to approximately 100 bar, or up to approximately 500 bar. Though, higher pressure solutions may also be used in some embodiments. In an embodiment, the pressure vessel 112 may have a volume suitable to provide a sufficient supply of steam 115 and heated fluid 116 to a nozzle assembly 105 for MCB processes while balancing considerations related to heating the chosen volume of water. Suitable pressure vessel 112 volumes may be up to approximately 0.25 m3, up to approximately 0.5 m3, or up to approximately 1.0 m3. Though, larger volumes may also be used in some embodiments. In an embodiment, a drain line 119 may be provided at a bottom of the pressure vessel 112. The drain line 119 may be closed by a cap 130 or valve. The drain line 119 may be used to periodically purge the pressure vessel 112 for cleaning, maintenance, and / or the like.

[0078] In an embodiment, the heating jacket 113 may comprise a heater 114. The heater 114 may be a resistive heater or any other suitable heating element. The heater 114 may be powered by a power source (not shown) that is coupled to the MCB system 100. For example, the power source may comprise a battery that is charged by a renewable power source, or the heater 114 may be directly coupled to a renewable power source. Renewable power sources may generate power through the conversion of one or more of wind energy, solar energy, wave energy, etc. into electrical power. In an embodiment, the heater 114 may allow for the heating of the fluid 116 to temperatures of approximately 100°C or more or approximately 300°C or more. System power for operating the heater 114 and any other electrical components may be up to approximately 20 kW or up to 300 kW. Though, higher system power levels may also be used to operate the MCB system 100 in some embodiments.

[0079] In an embodiment, fluid 116 may comprise water with particles and / or solutes suitable for seeding clouds (e.g., seawater, brine, or the like). In a particular embodiment, the solute may comprise sodium chloride or any other suitable salt. The fluid 116 may be supplied to the pressure vessel 112 through a steam injector 125 loop. The steam injector 125 loop may include an outlet 135 at an upper portion of the pressure vessel 112. A pipe 117 may allow for steam 115 within the pressure vessel 112 to flow 118 into a steam input 136 of the steam injector 125. A valve 120 may be provided along the pipe 117 to control the flow of steam 115. A fluid input 138 may be coupled to a pipe 126 with an opening 137 that is within a body of fluid 142 (e.g., within the sea or ocean). The passage of steam 115 through the steam injector 125 results in the flow 127 of fluid 142 into the steam injector 125. Fluid 116 and steam 115 flow 129 out an output 139 of the steam injector 125 to an inlet 140 of the pressure vessel 112 along pipe 128. In an embodiment, the pressure vessel 112 is fluidically coupled to a nozzle assembly 105. The nozzle assembly 105 may comprise any number of nozzles (not shown in FIG. 1). In an embodiment, the nozzles may be effervescent nozzles. The nozzles may emit a mixture of fluid 116 and steam 115 out of the nozzle assembly 105, and the mixture vaporizes to produce particles 102 once exiting the nozzle assembly 105. The particles 102 are propelled into the atmosphere where the particles 102 may initiate cloud seeding for MCB processes. Depending on a combination of one or more of the pressure, the temperature, and / or the nozzle design, the size of the particles can be controlled to provide optimal conditions for seeding clouds. For example, the particles 102 may have average diameters of less than approximately 500 pm, less than approximately 100 pm, less than approximately 10 pm, less than approximately 500 nm, less than approximately 100 nm, or less than approximately 50 nm. Though, larger average diameters may also be used for the particles 102. In an embodiment, the fluid 116 is fluidically coupled to the nozzle assembly 105 through a pipe 109 that starts at an outlet 131 proximate to a lower region of the pressure vessel 112 (e.g., below a steam 115 and fluid 116 boundary 141). A valve 110 may be provided along the pipe 109 in order to control a flow 111 of fluid 116 to an inlet 132 of the nozzle assembly 105. In an embodiment, the steam 115 is fluidically coupled to the nozzle assembly 105 through a pipe 106 that starts at an outlet 133 proximate to an upper region of the pressure vessel 1 12 (e.g., above the steam 115 and fluid 116 boundary 141). A valve 108 may be provided along the pipe 106 in order to control a flow 107 of steam 115 to an inlet 134 of the nozzle assembly 105.

[0080] As used herein, “fluidically coupled”, “fluidly coupled”, or similar terms may refer to two components that are configured to allow for the transfer of one or more fluids (e.g., gas and / or liquid) between the two components. For example, a first chamber may be fluidically coupled to a second chamber, when a gas from the first chamber is capable of flowing (either actively (e.g., through pumping) or passively (e.g., through pressure differentials)) from the first chamber to the second chamber and / or from the second chamber to the first chamber. Fluidically coupled components may be directly connected to each other. That is, there may not be any intervening components between the first component and the second component. In other instances, one or more additional intervening components (e.g., pipes, valves, chambers, reactors, etc.) may be provided between the first component and the second component so long as the one or more fluids are capable of being transferred between the first chamber and the second chamber along a path that includes the one or more intervening components. Additionally, while “components” may be fluidically coupled with each other, the concept of fluidic coupling is not limited to structures such as chambers, containers, and the like. That is, a first volume of a liquid or gas may be fluidically coupled to a second volume of a liquid or gas even if one or both of the first volume and the second volume are not confined by any specific structure. For example, the pipe 126 may be considered as being fluidically coupled to a generally unconfined volume (i.e., the body of fluid 142 surrounding at least a portion of the MCB system 100) through the opening 137 of the pipe 126.

[0081] As described above, the MCB system 100 may comprise various pipes in order to provide fluidic coupling between components. The pipes may be sized with appropriate diameters, thicknesses, and / or the like in order to move the fluid 116, steam 115, and / or the like throughout the MCB system 100. In some embodiments, the pipes may be materials chosen for corrosion resistance. For example, corrosion resistant alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, and / or the like may be used for the various pipes in the MCB system 100. In some embodiments, an interior surface of one or more of the pipes may comprise a coating, such as a gold surface coating.

[0082] In an embodiment, one or more components of the MCB system 100 may be controlled by a computer system or other control system (not shown). For example, the amount of power delivered to the heater 114, the positioning of one or more of the valves, and / or the like may be controlled by the control system. This allows for the MCB system 100 to be optimized to provide the most efficient MCB processes. For example, the MCB system 100 may be stopped when environmental conditions include extensive cloud coverage already in order to conserve energy. The controller may also modify pressures and temperatures to alter particle 102 ejection characteristics depending on various external conditions.

[0083] Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic illustration of an MCB system 101 is shown, in accordance with an additional embodiment. The MCB system 101 in FIG. 2 is similar to the MCB system 100 in FIG. 1, with the exception of the fluidic coupling to the nozzle assembly 105. Instead of fluidically coupling both the fluid 116 and the steam 115 to the nozzle assembly 105, only the fluid 116 is fluidically coupled to the nozzle assembly 105. Removing the steam 115 input to the nozzle assembly 105 may simplify the design of the nozzle assembly 105. Additionally, the associated piping and valves for steam 115 coupling to the nozzle assembly 105 are omitted. This reduces costs and can improve reliability due to simplifying the MCB system 101 compared to the MCB system 100.

[0084] In some embodiments, the MCB system 101 may provide similar emission of particles 102 by transforming the fluid 116 into a supercritical fluid by increasing the temperature and / or pressure of the fluid 116. When emitted from the nozzle assembly 105, the supercritical fluid may rapidly (e.g., nearly instantaneously) vaporize to produce the particles 102 (e.g., salt particles) that are propelled into the atmosphere. The nozzle assembly 105 of MCB system 101 may generally have nozzle opening diameters that are smaller than the nozzle opening diameters of the nozzle assembly 105 of MCB system 100. For example, the MCB system 101 of FIG. 2 may have nozzle opening diameters from approximately 50 pm up to approximately 200 pm, whereas the MCB system 100 of FIG. 1 may have nozzle opening diameters from approximately 50 pm up to approximately 1,000 pm or more.

[0085] Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional illustration of a steam injector 125 that may be used in an MCB system 100 or 101 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. The steam injector 125 is one example of a suitable steam injector 125. Other steam injector 125 architectures may also be used in some instances. Generally, the steam injector 125 uses the steam 115 from the pressure vessel 112 to create a pressure differential across an opening for fluidly coupling a fluid 116 to the steam injector 125. The pressure differential entrains the fluid 116 in a jet of the steam 115. The entrained fluid 116 and the steam 115 can then be delivered to the high pressure environment of the pressure vessel 112. That is, the steam injector 125 may allow for a fluid 116 at a pressure below the pressure within the pressure vessel 112 to be added into the pressure vessel 112. Further, this process is done without pumps (i.e., in a solid state configuration) in order to decrease complexity and improve MCB system 100 or 101 reliability.

[0086] In an embodiment, the steam injector 125 may have a housing 150. An inlet to the housing 150 allows for the flow 118 of steam 115 into the steam injector 125. The steam 115 is propelled through a first cone 151. The first cone 151 may be a frustoconical cone that initiates a Venturi effect to lower a pressure of the steam 115 across an opening for a fluid 116. The low pressure draws in the fluid 116, and the fluid 116 may be entrained in the steam 115 as the combination passes through a second cone 152. The second cone 152 may also be frustoconical with a wide end of the second cone 152 facing the narrow end of the first cone 151. An overflow path may be provided to allow any overflow fluid 116 or steam 115 to exit the steam injector 125. In an embodiment, the fluid 116 and steam 115 may pass through a third cone 153. The third cone 153 may be a diverging outlet with a narrow end facing the second cone 152. The diverging configuration of the third cone 153 increases pressure and allows for fluid 154 to slow and condense into a high pressure liquid for delivery 129 into the pressure vessel 112. In an embodiment, a valve 155 may be used to control the flow of fluid 154 to the pressure vessel 112. Referring now to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional illustration of a portion of a nozzle assembly 105 that may be used in an MCB system 100 or 101 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. It is to be appreciated that many different nozzle designs and architectures may be used in order to implement MCB processes, such as those described herein. That is, nozzle assemblies are not limited in any way to structures, descriptions, and / or the like used to describe nozzle assembly 105 in FIG. 4.

[0087] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 105 includes a housing 161. The housing 161 may include a metallic corrosion resistant material, a ceramic material, or any other material suitable for containing the flow of high pressure fluids. In an embodiment, the housing 161 may have a first passage 163 for receiving a flow 107 of steam 115 from the pressure vessel 112 (not shown in FIG. 4). The housing 161 may further comprise a second passage 162 for receiving a flow 111 of fluid 116 from the pressure vessel 112 (not shown in FIG. 4). A nozzle assembly 105 similar to the one shown in FIG. 4 may be used in combination with MCB system 100 in FIG. 1. A similar nozzle assembly 105 that omits the first passage 163 may be used in combination with MCB system 101 in FIG. 2.

[0088] In an embodiment, the fluid 116 is injected into the flow 107 of steam 115 at an injector 164. The injector 164 may allow for high pressure injection of the fluid 116 in order to mix the steam 115 and the fluid 116 within a mixing chamber 165. The mixture 168 may then be provided to an ejection nozzle 166. In an embodiment, the injector 164 may be oriented in order to swirl the fluid 116 to improve mixing. For example, the injector 164 may be oriented so that the fluid 116 is injected tangentially to the flow 107 of steam 115.

[0089] In an embodiment, the ejection nozzle 166 may have a constricting portion that increases pressure of the mixture 168 before it is ejected 167 out of the nozzle assembly 105. In some embodiments, the ejection nozzle 166 may be an effervescent nozzle. The ejected mixture 168 may rapidly (e.g., nearly instantaneously) evaporate when exposed to the lower pressure outside of the nozzle assembly 105. The evaporation leaves behind particles 102 (e.g., salt crystals, other solutes, and / or particles from the fluid 116) that continue into the atmosphere. The particles 102 may be tuned to provide efficient cloud seeding to implement MCB processes.

[0090] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 105 may comprise any materials, coatings, and / or the like in order to provide long durations of reliable operation without maintenance. For example, first passage 163 and second passage 162 may be include linings or coatings (e.g., gold linings). The ejection nozzle 166 may comprise diamond (e.g., a diamond tipped ejection nozzle 166). In an embodiment, the ejection nozzle 166 may have an opening diameter that is suitable for providing a desired average diameter of ejected particles 102. For example, opening diameters of the ejection nozzle 166 may be up to approximately 50 pm, up to approximately 100 pm, up to approximately 200 pm, up to approximately 500 pm, or up to approximately 1,000 pm. Though, other embodiments may include larger opening diameters for the ejection nozzle 166.

[0091] Referring now to FIG. 5 a side perspective view of a WEC device 200 with an integrated MCB system 210 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the WEC device 200 floats adjacent to an upper surface 201 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment comprises an upper buoyant enclosure 205 (which may also be referred to as an upper chamber 205) and a lower buoyant enclosure 209 (which may also be referred to as a lower chamber 209). The upper chamber 205 may be coupled to the lower chamber 209 by a tube 208. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube 208 has a substantially uniform diameter. Though, in other embodiments, the tube 208 may have a constricted portion towards an upper end of the tube 208. In an embodiment, the upper chamber 205 and the lower chamber 209 are spherical in nature. Though, it is to be appreciated that one or both of the upper chamber 205 and the lower chamber 209 may be any three-dimensional structure. One or both of the upper chamber 205 and the lower chamber 209 may be at least partially filled with a ballast (e.g., water, cement, or any other suitable mass) in order to orient the WEC device 200 in the body of water so that the upper chamber 205 is at the upper surface 201 of the body of water and the lower chamber 209 is below the upper surface 201 of the body of water.

[0092] In some embodiments, the WEC device 200 may include an upper chamber 205 and a lower chamber 209 with diameters that are approximately 20 meters or smaller, approximately, 10 meters or smaller, or approximately 1 .0 meter or smaller. Though, larger diameters may also be used. A length of the tube 208 may be approximately 100 meters or less, approximately 50 meters or less, approximately 20 meters or less, or approximately 1 meter or less. Though, larger lengths may also be used in some embodiments. More generally, a length of the tube 208 may be related to a diameter of either of the upper chamber 205 or lower chamber 209 by a ratio of (tube length:chamber diameter) that is 0.5 : 1 or greater, 1 : 1 or greater, 2: 1 or greater, 5 : 1 or greater, or 10: 1 or greater. Though, smaller ratios may also be used in some embodiments.

[0093] In an embodiment, the MCB system 210 may be coupled to the WEC device 200. The MCB system 210 may be similar to the MCB system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, a pressure vessel 211 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 212. A pipe 215 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 211 to a steam injector 213. The steam injector 213 allows for the flow 204 of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 214 of the steam injector 213. Pipe 216 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 211 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 211.

[0094] In an embodiment, pipe 217 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 211 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 206, and pipe 218 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 211 in order to supply steam to the nozzle assembly 206. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 211 is below the surface 201 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 211 at any location on the WEC device 200. For example, the pressure vessel 211 may be provided on the upper chamber 205 above the surface 201 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 5, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 210 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 200 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0095] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 206 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 205. The nozzle assembly 206 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 207. For example, the nozzle assembly 206 may comprise one or more nozzles 207, ten or more nozzles 207, 100 or more nozzles 207, or 1,000 or more nozzles 207. The nozzles 207 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 206 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0096] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 200 and MCB system 210 that is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0097] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 200 and MCB system 210 that is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0098] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 200 and MCB system 210 that is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7.

[0099] FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 200 and MCB system 210 that is illustrated in FIGS. 5-8.

[0100] FIG. 10 illustrates a top-down view of the WEC device 200 and MCB system 210 that is illustrated in FIGS. 5-9.

[0101] FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom-up view of the WEC device 200 and MCB system 210 that is illustrated in FIGS. 5-10.

[0102] Referring now to FIG. 12 a side perspective view of a WEC device 220 with an integrated MCB system 230 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the WEC device 220 floats adjacent to an upper surface 221 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment comprises an upper chamber 225 and a lower chamber 229. The upper chamber 225 may be coupled to the lower chamber 229 by a tube 228. The WEC device 220 may be similar to the WEC device 200 described above with respect to FIG. 5.

[0103] In an embodiment, the MCB system 230 may be coupled to the WEC device 220. The MCB system 230 may be similar to the MCB system 101 described above with respect to FIG. 2. For example, a pressure vessel 231 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 232. A pipe 235 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 231 to a steam injector 233. The steam injector 233 allows for the flow 224 of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 234 of the steam injector 233. Pipe 236 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 231 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 231.

[0104] In an embodiment, pipe 237 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 231 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 226. In contrast to the MCB system 210 in FIG. 5, only a liquid fluid is supplied to the nozzle assembly 226 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 231 is below the surface 221 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 231 at any location on the WEC device 220. For example, the pressure vessel 231 may be provided on the upper chamber 225 above the surface 221 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 12, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 230 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 220 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0105] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 226 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 225. The nozzle assembly 226 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 227. For example, the nozzle assembly 226 may comprise one or more nozzles 227, ten or more nozzles 227, 100 or more nozzles 227, or 1,000 or more nozzles 227. The nozzles 227 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 226 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0106] FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 220 and MCB system 230 that is illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0107] FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 220 and MCB system 230 that is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0108] FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 220 and MCB system 230 that is illustrated in FIGS. 12-14.

[0109] FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 220 and MCB system 230 that is illustrated in FIGS. 12-15.

[0110] FIG. 17 illustrates a top-down view of the WEC device 220 and MCB system 230 that is illustrated in FIGS. 12-16.

[0111] FIG. 18 illustrates a bottom-up view of the WEC device 220 and MCB system 230 that is illustrated in FIGS. 12-17.

[0112] Referring now to FIG. 19 a side perspective view of a WEC device 250 with an integrated MCB system 260 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the WEC device 250 floats adjacent to an upper surface 251 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment comprises an upper chamber 255 and a lower chamber 259. The upper chamber 255 may be coupled to the lower chamber 259 by a tube 258. The WEC device 250 may be similar to the WEC device 200 described above with respect to FIG. 5.

[0113] In an embodiment, the WEC device 250 may comprise a semi-cylindrical propulsive shroud

[0114] 270 that is attached to a “forward” side of the upper chamber 255 and lower chamber 259.

[0115] The propulsive shroud 270 is configured to enable passive propulsion in a forward direction 252 through the body of water. A radius of curvature of the semi-cylindrical propulsive shroud 270 may be approximately equal to the radii of the upper chamber 255 and the lower chamber 259.

[0116] The propulsive shroud is attached to the upper chamber 255 at, and / or along, an upper seam

[0117] 271 oriented horizontally, and / or within a plane normal to a longitudinal axis through a center of the WEC device 250. The propulsive shroud is attached to the lower chamber 259 at, and / or along, a lower seam 272 oriented horizontally, and / or within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis through the center of the WEC device 250. The propulsive shroud 270 may be considered as being directly attached to the upper chamber 255 and / or the lower chamber 259. For example, the propulsive shroud 270 may directly contact the surfaces of the upper chamber 255 and / or the surfaces of the lower chamber 259. Directly attached may also refer to the propulsive shroud 270 being welded or otherwise adhered to the upper chamber 255 and / or the lower chamber 259. That is, upper seam 271 and lower seam 272 may comprise welded material, an adhesive layer, or the like.

[0118] The semi-cylindrical propulsive shroud 270 of the WEC device 250 is approximately radially symmetrical about, and coaxial with, the longitudinal axis through the center of the WEC device 250. The angular extent of the semi-cylindrical propulsive shroud 270 about the longitudinal axis is approximately 180 degrees. Thus, the propulsive shroud 270 of the WEC device 250 is substantially a “half -pipe”. Though, it is to be appreciated that the propulsive shroud 270 may have any angular extent about the longitudinal axis. Further, while described and illustrated as a “half-pipe” structure, it is to be appreciated that the propulsive shroud 270 may have any suitable shape, structure, and / or design configured to provide a passive propulsive effect to the WEC device 250. For example, the propulsive shroud 270 may be curved so that an interior surface (that faces the tube 258) of the propulsive shroud 270 has a non-uniform spacing from the tube 258 through a height of the propulsive shroud 270. The propulsive shroud 270 may also comprise cutouts or the like.

[0119] When the WEC device 250 and the attached propulsive shroud 270 interact with a wave passing at and / or along the surface 251 of the body of water, a portion of the motive energy within the wave is redirected so as to create a propulsive force that tends to propel the WEC device 250 in a “forward” direction. The “forward” direction may include a direction that is generally against the primary direction of motion of the wave passing at and / or along the surface 251 of the body of water. That is, the “forward” direction may be described as being upstream of the primary wave direction and / or as being against the current. Without being tied to a particular theory of operation, it is understood that propulsive shroud 270 of the WEC device 250 (and other embodiments described herein) operate through one or more different propulsion mechanisms. For example a single propulsion mechanism may dominate or be entirely responsible for motion of the WEC device 250, or multiple different propulsion mechanisms may combine to provide motion of the WEC device 250.

[0120] One such propulsion mechanism may be described as being related to differential drag along the propulsive shroud 270. Non-uniformities in drag through the water along different surfaces of the propulsive shroud 270 may result in an overall force that pulls and / or pushes the propulsive shroud 270 upstream. Another potential propulsion mechanism may include a collision force that is applied along an interior surface of the propulsive shroud 270 as the WEC device 250 moves up and down in the body of water in response to the wave motion. Yet another potential propulsion mechanism may include a jetting process where one or more focused jets of water located proximate to a bottom of the upper chamber 255 and a top of the lower chamber 259 are expelled from the WEC device 250 away from the propulsive shroud 270 during oscillation of the WEC device 250 in the body of water. Another propulsion mechanism for the WEC device 250 may include the generation of a net momentum flux in the forward direction 252 as a result of different flows of water into and out of the region between the upper chamber 255 and the lower chamber 259 due to oscillation of the WEC device 250.

[0121] In an embodiment, the MCB system 260 may be coupled to the WEC device 250. The MCB system 260 may be similar to the MCB system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, a pressure vessel 261 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 262. A pipe 265 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 261 to a steam injector 263. The steam injector 263 allows for the flow of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 264 of the steam injector 263. Pipe 266 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 261 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 261.

[0122] In an embodiment, pipe 267 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 261 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 256, and pipe 268 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 261 in order to supply steam to the nozzle assembly 256. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 261 is below the surface 251 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 261 at any location on the WEC device 250. For example, the pressure vessel 261 may be provided on the upper chamber 255 above the surface 251 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 19, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 260 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 250 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0123] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 256 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 255. The nozzle assembly 256 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 257. For example, the nozzle assembly 256 may comprise one or more nozzles 257, ten or more nozzles 257, 100 or more nozzles 257, or 1,000 or more nozzles 257. The nozzles 257 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 256 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0124] FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 250 and MCB system 260 that is illustrated in FIG. 19. FIG. 21 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 250 and MCB system 260 that is illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20.

[0125] FIG. 22 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 250 and MCB system 260 that is illustrated in FIGS. 19-21.

[0126] FIG. 23 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 250 and MCB system 260 that is illustrated in FIGS. 19-22.

[0127] FIG. 24 illustrates a top-down view of the WEC device 250 and MCB system 260 that is illustrated in FIGS. 19-23.

[0128] FIG. 25 illustrates a bottom-up view of the WEC device 250 and MCB system 260 that is illustrated in FIGS. 19-24.

[0129] Referring now to FIG. 26 a side perspective view of a WEC device 280 with an integrated MCB system 290 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the WEC device 280 floats adjacent to an upper surface 281 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment comprises an upper chamber 285 that is coupled to a tube 288. The tube 288 may be a hollow tube 288 with a mouth 299 that is fluidly coupled to the body of water on which the WEC device 280 floats. The tube 288 may have a constricted portion 289 where a diameter of the tube 288 is reduced towards the upper chamber 285. In an embodiment, the tube 288 passes through a wall of the upper chamber 285 in order to allow for water within the tube 288 to be periodically injected into an interior volume of the upper chamber 285.

[0130] During oscillation (i.e., rising and falling) of the WEC device 280 in response to waves passing over the surface 281 of the body of water, water in the tube 288 may be injected into the upper chamber 285. Pressure within an interior of the upper chamber 285 that drives water (or other fluid) through a turbine (not shown in FIG. 26) or the like. The turbine can be coupled to a generator (not shown in FIG. 26) that converts rotational energy into electrical power. In some embodiments, the electrical power may be used to generate an energy product (e.g., hydrogen gas generation through an electrolysis process) or to charge batteries (not shown in FIG. 26). The electrical power generated by the WEC device 280 may be used to operate the MCB system 290. In an embodiment, the MCB system 290 may be coupled to the WEC device 280. The MCB system 290 may be similar to the MCB system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, a pressure vessel 291 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 292. A pipe 295 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 291 to a steam injector 293. The steam injector 293 allows for the flow of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 294 of the steam injector 293. Pipe 296 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 291 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 291.

[0131] In an embodiment, pipe 297 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 291 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 286, and pipe 298 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 291 in order to supply steam to the nozzle assembly 286. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 291 is below the surface 281 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 291 at any location on the WEC device 280. For example, the pressure vessel 291 may be provided on the upper chamber 285 above the surface 281 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 26, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 290 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 280 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0132] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 286 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 285. The nozzle assembly 286 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 287. For example, the nozzle assembly 286 may comprise one or more nozzles 287, ten or more nozzles 287, 100 or more nozzles 287, or 1,000 or more nozzles 287. The nozzles 287 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 286 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0133] FIG. 27 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 280 and MCB system 290 that is illustrated in FIG. 26.

[0134] FIG. 28 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 280 and MCB system 290 that is illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27.

[0135] FIG. 29 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 280 and MCB system 290 that is illustrated in FIGS. 26-28.

[0136] FIG. 30 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 280 and MCB system 290 that is illustrated in FIGS. 26-29.

[0137] FIG. 31 illustrates a top-down view of the WEC device 280 and MCB system 290 that is illustrated in FIGS. 26-30.

[0138] FIG. 32 illustrates a bottom-up view of the WEC device 280 and MCB system 290 that is illustrated in FIGS. 26-31. As shown, the tube 288 has an opening so that the constricted portion 289 is visible. The constricted portion 289 may be fluidically coupled to an interior volume of the upper chamber 285.

[0139] Referring now to FIG. 33 is a side perspective view of a WEC device 310 with an integrated MCB system 320 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the WEC device 310 floats adjacent to an upper surface 311 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment comprises an upper chamber 315 that is coupled to a tube 318. The tube 318 may be a hollow tube 318 with a mouth 329 that is fluidly coupled to the body of water on which the WEC device 310 floats. The tube 318 may have a constricted portion 319 where a diameter of the tube 318 is reduced towards the upper chamber 315. In an embodiment, the tube 318 passes through a wall of the upper chamber 315 in order to allow for water within the tube 318 to be periodically injected into an interior volume of the upper chamber 315.

[0140] The WEC device 310 may operate similar to WEC device 280 in order to generate electrical power. In some embodiments, a turbine (not shown) may be provided along an effluent pipe 330 that extends out from the upper chamber 315. In an embodiment, as water flows 331 out through the effluent pipe 330 (as a result of pressure differentials between an interior of the upper chamber 315 and the body of water), the turbine is activated. Additionally, the flow 331 of water out of the effluent pipe 330 provides a propulsive effect on the WEC device 310. As such, the WEC device 310 can be moved about the body of water. Further, embodiments disclosed herein may also comprise one or more directional control features 334 in order to direct the propulsion of the WEC device 310. For example, the directional control feature 334 in FIG. 33 is a rudder that is coupled to the tube 318. In an embodiment, the directional control feature 334 may also be coupled to the upper chamber 315 or any other location on the WEC device 310 within the body of water.

[0141] In an embodiment, the MCB system 320 may be coupled to the WEC device 310. The MCB system 320 may be similar to the MCB system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, a pressure vessel 321 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 322. A pipe 325 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 321 to a steam injector 323. The steam injector 323 allows for the flow of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 324 of the steam injector 323. Pipe 326 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 321 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 321.

[0142] In an embodiment, pipe 327 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 321 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 316, and pipe 328 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 321 in order to supply steam to the nozzle assembly 316. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 321 is below the surface 311 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 321 at any location on the WEC device 310. For example, the pressure vessel 321 may be provided on the upper chamber 315 above the surface 311 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 33, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 320 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 310 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0143] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 316 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 315. The nozzle assembly 316 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 317. For example, the nozzle assembly 316 may comprise one or more nozzles 317, ten or more nozzles 317, 100 or more nozzles 317, or 1,000 or more nozzles 317. The nozzles 317 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 316 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0144] FIG. 34 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 310 and MCB system 320 that is illustrated in FIG. 33.

[0145] FIG. 35 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 310 and MCB system 320 that is illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 34.

[0146] FIG. 36 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 310 and MCB system 320 that is illustrated in FIGS. 33-35.

[0147] FIG. 37 illustrates a side view of the WEC device 310 and MCB system 320 that is illustrated in FIGS. 33-36.

[0148] FIG. 38 illustrates a top-down view of the WEC device 310 and MCB system 320 that is illustrated in FIGS. 33-37.

[0149] FIG. 39 illustrates a bottom-up view of the WEC device 310 and MCB system 320 that is illustrated in FIGS. 33-38. As shown, the tube 318 has an opening so that the constricted portion 319 is visible. The constricted portion 319 may be fluidically coupled to an interior volume of the upper chamber 315.

[0150] Referring now to FIG. 40 is a side perspective view of a WEC device 340 with an integrated MCB system 350 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the WEC device 340 floats adjacent to an upper surface 341 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment comprises an upper chamber 345 that is coupled to a tube 348. The tube 348 may be a hollow tube 348 with a mouth 359 that is fluidly coupled to the body of water on which the WEC device 340 floats. The tube 348 may have a constricted portion 349 where a diameter of the tube 348 is reduced towards the upper chamber 345. In an embodiment, the tube 348 passes through a wall of the upper chamber 345 in order to allow for water within the tube 348 to be periodically injected into an interior volume of the upper chamber 345 as the WEC device 340 oscillates at the surface 341 of the body of water as waves pass by the WEC device 340. The WEC device 340 may operate similar to WEC device 310 in order to generate electrical power and / or provide a propulsive force as water flows 361 out through the effluent pipe 360. The WEC device 340 may also comprise one or more directional control features 364, such as a rudder.

[0151] In an embodiment, the MCB system 350 may be coupled to the WEC device 340. The MCB system 350 may be similar to the MCB system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, a pressure vessel 351 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 352. A pipe 355 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 351 to a steam injector 353. The steam injector 353 allows for the flow of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 354 of the steam injector 353. Pipe 356 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 351 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 351.

[0152] In an embodiment, pipe 357 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 351 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 346, and pipe 358 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 351 in order to supply steam to the nozzle assembly 346. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 351 is below the surface 341 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 351 at any location on the WEC device 340. For example, the pressure vessel 351 may be provided on the upper chamber 345 above the surface 341 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 40, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 350 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 340 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0153] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 346 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 345. The nozzle assembly 346 may have an extended height compared to other embodiments described herein. For example, the nozzle assembly 346 may be referred to as being a steam-stack nozzle assembly 346. The additional height of the nozzle assembly 346 may allow for the particles to be ejected higher into the atmosphere. This may improve cloud seeding efficiency. In some embodiments, the steam-stack nozzle assembly 346 may have a height above the upper chamber 345 that is up to approximately 1.0 meter or higher, up to approximately 5.0 meters or higher, or up to approximately 10.0 meters or higher. The nozzle assembly 346 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 347. For example, the nozzle assembly 346 may comprise one or more nozzles 347, ten or more nozzles 347, 100 or more nozzles 347, or 1,000 or more nozzles 347. The nozzles 347 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 346 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0154] Referring now to FIG. 41, a sectional side-view illustration of a WEC device 370 with an integrated MCB system 380 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the WEC device 370 floats adjacent to an upper surface 371 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The embodiment comprises an upper chamber 375 that is coupled to a tube 378. The tube 378 may be a hollow tube 378 with a mouth 389 that is fluidly coupled to the body of water on which the WEC device 370 floats. The tube 378 may have a constricted portion 379 where a diameter of the tube 378 is reduced towards the upper chamber 375. In an embodiment, the tube 378 passes through a wall of the upper chamber 375 in order to allow for water within the tube 378 to be periodically injected 402 into an interior volume of the upper chamber 375 as the WEC device 370 oscillates at the surface 371 of the body of water as waves pass by the WEC device 370. For example, water 406 may flow 408 into and out of the tube through the mouth 389. As the level 407 of water 406 within the tube 378 oscillates (as indicated by the double arrow 409), the level 407 may pass above an upper opening of the tube 378. In this condition, the water 406 is ejected 402 and fills a reservoir 403 to a level 405 within an interior volume 401 of the upper chamber 375. Pressure within the interior volume 401 may force water from the reservoir 403 to flow 404 into the effluent tube 390. The water passes through an energy generation device 393 (e.g., a turbine or the like) before flowing 391 into the body of water around the WEC device 370. In an embodiment, the water flowing 391 out of the effluent tube 390 may propel the WEC device 370 through the body of water. The WEC device 370 may also comprise one or more directional control features 394, such as a rudder, in order to provide controlled displacement of the WEC device 370 across the surface 371 of the body of water.

[0155] In an embodiment, the MCB system 380 may be coupled to the WEC device 370. The MCB system 380 may be similar to the MCB system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1 or the MCB system 101 described above with respect to FIG. 2. For example, a pressure vessel 381 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 382. In an embodiment, a heater 396 may be provided in and / or on the heating jacket 382. The heater 396 may be powered by the energy generation device 393 (either directly or through a battery charged by the energy generation device 393). The heater 396 may be used in order to heat a fluid 395 within the pressure vessel 381. At least a portion of the heated fluid 395 may be converted into steam 397 that occupies a portion of the pressure vessel 381.

[0156] In an embodiment, a pipe 385 may provide steam 397 from the pressure vessel 381 to a steam injector 383. The steam injector 383 allows for the fluid from the body of water around the WEC device 370 to flow into an inlet 384 of the steam injector 383. Pipe 386 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 381 in order to resupply fluid 395 to the pressure vessel 381.

[0157] In an embodiment, pipe 388 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 381 in order to supply steam 397 to the nozzle assembly 376. A pipe (behind pipe 388 in FIG. 41 and not visible) may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 381 in order to supply liquid fluid 395 to the nozzle assembly 376. Though, in some embodiments, pipe 388 for supplying steam 397 to the nozzle assembly 376 may be omitted. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 381 is below the surface 371 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 381 at any location on the WEC device 370. For example, the pressure vessel 381 may be provided on the upper chamber 375 above the surface 371 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 41, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 380 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 370 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0158] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 376 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 375. The nozzle assembly 376 may include one or more main channels 398 to distribute fluid 395 and / or steam to a plurality of nozzles 377, and a plurality of branch channels 399 to deliver the fluid 395 and / or steam from the main channels 398 to individual nozzles 377. The nozzle assembly 376 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 377. For example, the nozzle assembly 376 may comprise one or more nozzles 377, ten or more nozzles 377, 100 or more nozzles 377, or 1,000 or more nozzles 377. The nozzles 377 and associated piping / channels within the nozzle assembly 376 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Particles 400 may be ejected out of the nozzles 377 in order to seed clouds to implement MCB processes.

[0159] As can be appreciated, the renewable energy generation (e.g., wave energy generation) allows for a persistent energy source in order to power the heater 396 of the MCB system 380. The ability to propel the WEC device 370 through the body of water also allows for MCB processes to traverse large regions of the ocean surface in order to provide cloud seeding in desired locations in order to maximize the effect of cloud generation. Further, since the MCB system 380 is solid state (e.g., there are no pumps or compressors in the MCB system 380) the WEC device 370 can be deployed for long durations without maintenance or other monitoring.

[0160] It is to be appreciated that the benefits provided by the inclusion of MCB systems with a WEC devices can lead to more efficient MCB processes. However, embodiments disclosed herein may also include the generation of one or more energy products during the execution of MCB processes. This provides an effective way to offset some or all of the associated costs related to implementing MCB processes as a public good. As used herein, energy products may include, but are not limited to, fuels (e.g., hydrogen and / or carbon containing fuels), chemicals (e.g., HC1), biological species, digital goods and / or services, and the like. In some instances, “chemicals” may be used to refer to energy products that are fuels (e.g., hydrogen gas) and / or non-fuel chemistries (e.g., HC1). Since the WEC device may be located at sea, the energy products may be transported back to land for consumption, use, storage, or the like. Examples of energy product generation at the WEC device and transport schemes or processes are described with respect to FIGS. 42 - 55.

[0161] FIG. 42 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a WEC device 410 with an MCB system 420, in accordance with an embodiment. The WEC device 410 floats adjacent to an upper surface 411 of a body of water over which waves pass. The WEC device 410 may include a buoyant chamber 415 with an interior volume 441. The interior volume 441 may be partially filled with water 443. Gasses (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, air, or the like) may fill additional portions of the interior volume 441. Internal structures may also be provided within the buoyant chamber 415. For example, baffles, walls, sub-chambers, doors, or the like may be provided within the chamber 415. The internal structures may be used to control flow or movement of water 443 within the chamber 415, provide housing for different gas species, or the like.

[0162] The chamber 415 may be axially symmetric in some instances. For example, in FIG. 42, the chamber 415 is a spherical segment with a substantially horizontal top surface. In other instances, the chamber 415 may be a spherical cap, or any other type of axially symmetric shape. Though, the chamber 415 may be non-axially symmetric in other instances. For example, the chamber 415 may have a keel or hull shape similar to that of a floating vessel (e.g., a boat or ship). Openings, ports, or the like may also be provided through the walls of the chamber 415 in order to access materials and / or substances within the chamber 415, to provide control of pressure within the chamber 415, and / or the like.

[0163] A tube 418 may be coupled to the chamber 415. The tube 418 may have an open bottom that is in fluid communication with the water surrounding the WEC device 410. The tube 418 may pass through a wall of the chamber 415 and pass into the interior volume 441. An opening at the top of the tube 418 is fluidically coupled to the interior volume 441 of the chamber 415. The tube 418 may have a constant diameter through its length. In other instances, the tube 418 may have a non-uniform diameter through its length. For example, the tube 418 may have a constricted portion 419 towards the top of the tube 418 where the diameter is reduced. The tube 418 may be cylindrical or have any other shaped cross-section.

[0164] As shown, water 446 may reside in the tube 418 with a free surface 447. As indicated by the double arrow 449 across the free surface 447, the level of the free surface 447 oscillates up and down in response to oscillation of the WEC device 410. Oscillation is driven by interaction with waves that pass along the surface 411 of the body of water. The confined water 446 within the tube 418 may acquire momentum during oscillation of the WEC device 410. At some points in time, the free surface 447 rises above the top opening of the tube 418 and is expelled (as indicated by arrows 442) into the interior volume 441 of the chamber 415. The water from the tube 418 maintains a level 445 of water 443 within the chamber 415.

[0165] In order to generate energy, water 443 from the interior of the chamber 415 is expelled 444 out a pipe 430. As water 443 passes through the pipe, an energy generation device 433 is engaged. The energy generation device 433 may comprise a hydropower turbine, such as a reaction turbine (e.g., a propeller turbine, a bulb turbine, a straflo turbine, a tube turbine, a Kaplan turbine, a Francis turbine, or a kinetic turbine) or an impulse turbine (e.g., a Pelton turbine, or a cross-flow turbine). In some instances, a single turbine is used for the energy generation device 433, and in other instances, multiple turbines arranged in series are used for the energy generation device 433. While a single energy generation device 433 is shown in the WEC device 410, embodiments may include a plurality of energy generation devices 433. The energy generation device 433 may be coupled to an electrical generator (not shown). The energy generation device provides rotational energy which is converted into electrical energy by the electrical generator. The electrical energy may be stored (e.g., in a battery) or consumed for one or more purposes, which will be described in greater detail herein. While an electrical generator is one option, other generator types may also be used. For example, generators described herein may include any generator, alternator, other mechanism, device, and / or component that converts energy from one form into another. In some instances, one or more of the energy generation systems may be replaced with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, which generates electricity directly from a flow of liquid without the need for connection with a turbine and associated rotating shaft. That is, a combination of a turbine connected to a generator by a shaft can be replaced, in some instances and with an appropriate choice of working fluid, with a MHD generator.

[0166] As noted above, WEC device 410 may generate significant amounts of energy that can be stored or used in a constructive manner. In some instances, energy generated from WEC device 410 may be stored in a battery. The battery may provide an accessible energy source in order to run one or more electrical components integrated into the WEC device 410. Alternatively (or in addition), WEC device 410 may provide a material conversion process in order to “store” energy in a more transportable form. For example, energy generated by WEC device 410 can be stored in the form of an energy product, such as those described in greater detail herein.

[0167] In the case of the energy product being hydrogen gas, an electrolyzer 451 may be provided on the WEC device 410. The electrolyzer 451 may be fluidly coupled to a water source, such as water 452 within a chamber 450. Water 452 may be deionized, filtered, distilled, and / or otherwise purified. Water 452 may be provided to the WEC device 410 as a precursor material by opening a lid 455 or port to supply the water 452 (e.g., with a supply ship (not shown)). Energy generated by the WEC device 410 may be consumed by the electrolyzer 451 to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen gas may be stored in the internal volume 453 of the chamber 450, or any other confined space associated with the WEC device 410. The oxygen gas may be vented to atmosphere. After hydrogen gas is produced, the gas may be collected (i.e., removed or offloaded from the WEC device 410) periodically be an external vessel, ship, air-ship, submersible, drone, or any other vehicle.

[0168] In an embodiment, energy generated by the energy generation device 433 may also be used to power an MCB system 420. The MCB system 420 may be similar to any of those described in greater detail herein. In an embodiment, a pressure vessel 421 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 422. In an embodiment, a heater 436 may be provided in and / or on the heating jacket 422. The heater 436 may be powered by the energy generation device 433 (e.g., directly, through a battery charged by the energy generation device 433, or through the conversion of energy product back into electrical energy). The heater 436 may be used in order to heat a fluid 435 within the pressure vessel 421. At least a portion of the heated fluid 435 may be converted into steam 437 that occupies a portion of the pressure vessel 421.

[0169] In an embodiment, a pipe 425 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 421 to a steam injector 423. The steam injector 423 allows for the fluid from the body of water around the WEC device 410 to flow into an inlet 424 of the steam injector 423. Pipe 426 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 421 in order to resupply fluid 435 to the pressure vessel 421.

[0170] In an embodiment, pipe 428 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 421 in order to supply steam 437 to the nozzle assembly 416. A pipe (behind pipe 428 in FIG. 42 and not visible) may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 421 in order to supply liquid fluid 435 to the nozzle assembly 416. Though, in some embodiments, pipe 428 for supplying steam 437 to the nozzle assembly 416 may be omitted. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 421 is below the surface 411 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 421 at any location on the WEC device 410. For example, the pressure vessel 421 may be provided on the upper chamber 415 above the surface 411 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 42, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 420 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 410 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0171] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 416 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 415. The nozzle assembly 416 may include one or more main channels 438 to distribute fluid 435 and / or steam to a plurality of nozzles 417, and a plurality of branch channels 439 to deliver the fluid 435 and / or steam from the main channels 438 to individual nozzles 417. The nozzle assembly 416 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 417. For example, the nozzle assembly 416 may comprise one or more nozzles 417, ten or more nozzles 417, 100 or more nozzles 417, or 1,000 or more nozzles 417. The nozzles 417 and associated piping / channels within the nozzle assembly 416 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Particles 440 may be ejected out of the nozzles 417 in order to seed clouds to implement MCB processes.

[0172] WEC device 410 may be an autonomous device with the ability to move and / or navigate in a controlled manner about the body of water. Propulsion of the WEC device 410 may be driven through one or more different mechanisms. In one instance, the expelled water 431 out of the pipe 430 provides a propulsive force that can move the WEC device 410. Other embodiments may include a propulsive shroud (not shown) similar to the ones described with respect to FIG. 19. The WEC device 410 can be steered through control of the force of the expelled water 431 and / or the direction of the expelled water 431. In some instances, one or more rudders 434 can be coupled to the WEC device 410 in order to provide directional control, rotational control, and / or the like.

[0173] In some embodiments, propulsion of the WEC device 410 may be provided through one or more active propulsion devices. For example, propellers or the like may be used in some instances. Energy to drive the active propulsion devices may be obtained through the energy generation of the WEC device 410, or from batteries that were charged through the waveenergy generation of the WEC device 410. In other instances, hydrogen or other gasses generated on the WEC device 410 can be consumed (e.g., through the use of a fuel cell) in order to power active propulsion devices.

[0174] The WEC device 410 may include one or more electrical components or systems (not shown). For example, a computing system, a positioning system, and / or a communications system may be provided on the WEC device 410. The computing system may provide one or more processors and associated hardware and / or software that enables control of the WEC device 410. For example, the computing system may control power generation, such as by controlling flow rates of water to the energy generation device 433. The computing system may also control execution of MCB processes in order to initiate cloud seeding with the MCB system 420. The positioning system may include a GPS, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other suitable navigational system. The positioning system may control propulsion and steering systems in order to navigate the WEC device 410. The communications system may include an antenna, a receiver, and associated circuitry, hardware, and / or software. The communications system may provide a communication link to external systems, other waver-energy generation systems, or the like. The systems described on the WEC device 410 are exemplary in nature, and it is to be appreciated that many different systems, control apparatuses, and / or the like may be provided on the WEC device 410.

[0175] As will be described in greater detail below, the energy products produced by the WEC device 410 may be subsequently delivered to shore (or near shore) for use, storage, or the like. The energy product may be transported to shore through one or more vessels. In some instances, the energy product is transported to shore without further modification. For example, a hydrogen gas may be generated by the WEC device 410, and the hydrogen gas is transported to shore. In other instances, the energy product may be used to generate a different energy product. For example, the energy product may be a precursor that is used in the generation of an alternative energy product (e.g., an energy product that has a higher energy density). In one example, a hydrogen energy product may be converted into methanol or ammonia through a chemical reaction with one or more other precursor gasses. This additional conversion may occur at the WEC device 410 or during transport of the energy product to shore.

[0176] FIG. 43 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the WEC device 460 with an MCB system 470, in accordance with an embodiment. The WEC device 460 may be similar to the WEC device 410 described above, with the exception of the energy product that is being generated or produced by the WEC device 460. For example, WEC device 460 may include a buoyant chamber 465 coupled to an injection tube 468 / 469. Water 496 within the tube 468 / 469 oscillates so that the surface 498 raises and lowers within the tube 468 / 469. In some instances water 496 may flow out 492 of the tube 468 / 469 into the interior 491 of the chamber 465 in order to fill water 493 in the chamber 465. Water 493 in the chamber 465 can flow 494 through energy generation device 483 and be expelled 481 from the WEC device 460 in order to generate energy.

[0177] However, instead of producing a gas as an energy product (or only gas), the WEC device 460 may produce a biological product. The biological product may comprise one or more of marine algae (e.g., micro-alae and / or macro-algae), seaweed, other marine plants, fish, krill, or other marine organisms. More specifically, electrical power generated through the operation of an energy generation device 483 can be used to power lights 502, lamps, thermal devices (e.g., heaters), and / or the like. For example, lights 502 may be light emitting diode (LED) lights or any other suitable source for generating electromagnetic radiation 503. The electromagnetic radiation 503 can be consumed by the biological product within the WEC device 460 in order to induce growth of the biological product.

[0178] As shown in FIG. 43, the lights 502 may be arranged, attached, or otherwise coupled to interior surfaces of the chamber 465. Additionally, lights 502 may be provided along sidewalls of the injection tube 468 / 469. While shown as being coupled directly to interior wall surfaces, other embodiments may comprise suspending lights 502 within an interior volume of the chamber 465. The lights 502 in FIG. 43 are all shown as being submerged in water 493 or 496. Though, in other embodiments, lights 502 may be provided above the surface 495 of the water 493 within the chamber 465. In one instance, designed to promote the growth of biological products (e.g., algae and / or other marine based plant life), an approximately circular net 501 spans, and / or is adjacent to, an approximately flow-normal and / or horizontal cross-section of the water reservoir, adjacent to the surface 495 of the water 493. Net 501 entrains the biological product within the lower portion of the water 493 thereby tending to reduce, if not prevent, the outflow and / or loss of that macroalgae through the energy generation device 483. In other embodiments, other structures (e.g. a sieve, catchment, mesh, or grating) are positioned in the path of water flow to the energy generation device 483 in order to prevent outflow or loss of biological products. Periodically, biological products may be removed from the water 493 by a ship, platform, or other vessel. A ship may insert a suction tube into and through an access tube 505. Once inserted into and through access tube 505, an inserted suction tube can be positioned near the bottom of the embodiment’s reservoir of water 493 and suck out a portion of the biological product therein. A complementary access tube (not shown), and / or a complementary channel within a single access suction tube 505, can return water to the reservoir while biological products, are being removed from the reservoir of water 493, thereby maintaining and / or preserving the original level of the water 493 in the reservoir.

[0179] The access tube 505 allows algae, water, nutrients, and / or other materials, to be added to, and / or withdrawn from, the reservoir of water 493 when that reservoir is otherwise sealed inside the chamber 465. Because the access tube is open to the atmosphere at its upper mouth 507, and open to the water and biological product in the water 493 at its lower mouth 506, water 493 from the reservoir is free to rise up within the algae access tube 505. Because of the pressure of the air trapped within the air pocket of the interior 491 of the chamber 465, and the corresponding pressure of the water 493, the surface of the water within the access tube 505 tends to rise to a height above the surface 495 of the water 493 within the reservoir whose head pressure approximately corresponds to the pressure of the air within hollow chamber 465.

[0180] In addition to growing biological products, especially macroalgae, within the water 493 reservoir inside the hollow chamber 465, biological products, especially macroalgae, may be grown inside the embodiment's injection tube 468. An upper barrier net 508 spanning an upper portion, and / or at an upper position, of the injection tube 468 prevents at least a portion of the algae within the injection tube 468 from too closely approaching the upper constricted portion 469 of the injection tube 468 which, if not prevented, could potentially clog the injection tube 468 at that location.

[0181] Macroalgae or other biological products are grown within a net enclosure and / or containment bag 511 that forms a porous bag entraining most, if not all, of the biological products. An upper end of the algae containment bag 511 is pulled upward by a float 509, tending to position the upper end of the bag proximate to the lower side of the barrier net 508. The biological product within the containment bag 511 are encouraged to grow through the embodiment’s provision of light 503 emitted by lamps 502 positioned along the interior wall and / or surface of the injection tube 468.

[0182] A lower end of the containment bag 51 1 is pulled downward by a weight 513 connected to the bag by a tether, chain, rope, linkage, and / or cable 512. Also connected to the weight 513, and therethrough to the containment bag 511, is a tether, chain, rope, linkage, and / or cable 514 an upper end of which is connected to a float 515 that tends to float at the surface 461 of the body of water on which the WEC device 460 floats.

[0183] Periodically, biological products may be removed from the WEC device’s 400 injection tube 468 by a ship or other vessel. A ship may attach a secondary cable to cable 514 and then lower a secondary weight to increase the total weight tending to pull the algae containment bag 511 down and out of the injection tube 468. After the containment bag 511 has been pulled down and become free of the injection tube 468, the containment bag 511 may be pulled up by the secondary cable and therewith lifted onto and / or into the ship where its biological products may be harvested. The same containment bag 511 that was removed may be reinserted into the injection tube 468 using the same second cable, using an underwater autonomous vehicle, and / or using another method, mechanism, and / or system. If the same containment bag 511 is reinserted into the embodiment's inertial water tube 468, it will tend to be so reinserted after most, but not all, of its entrained biological product has been harvested and / or removed. By leaving a portion of the biological product in the containment bag 511, the residual biological product can grow and give rise to another harvest. If a “new” second containment bag 511 is inserted into the embodiment's injection tube 468 to replace the removed containment bag 511, then it is advantageous to first “seed” that containment bag 511 with biologic stock so that a new crop of a preferred species of algae can be grown. The scope of the present disclosure includes a complementary ship to periodically harvest the biological products grown within the embodiment, as well as the facilities on a shore, floating platform, and / or other ship where the harvested algae are processed and / or stored, as well as a method for harvesting biological products wherein: a wave energy converter of a type herein disclosed is deployed on a body of water; electrical energy produced by said wave energy converter operating in waves is used to power LEDs, or other lamps, or other sources of light emissions, that are mounted on, within, inside, or outside, of said wave energy converter, and / or LEDs, or other lamps, or other sources of light emissions, that are suspended from walls, surfaces, and / or structural members, within, inside, or outside, of said wave energy converted; biological products are permitted to grow in an enclosure, cavity, or vicinity of said wave energy converter using light from said lamps as a source of metabolic energy; said biological products (or products or byproducts produced therefrom, e.g. algal oil, fish oil, etc.) is transferred to a ship or other floating vessel; said ship or floating vessel transfers said biological products (or products or byproducts produced therefrom, e.g. algal oil, fish oil, etc.) to a shore facility for processing and / or storage.

[0184] The aquaculture configuration embodiment illustrated in FIG. 43 may also include fish within either or both of the water 493 reservoir and / or the algal containment bag 511. If one or more species of fish that are able to eat and / or consume the type(s) of algae being grown within the embodiment are selected and included within the respective growth areas prior to each growth cycle, then a portion of those fish may be harvested along with whatever algae remains uneaten. The scope of the present disclosure includes a method for harvesting fish wherein: a wave energy converter of a type herein disclosed is deployed on a body of water; electrical energy produced by said wave energy converter is used to power LEDs, or other lamps, or other sources of light emissions, that are mounted on, within, inside, or outside, of said wave energy converter, as well as LEDs, or other lamps, or other sources of light emissions, that are suspended from walls, surfaces, and / or structural members, within, inside, or outside, of said wave energy converter; algae are permitted to grow in an enclosure, cavity, or vicinity of said wave energy converter using light from said lamps as a source of metabolic energy; fish or other marine organisms are permitted to grow in an enclosure, cavity, or vicinity of said wave energy converter, feeding, at least in part, on said algae as a source of metabolic energy; said fish or other marine organisms are transferred to a ship or other floating vessel; said ship or floating vessel transfers said fish and / or other marine organisms (or products or byproducts produced therefrom, e.g. fish meal or fish oil) to a shore facility for processing and / or storage. The scope of the present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the growth and / or harvesting of any and every kind of microalgae, macroalgae, fish, crustacean, or the like. Fish that do not eat the varieties of algae grown may nonetheless receive nutrition, e.g. plankton and phytoplankton, from the water that is regularly introduced to the reservoir of water 493 and injection tube 468 as a result of wave action. In addition to introducing potentially nutrient-rich water from outside the embodiment into the water 493 reservoir and injection tube 468 as a result of wave action, the embodiment also tends to remove waste-containing and / or nutrient-depleted, water from the water 493 reservoir and injection tube 468 as a result of the same water cycle (i.e. water enters tube 468, and therefrom enters the water 493 reservoir, and thereafter flows out of the water reservoir through the energy generation device 483. The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments utilizing water reservoir lamps and / or inertial water tube lamps emitting light of any single wavelength, any range of wavelengths, and / or any combinations of wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths.

[0185] The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments in which lamps are attached to the inner surface of the upper portion of the hollow chamber 465, i.e. within the air pocket interior 491 . The scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments in which lamps are attached to the outer surfaces of the hollow chamber 465 and / or injection tube 468 thereby encouraging biological product growth, and the establishment of communities of fish or other marine life, outside the WEC device 460, but in the vicinity of the WEC device 460.

[0186] In addition to the generation of biological energy products, an MCB system 470 can be used by the WEC device 460 in order to implement MCB processes, such as those described herein. In an embodiment, the MCB system 470 may be similar to any of those described in greater detail herein. In an embodiment, a pressure vessel 471 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 472. In an embodiment, a heater 486 may be provided in and / or on the heating jacket 472. The heater 486 may be powered by the energy generation device 483 (e.g., directly, through a battery charged by the energy generation device 483, or through the conversion of energy product back into electrical energy). The heater 486 may be used in order to heat a fluid 485 within the pressure vessel 471. At least a portion of the heated fluid 485 may be converted into steam 487 that occupies a portion of the pressure vessel 471.

[0187] In an embodiment, a pipe 475 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 471 to a steam injector 473. The steam injector 473 allows for the fluid from the body of water around the WEC device 460 to flow into an inlet 474 of the steam injector 473. Pipe 476 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 471 in order to resupply fluid 435 to the pressure vessel 471.

[0188] In an embodiment, pipe 478 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 471 in order to supply steam 487 to the nozzle assembly 466. A pipe (behind pipe 478 in FIG. 43 and not visible) may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 471 in order to supply liquid fluid 485 to the nozzle assembly 466. Though, in some embodiments, pipe 478 for supplying steam 437 to the nozzle assembly 466 may be omitted. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 471 is below the surface 461 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 471 at any location on the WEC device 460. For example, the pressure vessel 471 may be provided on the upper chamber 465 above the surface 461 of the body of water. While not shown in FIG. 43, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 470 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 460 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like. In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 466 may be provided at a top surface of the upper chamber 465. The nozzle assembly 466 may include one or more main channels 488 to distribute fluid 485 and / or steam to a plurality of nozzles 467, and a plurality of branch channels 489 to deliver the fluid 485 and / or steam from the main channels 488 to individual nozzles 467. The nozzle assembly 466 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 467. For example, the nozzle assembly 466 may comprise one or more nozzles 467, ten or more nozzles 467, 100 or more nozzles 467, or 1,000 or more nozzles 467. The nozzles 467 and associated piping / channels within the nozzle assembly 466 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4. Particles 490 may be ejected out of the nozzles 467 in order to seed clouds to implement MCB processes.

[0189] WEC device 460 may be an autonomous device with the ability to move and / or navigate in a controlled manner about the body of water. Propulsion of the WEC device 460 may be driven through one or more different mechanisms. In one instance, the water expelled 481 from the pipe 480 provides a propulsive force that can move the WEC device 460. Other embodiments may include a propulsive shroud (not shown) similar to the ones described with respect to FIG. 19. The WEC device 460 can be steered through control of the force of the water expelled 481 from the pipe 480 and / or the direction of the water expelled 481 from the pipe 480. In some instances, one or more rudders 484 can be coupled to the WEC device 460 in order to provide directional control, rotational control, and / or the like.

[0190] In some embodiments, propulsion of the WEC device 460 may be provided through one or more active propulsion devices. For example, propellers or the like may be used in some instances. Energy to drive the active propulsion devices may be obtained through the energy generation of the WEC device 460, or from batteries that were charged through the waveenergy generation of the WEC device 460. In other instances, hydrogen or other gasses generated on the WEC device 460 can be consumed (e.g., through the use of a fuel cell) in order to power active propulsion devices.

[0191] The WEC device 460 may include one or more electrical components or systems (not shown). For example, a computing system, a positioning system, and / or a communications system may be provided on the WEC device 460. The computing system may provide one or more processors and associated hardware and / or software that enables control of the WEC device 460. For example, the computing system may control power generation, such as by controlling flow rates of water to the energy generation device 483. The computing system may also control execution of MCB processes in order to initiate cloud seeding with the MCB system 470. The positioning system may include a GPS, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other suitable navigational system. The positioning system may control propulsion and steering systems in order to navigate the WEC device 460. The communications system may include an antenna, a receiver, and associated circuitry, hardware, and / or software. The communications system may provide a communication link to external systems, other waver-energy generation systems, or the like. The systems described on the WEC device 460 are exemplary in nature, and it is to be appreciated that many different systems, control apparatuses, and / or the like may be provided on the WEC device 460.

[0192] Referring now to FIG. 44 a perspective side view of a system including a WEC device 600 with an MCB system (not shown) that is fluidically coupled to a vessel 606 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. A WEC device 600 obtains, extracts, harvests, receives, and / or collects, energy from waves moving across the surface 605 of a body of water on which the WEC device 600 floats. A portion of the energy that the WEC device 600 extracts from the passing waves is converted into electrical power by a water turbine (not visible) and generator (not visible). A portion of the generated electrical power is used to generate an energy product (e.g., a liquid fuel, a gas fuel, a chemical, a biological product, or the like). For example, a water electrolysis apparatus (not visible) inside the WEC device 600 may be used for the conversion of a portion of water contained in a reservoir within the WEC device 600 (not visible) into hydrogen gas. A portion of the synthesized hydrogen gas is captured within a hydrogen reservoir (not visible) within the WEC device 600.

[0193] Periodically, a vessel 606 approaches the WEC device 600 and positions itself near to the WEC device 600. When sufficiently proximate to the WEC device 600, the vessel 606 deploys a hose connection remotely-operated vehicle (hose connection ROV) 603 that is attached to a first end of a transfer hose 604. The hose connection ROV 603 pulls the transfer hose 604 to the WEC device 600. The hose connection ROV 603 attaches itself translatably to the hull of the WEC device 600 and moves itself across the WEC hull until it is positioned above and / or over a port (not visible) of the WEC device 600. The hose connection ROV 603 then connects itself, and the attached hydrogen transfer hose, to the hydrogen port of the WEC device 600 thereby permitting the energy product to be removed, and / or to flow, from the WEC device 600 to the vessel 606 where it is then stored within one of more of the storage containers (not shown) of and / or on the vessel 606. In other embodiments, a passive retractable offtake system is used to couple the hose 604 to the port on the WEC device 600. In some instances, the transfer of energy product from the WEC device 600 to the vessel 606 is passive (e.g., if a pressure differential drives product from the WEC device 600 to the vessel 606). In other instances, a pump, winch, or other mechanical force can be used to actively transport energy product from the WEC device 600 to the vessel 606. The vessel 606 in FIG. 44 is shown as a boat, but it is to be appreciated that any suitable transport vehicle may be used to offload energy product from the WEC device 600. For example, a submersible vehicle, an aerial vehicle (e.g., helicopter, plane, dirigible airship, drone, etc.), or the like may also be used to offload energy product from the WEC device 600. In an embodiment, the vessel 606 may transport the energy product directly to the shore, or the vessel 606 may be an intermediate transport that delivers the energy product to a second vessel, or a platform within the body of water on which the WEC device 600 floats.

[0194] Referring now to FIG. 45, a schematic diagram of a wave energy harvesting system 700 is shown. The wave energy harvesting system 700 may include a first free-floating body 701 and a second free-floating body 780 which may transiently couple to one another while floating on a surface 705 of a body of water 704. In an example embodiment, the first free-floating body 701 may be configured as a wave engine 701 (e.g., a WEC device with an MCB system, such as those described herein) and the second free-floating body 780 may be a storage vessel 780, such as a tanker ship 780. In some embodiments, the wave engine 701 may include a receiving port 720 operable to receive a conduit assembly 741 in fluidic communication with a conduit 740 from the storage vessel 780 and thereby fluidly couple the wave engine 701 to the storage vessel 780 via the conduit 740 for transfer of one or more fluids therebetween. While fluidic communication and coupling between the wave engine 701 and the storage vessel 780 is described in greater detail with respect to FIG. 45, it is to be appreciated that non-fluid products may also be transmitted between the wave engine 701 and the storage vessel 780.

[0195] In an embodiment, the fluidic communication (or fluidic coupling) between the wave engine 701 and the storage vessel 780 may be enabled through the use of automated, autonomous, and / or passive systems. In some embodiments, for instance, the conduit assembly 741 may include one or more fluid nozzles (not shown at FIG. 29) operable to emit one or more fluid streams to direct the conduit assembly 741 to the receiving port 720.

[0196] A set of Cartesian coordinate axes 750 is shown in FIG. 29 for contextualizing positions of the various components of the wave energy harvesting system 700. Specifically, x-, y-, and z-axes are provided which are mutually perpendicular to one another, where the x- and z-axes define a plane of the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 29 and the y-axis is perpendicular thereto. In some embodiments, a direction of gravity may be parallel to and coincident with a negative direction of the z-axis.

[0197] Though exemplified herein in the context of wave engines, the first free-floating body 701 may be configured as any free-floating body capable of self-propulsion, e.g., by extracting energy from stored fuel, inducing a flow of pressurized water, and / or harnessing one or more ambient environmental forces, so as to translate along the surface 705 of the body of water 704. For example, the first free-floating body 701 may be a ship 701 (such as a deployment ship, a tanker ship or other storage vessel, or another transport vessel), a buoy 701, a wind turbine 701, an offshore platform 701, such as a data center, etc.

[0198] In embodiments where the first free-floating body 701 is configured as the wave engine 701, water may pass into and through the wave engine 701 with upward and downward motion 706 (e.g., in a positive direction of the z-axis and the negative direction of the z-axis, respectively) of water waves. As described in greater detail herein, the upward and downward motion 706 may induce the water passing into and through the wave engine 701, energy from which may be captured and converted to an energy product 708 (as indicated by a dashed arrow 726a). The energy product 708, for example, may include one or more of an electrolysis product or other fuel / chemical, such as H2 gas, HC1, etc., removed carbon, minerals, a biological product, digital goods, or an executed computational algorithm, such as, but not limited to a proof-of- work mechanism for a cryptocurrency, a trained machine learning algorithm, or the like.

[0199] In some embodiments, the first free-floating body 701 may include a first onboard controller or other computing device 710 and / or the second free-floating body 780 may include a second onboard controller or other computing device 729, the first and second onboard controllers 710, 729 each including non-transitory memory on which executable instructions may be stored. The executable instructions may be executed by one or more processors of the first and second onboard controllers 710, 729 to respectively perform various functionalities of the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780. Accordingly, the executable instructions may include various routines for operation, propulsion, maintenance, tracking, and testing of the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780. The first and second onboard controllers 710, 729 may be communicably coupled to various components (e.g., valves, power supplies, etc.) of the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780 to command actuation and use thereof (wired and / or wireless communication paths between the first and second onboard controllers 710, 729 and the various components are omitted from FIG. 45 for clarity). For instance, the first onboard controller 710 may command actuation of one or more first coupling elements annularly distributed on the receiving port 720 and the second onboard controller 729 may command actuation of one or more second coupling elements annularly distributed on the conduit assembly 741 so as to selectively engage and disengage the one or more first coupling elements with one or more second coupling elements (first and second coupling elements not shown at FIG. 29). Though, it is to be appreciated that passive self-alignment may be enabled through the use of a retractable offtake system.

[0200] In certain embodiments, the first and second onboard controllers 710, 729 may be communicably coupled to a remote controller or computing device 714 via a wireless network 712. The various controllers 710, 714, 729 may be configured in a substantially similar manner to one another, excepting, in some examples, one or more modifications or differences for a given use case. For example, the remote controller 714 may be positioned so as to be accessible to an operator of the wave energy harvesting system 700, e.g., on a ship or in a physical structure 716 on land 718 (as illustrated in FIG. 45). As such, even when one or both of the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780 are not geographically located within a national or subnational jurisdiction, the one or both of the first and second free- floating bodies 701, 780 may nevertheless be in continuous (e.g., substantially uninterrupted) or periodic communication with the remote controller 714 which may be geographically located within a national or subnational jurisdiction (e.g., on the land 718).

[0201] In some embodiments, because the remote controller 714 may be configured for use by the operator, the remote controller 714 may include a user interface at which the operator may enter commands or otherwise modify operation of the wave energy harvesting system 700. The user interface may include various components for facilitating operator use of the wave energy harvesting system 700 and for receiving operator inputs (e.g., requests to direct the conduit assembly 741 to the receiving port 720), such as one or more displays, input devices (e.g., keyboards, touchscreens, computer mice, depressible buttons, mechanical switches, other mechanical actuators, etc.), lights, etc. In additional or alternative embodiments, one or both of the first and second onboard controllers 710, 729 may be configured with the user interface as described hereinabove.

[0202] An overall energy flow 726 of the wave energy harvesting system 700 is schematically depicted in FIG. 45, in which energy captured at the first free-floating body 701 from water induced therethrough by the upward and downward motion 706 of the water waves (as indicated by the dashed arrow 726a) may be converted to the energy product 708 and transferred to the second free-floating body 780 (as indicated by a dashed arrow 726b) and then transferred from the second free-floating body 780 to a land-based vehicle 730 (as indicated by a dashed arrow 726c) to be transported to a storage facility and / or an end user for consumption. For example, in some embodiments, the wave energy harvesting system 700 may include a plurality of nodes including a plurality of first free-floating bodies 701, one or more second free-floating bodies 780 to transport a plurality of energy products 708 from the plurality of first free-floating bodies 701 to the land 718, and one or more land-based vehicles 730 to transport the plurality of energy products 708 from the one or more second free- floating bodies 780 to the storage facility and / or the end user. In other instances, the energy products 708 may be directly transported from the second free-floating body 780 to a storage facility and / or end user on the land 718 or within a certain distance of the land 718 (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). Though storage facilities or consumption locations may be further from land in other embodiments.

[0203] In an example embodiment, the energy product 708 may be a fluid (e.g., a liquid or a gas) which is transferred from the first free-floating body 701 to the second free-floating body 780 via the conduit 740, the conduit 740 being configured to transiently fluidly couple an internal reservoir of the second free-floating body 780 to an internal reservoir of the first free-floating body 701 via one or more internal passages extending at least a length of the conduit 740 (internal reservoirs and internal passage(s) not shown at FIG. 29). In certain embodiments, the conduit 740 may include a plurality of internal passages, each of which may convey a different fluid between the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780. As an example, the conduit 740 may include a first internal passage configured to supply an energy product precursor 709 (e.g., an electrolysis reactant, such as deionized water) from the second free- floating body 780 to the first free-floating body 701 so as to replace the energy product 708 being transferred to the second free-floating body 780. Accordingly, in such an example, the conduit 740 may further include a second internal passage configured to siphon the energy product 708 (e.g., an electrolysis product, such as hydrogen gas) from the first free-floating body 701 to the second free-floating body 780. As such, the overall energy flow 726 may be maintained by periodically (e.g., once per week) replenishing a capacity of the first free- floating body 701 to convert captured energy into a chemical energy product.

[0204] In some embodiments, the adjustments to the position of the conduit assembly 741 may be executed based on a manual operator input, e.g., at the user interface of the remote controller 714. In additional or alternative embodiments, the adjustments to the position of the conduit assembly 741 may be automatically adjusted, e.g., based on feedback from one or more sensors and / or data received via the wireless network 712. As an example, one or both of the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780 may include an accelerometer (e.g., an inertial measurement unit; not shown) configured to gather changes in local positional data, e.g., resulting from water wave motions. As an additional or alternative example, one or both of the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780 may include a global positioning system (not shown) configured to gather geographic positional data. As an additional or alternative example, one or both of the first and second free-floating bodies 701, 780 may include a wind speed sensor (not shown) configured to measure wind speed. As an additional or alternative example, such data (e.g., the positional data and / or the wind speed) may be received via the wireless network 712, in addition to other data such as meteorological data (e.g., water wave height, direction of water wave propagation, water wave period, weather, etc.). In some embodiments, directions and magnitudes of applied forces may be inferred based on the feedback from the one or more sensors and / or the data received via the wireless network 712, such that specific operational parameters (e.g., the one or more continuously adjustable parameters) may be adjusted responsive such that changes in individual applied forces may be accounted for with specificity. Though, the use of a passive retractable offtake system may allow for a more passive and precise fluidic coupling between the free-floating bodies 701 and 780, even in the view of wave conditions, wind conditions, or other environmental factors. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 45, the energy product 708 is generated at the first free- floating body 701 and subsequently transported to land 718. That is, the energy product 708 may not undergo any subsequent processing after it has been produced. However, in other embodiments, the energy product 708 may be further processed in order to generate an alternative product before reaching land 718 (or near land). For example, the initial energy product 708 may be filtered, compressed (e.g., from gas to liquid), used in a reaction as a precursor, or otherwise processed before reaching land 718 or near land. For example, hydrogen gas may be used as a precursor in order to generate a more energy dense substance or fuel, such as methanol, or algae can be processed into algae oil. These processing operations may be implemented on the first free-floating body 701, on the second free- floating body 780, or on a combination of both the first free-floating body 701 and the second free-floating body 780. Examples of such processing are shown in FIGs. 46 - 48.

[0205] Referring now to FIG. 46 a side perspective view of a WEC device 760 with an MCB system 770 and an integrated processing plant on a platform 790 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. The WEC device 760 floats adjacent to an upper surface 761 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The WEC device 760 comprises a hollow buoyant chamber 765. In an embodiment a tube 768 / 769 is coupled to the buoyant chamber 765. An effluent tube 780 with an energy generation device (not shown) may allow for water within the chamber 765 to be expelled from the WEC device 760. A rudder 784 or the like may allow for controlled navigation of the WEC device 760.

[0206] In an embodiment, the MCB system 770 may be similar to any of the MCB systems described in greater detail herein. For example, a pressure vessel 771 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 772. A pipe 775 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 771 to a steam injector 773. The steam injector 773 allows for the flow of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 774 of the steam injector 773. Pipe 776 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 771 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 771.

[0207] In an embodiment, pipe 777 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 771 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 766, and pipe 778 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 771 in order to supply steam to the nozzle assembly 766. The pipes 777 and 778 may pass through the platform 790 below the nozzle assembly 766. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 771 is below the surface 761 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 771 at any location on the WEC device 760. For example, the pressure vessel 771 may be provided on the platform 790 in some embodiments. While not shown in FIG. 46, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 770 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 760 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0208] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 766 may be provided on the platform 790. The nozzle assembly 766 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 767. For example, the nozzle assembly 766 may comprise one or more nozzles 767, ten or more nozzles 767, 100 or more nozzles 767, or 1,000 or more nozzles 767. The nozzles 767 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 766 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0209] As described in other embodiments, an energy product 787 may be generated by way of conversion of wave energy into electrical power. In some embodiments, the energy product 787 may be a gas or other fluid, such as hydrogen gas. The energy product 787 may be stored in a first storage container 792. WEC device 760 depicts the first storage container 792 for the energy product 787 being on the platform 790. Though other implementations may include the first storage container 792 being integrated into the hollow chamber 765, being external to the WEC device 760 (e.g., being attached or otherwise coupled to an external surface of the WEC device 760), or positioned in the approximate area of the WEC device 760 (e.g., on a second floating platform that is at least temporarily coupled to the WEC device 760).

[0210] In an embodiment, the energy product 787 in the first storage container 792 may be used as a precursor for a chemical reaction. In an additional embodiment, a second precursor 786 may be stored in a second storage container 791. In the instance of a chemical reaction to convert hydrogen gas into methanol, the second precursor 786 may comprise CO2 or another carbon containing source. The second precursor 786 may also be generated as an energy product on the WEC device 760, or the second precursor 786 may be periodically replenished by a vessel, or the like. The energy product 787 may flow from the first storage container 792 into a reaction apparatus 794 through pipe 796, and the second precursor 786 may flow from the second storage container 791 into the reaction apparatus 794 through pipe 797. The reacted product 788 (e.g., a second energy product) may flow through pipe 798 into a third storage container 793. The reacted product 788 may be periodically removed from the third storage container 793 for transport to an alternative location (e.g., another storage location or use facility, either on the body of water or on land). While a simple reaction process is shown in FIG. 46, it is to be appreciated that any suitable conversion, filtering, compression, reaction, treatment, or the like may be implemented on the WEC device 760.

[0211] Referring now to FIG. 47, a side view schematic of a vessel 830 that may be used to transport an energy product from a WEC device (not shown) to land (not show) is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. For example, vessel 830 may be similar to the second free-floating body 780 in FIG. 45. The vessel 830 may include a first storage container 831 for storing an energy product 841. The energy product 841 may be transported into the first storage container 831 from a WEC device, or from another vessel (not shown) that obtained the energy product 841 from a WEC device. For example, the energy product 841 may comprise hydrogen or any other energy product described in greater detail herein. The vessel 830 may also comprise a second storage container 832 for storing an additional precursor 842. In the case of hydrogen to methanol conversion, the additional precursor 842 may comprise carbon (e.g., CO2). In an embodiment, the energy product 841 and the precursor 842 are flown into a reaction apparatus 833. The combined energy product 841 and precursor 842 may react in the reaction apparatus 833 to form a reacted product 843 that is transported to a third storage container 835. The reacted product 843 may be transported by the vessel 830 to an alternative storage or use facility (either on land or on the water). While a simple reaction process is shown in FIG. 47, it is to be appreciated that any suitable conversion, filtering, compression, reaction, treatment, or the like may be implemented on the vessel 830.

[0212] Referring now to FIG. 48 a diagram providing a more detailed explanation of a reaction process that may be used to convert a first energy product into a second energy product is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. The conversion depicted in FIG. 48 can be implemented on a WEC device (e.g., similar to FIG. 46), on a transport vessel (e.g., similar to FIG. 47), partially on the WEC device and partially on the transport vessel, or partially on a first transport vessel and partially on a second transport vessel. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 48, a detailed process by which methanol (CH3OH) is synthesized from, by, and / or through, CO2 hydrogenation is shown. In an embodiment, CO2 is stored in CO2 tank 859 and H2 is stored in H2 tank 858. One or both of the CO2 and the H2 may be energy products generated by a WEC device. The CO2 and H2 are pumped with pump 891 and pump 892 and combined in a mixer 861 with a recirculated stream from flash vessel 862. The mixed stream (of CO2 and H2 gases) is pumped to a catalytic reactor vessel 863 where an exothermic reaction takes place, and the temperature and pressure can reach 250°C and 65 bar, respectively, or higher. The post-reaction stream exits the catalytic reactor vessel 863 and passes through heat exchanger 867 and then enters flash vessel 862 where the temperature and pressure will be approximately 30.0 °C and 64.5 bar, respectively.

[0213] A stream of H2, CO and CO2 from flash vessel 862 is recirculated back to mixer 861 by pump 869 after being purged of a small amount of gas to further purify the stream. The liquid stream from flash vessel 862 enters heat exchanger 867 which is then pumped to distillation tower 871 by pump 873. The crude CH3OH stream entering distillation tower 871 can be at a temperature and pressure of 85 °C and 1.3 bar, respectively. A final separation of CH3OH and water takes place within distillation tower 871. Gaseous CH3OH is pumped to methanol ballast sphere 855 via a compressor pump 878 where the CH3OH is cooled to liquefaction. Water extracted from the crude aqueous CH3OH is released from a bottom of the distillation tower 871. Other processes for synthesizing methanol from CO2 and H2 are known in the prior art and can be used in place of the one shown. Embodiments utilizing, incorporating, and / or including, such other methanol synthesis processes and / or associated mechanism and equipment are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, while methanol synthesis is provided as one example, conversion or reaction of any energy products using any suitable chemical reactions, processes, treatments, filtering, or the like may be used.

[0214] In the several of the previous embodiments, while energy products are defined as being physical items (e.g., fuels, chemicals, biological goods, etc.), embodiments are not limited to such configurations. For example, electrical power derived by a WEC described herein may be used to power one or more computational systems. These systems may be used in order to provide computational work that has a monetary or social value. For example, computational work can be used to host a data center, implement block-chain mining, training machine learning (ML) or artificial intelligence (Al) algorithms, or the like. An example of such a system is provided in FIG. 49.

[0215] Referring now to FIG. 49 a side perspective view of an WEC device 800 with an MCB system 770 and an integrated computing system 836 on a platform 840 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. The WEC device 800 floats adjacent to an upper surface 801 of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The WEC device 800 comprises a hollow buoyant chamber 805, and / or buoy. In an embodiment a tube 808 / 809 is coupled to the buoyant chamber 805. An effluent tube 820 with an energy generation device (not shown) may allow for water within the chamber 805 to be expelled from the WEC device 800. A rudder 824 or the like may allow for controlled navigation of the WEC device 800.

[0216] In an embodiment, the MCB system 810 may be similar to any of the MCB systems described in greater detail herein. For example, a pressure vessel 811 may be surrounded by a heating jacket 812. A pipe 815 may provide steam from the pressure vessel 811 to a steam injector 813. The steam injector 813 allows for the flow of fluid from the body of water into an inlet 814 of the steam injector 813. Pipe 816 provides the fluid back into the pressure vessel 811 in order to resupply fluid to the pressure vessel 811.

[0217] In an embodiment, pipe 817 may be fluidically coupled to a lower region of the pressure vessel 811 in order to supply liquid fluid to the nozzle assembly 806, and pipe 818 may be fluidically coupled to an upper region of the pressure vessel 811 in order to supply steam to the nozzle assembly 806. The pipes 817 and 818 may pass through the platform 840 below the nozzle assembly 806. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure vessel 811 is below the surface 801 of the body of water. Though, other embodiments may include positioning the pressure vessel 811 at any location on the WEC device 800. For example, the pressure vessel 811 may be provided on the platform 840 in some embodiments. While not shown in FIG. 49, it is to be appreciated that the MCB system 810 may be mechanically coupled to the WEC device 800 using any mechanical supports, structures, and / or the like.

[0218] In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly 806 may be provided on the platform 840. The nozzle assembly 806 may comprise any number of individual nozzles 807. For example, the nozzle assembly 806 may comprise one or more nozzles 807, ten or more nozzles 807, 100 or more nozzles 807, or 1,000 or more nozzles 807. The nozzles 807 and associated piping (not shown) within the nozzle assembly 806 may be similar to the nozzle assembly 105 described above with respect to FIG. 4.

[0219] In an embodiment, a computing system 836 may be provided on the platform 840 and include an enclosure to protect components from water and the elements. Any number of computational systems (e.g., processors, graphics processors, etc.), memories, and / or the like may be housed within the enclosure. The computing system 836 may be configured with a plurality of processing systems integrated with each other in order to perform complex computer processing operations. As noted above, the computing system 836 may be optimized and / or configured to implement one or more of data center hosting, implementing block-chain mining, training ML or Al algorithms, or the like. The outcome of the computational work (e.g., block-chain coins or tokens, trained algorithms, data center capacity, etc.) can be transmitted to external devices over a wireless network through one or more antennas 837, or other wireless systems. As noted above, the computing system may be powered by energy generated by the WEC device 800 through conversion of wave energy into electrical power, or through conversion of the energy product stored in a chamber back into electrical power (e.g., through the use of a hydrogen fuel cell or the like).

[0220] Referring now to FIG. 50 a perspective view of an computing system 900 that may be integrated with a WEC device, such as any of those described in greater detail herein, is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. The computing system 900 may comprise an array of electronics, hardware, and / or software that are configured to control one or more aspects of the wave-energy generation device. While the components illustrated in FIG. 34 are shown on a single board, it is to be appreciated that components may be on separate boards, structures, or the like. The computing system 900 may be housed within a water tight chamber or enclosure provided on the WEC device.

[0221] Computing system 900 may comprise a computing device 910. The computing device 910 houses a board. The board may include a number of components, including but not limited to a processor 901. The processor 901 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 the like. The processor 901 is physically and electrically coupled to the board. Other components of computing device 910 include, but are not limited to, memory 903, such as volatile memory (e.g., DRAM), nonvolatile memory (e.g., ROM), flash memory, a mass storage device 902 (such as hard disk drive, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and so forth). The computing device may comprise a communications chipset 904, a digital signal processor 905, a chipset 906, an antenna 907, and / or an input / out device 908.

[0222] Computing system 900 may comprise a communications device 920. The communications device 920 enables wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the computing system 900. The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not contain any wires, although in some embodiments they might not. The communications device 920 may implement any of a 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 that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond. The computing system 900 may include a plurality of communications devices 920. For instance, a first communications device 920 may be dedicated to shorter range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a second communications device 920 may be dedicated to longer range wireless communications such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others. The communications device 920 may be communicatively coupled to one or more antennas, satellite dishes, or other device to broadcast and / or receive wireless communications. The antennas or the like may be external to the enclosure, or the antennas may be within the enclosure. Computing system 900 may also comprise a server rack 930. The server rack 930 may comprise a plurality of processors with associated hardware and software. The server rack 930 may execute computational work in order to provide a revenue generating service. The server rack 930 may be powered through energy generated by the WEC device, such as those described in greater detail herein. While a constant power supply may be desired, computing system 900 may still function with an intermittent or non-constant power supply provided by wave-energy generation. To deal with the variable power supply, server rack 930 may include controllers that adjust clock speed for the processors. This allows for power consumption to be directly controlled to coincide with available power. In some instances, the server rack 930 may perform data center operations or tasks. The server rack 930 may host and / or deliver content, or otherwise provide a link between consumers and centralized data storage. In some instances, the server rack 930 may perform services in conjunction with block-chain technologies, such as cryptocurrency mining. The server rack 930 may perform services such as ML or Al training as well.

[0223] Computing system 900 may include a positioning system 940. The positioning system 940 may include one or more modules, components, and / or apparatuses for determining a geolocation of the wave-energy generation device. In some instances, the positioning system 940 may comprise a GPS, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and / or the like. The positioning system 940 may include a processor and / or controller to enable navigation for the wave-energy generation device. For example, actuators may be controlled in order to steer or direct the wave-energy generation device in a particular direction. Propulsion devices (e.g., propellers, waterjet flows, etc.) on the WEC may also be powered and / or directed by components of the positioning system 940.

[0224] Computing system 900 may include a sensor module 950. The sensor module 950 may include processors, memory, and associated hardware and software to control and / or record data from one or more sensors that monitor various aspects of the WEC device. Sensors may comprise, but are not limited to, a pressure sensor, a gas composition sensor, a water level sensor, a temperature sensor, a fluid flow rate sensor, an electrical current sensor, a power sensor, a camera, an optical sensor, or the like. The physical sensors may be distributed throughout the WEC, and the controlling circuitry / software may be provided in the sensor module 950 within the computing system 900.

[0225] Computing system 900 may include an MCB module 960 for controlling one or more aspects of the MCB systems of embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the MCB module 960 may be used to control energy supplied to the heater of the MCB system, one or more valves of the MCB system, pressures within the MCB system, temperatures within the MCB system, and or any other system parameters of the MCB systems disclosed herein. The MCB module 960 may initiate when and where the MCB processes are initiated in order to provide the desired MCB effect to the environment. In that way, the MCB module 960 may work in conjunction with one or more of the positioning system 940, the sensor module 950, and / or any other component of the computing system 900.

[0226] Computing system 900 may include an interface module 950. The interface module 950 may comprise one or more components used to interface with the wave-energy generation device. The interface module 950 may include one or more input devices. For example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen display, or the like may be provided in the interface module 950. Output devices, such as a display screen, a speaker, or the like may also be provided in the interface module 950. The interface module 950 may further comprise a camera, a video camera, a biometric screening device, or the like.

[0227] Computing system 900 may include a battery module 970. The battery module 970 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 970 may be charged by electricity generated by the WEC device. The battery module 970 may be used as a store of power in order to power one or more electrical components of the computing system 900, or any other powered device of the wave-energy generation device. The battery module 970 may be used in order to normalize power delivery to electrical components. For example, the battery module may supply power in order to equalize total power delivery when the wave-energy generation device provides variable power over time.

[0228] Referring now to FIG. 51 a perspective view of a server rack 930 that may be integrated into a WEC, such as those described in greater detail herein. As shown, the server rack 930 may include a plurality of server blades 935 that are provided on a rack 932. The server blades 935 may be communicatively coupled to each other through the rack 932 and / or associated cabling, in order to provide enhanced processing power. The server blades 935 may include processors, such as, but not limited to, central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or the like.

[0229] In some instances the server rack 930 is communicatively coupled to an antenna 937 to enable wireless communication. The antenna 937 may include a parabolic dish antenna or any other antenna configuration. The ability to wirelessly transmit data from the server rack 930 allows for data to be processed remotely at the source of power generation (e.g., in the ocean) while still being useful to the end consumer. The data delivery, hosting, computation, and the like can be executed at lower energy costs using such wave-energy generation devices. Further, the server rack 930 can be passively cooled by the body of water surrounding the wave-energy generation device (e.g., the server rack 930 can be in a water tight enclosure that is submersed in water). In some instances, the server rack 930 functions as a cryptocurrency mining rig that is powered through the energy produced by the WEC device.

[0230] FIG. 52 is a process flow diagram of a process 1010 for generating an energy product with a WEC device and transporting the energy product to an alternative location in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the process 1010 may begin with operation 1011, which comprises converting wave energy into an energy product with a WEC device that comprises an MCB system. The WEC device may be similar to any of the WEC devices described in greater detail herein. The energy product may be similar to any of the energy products described in greater detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gas fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HC1), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), or the like. The generation of the energy product may be made using any process described herein. For example, electrical power generated by the WEC device can be used in order to produce the energy product.

[0231] In an embodiment, the process 1010 may continue with operation 1012, which comprises moving the energy product from the WEC device to a transport vessel. The transport vessel may be similar to any vessel described herein. For example, the transport vessel may comprise a boat, a submersible, an aerial vehicle, or any other vessel that is capable of controlled motion on, through, and / or over the body of water on which the WEC device floats. The energy product may be delivered or moved (actively or passively) to the transport vessel through any mechanism, such as a hose, a pipe, a cable, or the like.

[0232] In an embodiment, the process 1010 may continue with operation 1013, which comprises moving the energy product to a storage facility or a power plant with the transport vessel. The storage facility or a power plant may be provided at a location that is different than an approximate location of the WEC. In one embodiment, the location is at land. Though, in other embodiments, 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 other embodiments, the storage facility may be a second vessel. For example, the first vessel may take the energy product from the WEC device and deliver it to the second vessel. The second vessel may then take the energy product towards shore.

[0233] FIG. 53 is a process flow diagram of a process 1020 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 1020 may begin with operation 1021, which comprises converting wave energy into a first energy product with a WEC device that comprises an MCB system. The WEC device may be similar to any of the WEC devices described in greater detail herein. The first energy product may be similar to any of the energy products described in greater detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gas fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HC1), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), or the like. The generation of the first energy product may be made using any process described herein. For example, electrical power generated by the WEC device can be used in order to produce the energy product.

[0234] In an embodiment, the process 1020 may continue with operation 1022, which comprises converting the first energy product into a second energy product through one or more processes on the WEC. The conversion of the first energy product to the second energy product may include converting one type of fuel or chemical into another fuel or chemical. In one embodiment, the first energy product may comprise hydrogen, and the second energy product may comprise methanol. Additional precursors (e.g., CO2) may be reacted with the first energy product in order to generate the second energy product. For example, a process similar to the process described with respect to FIG. 48 may be used in some embodiments. Other conversion processes may also be used, such as, but not limited to, filtering, compression (e.g., from a gas to a liquid), purification, or the like may be used. Conversions may also include 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 within the vicinity of the WEC. For example, a processing plant may be provided on the WEC, similar to what is shown in FIG. 46.

[0235] In an embodiment, the process 1020 may continue with operation 1023, which comprises moving the second energy product from the WEC device to a transport vessel. The transport vessel may be similar to any vessel described herein. For example, the transport vessel may comprise a boat, a submersible, an aerial vehicle, or any other vessel that is capable of controlled motion on, through, and / or over the body of water on which the WEC device floats. The second energy product may be delivered or moved (actively or passively) to the transport vessel through any mechanism, such as a hose, a pipe, a cable, or the like.

[0236] In an embodiment, the process 1020 may continue with operation 1024, which comprises delivering the second energy product to a storage facility or a power plant with the transport vessel. The storage facility or a power plant may be provided at a location that is different than an approximate location of the WEC. In one embodiment, the location is at land. Though, in other embodiments, 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 other embodiments, the storage facility may be a second vessel. For example, the first vessel may take the second energy product from the WEC device and deliver it to the second vessel. The second vessel may then take the second energy product towards shore.

[0237] FIG. 54 is a process flow diagram of a process 1030 for converting a first energy product into a second energy product and transporting the second energy product to storage facility or power plant. In an embodiment, the process 1030 may begin with operation 1031, which comprises converting wave energy into a first energy product with a WEC device that comprises an MCB system. The WEC device may be similar to any of the WEC devices described in greater detail herein. The first energy product may be similar to any of the energy products described in greater detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gas fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HC1), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), or the like. The generation of the first energy product may be made using any process described herein. For example, electrical power generated by the WEC device can be used in order to produce the energy product.

[0238] In an embodiment, the process 1030 may continue with operation 1032, which comprises moving the first energy product from the WEC device to a transport vessel. The transport vessel may be similar to any vessel described herein. For example, the transport vessel may comprise a boat, a submersible, an aerial vehicle, or any other vessel that is capable of controlled motion on, through, or over the body of water on which the WEC device floats. The first energy product may be delivered or moved (actively or passively) to the transport vessel through any mechanism, such as a hose, a pipe, a cable, or the like.

[0239] In an embodiment, the process 1030 may continue with operation 1033, which comprises converting the first energy product into a second energy product through one or more processes on the transport vessel. The conversion of the first energy product to the second energy product may include converting one type of fuel or chemical into another fuel or chemical. In one embodiment, the first energy product may comprise hydrogen, and the second energy product may comprise methanol. Additional precursors (e.g., CO2) may be reacted with the first energy product in order to generate the second energy product. For example, a process similar to the process described with respect to FIG. 48 may be used in some embodiments. Other conversion processes may also be used, such as, but not limited to, filtering, compression (e.g., from a gas to a liquid), purification, or the like may be used. Conversions may also include 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 within the vicinity of the transport vessel. For example, a processing plant may be provided on the transport vessel, similar to what is shown in FIG. 47.

[0240] In an embodiment, the process 1030 may continue with operation 1034, which comprises delivering the second energy product to a storage facility or a power plant with the transport vessel. The storage facility or a power plant may be provided at a location that is different than an approximate location of the WEC. In one embodiment, the location is at land. Though, in other embodiments, 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 other embodiments, the storage facility may be a second vessel. For example, the first vessel may take the energy product from the WEC device and deliver it to the second vessel. The second vessel may then take the energy product towards shore. FIG. 55 is a process flow diagram of a process 1040 for using a WEC device to power a computing system (either directly or through use of an energy product) in order to generate digital goods. In an embodiment, the process 1040 may begin with operation 1041, which comprises converting wave energy into an energy product with a WEC device that comprises an MCB system. The WEC device may be similar to any of the WEC devices described in greater detail herein. The first energy product may be similar to any of the energy products described in greater detail herein. For example, the energy product may be a liquid or gas fuel (e.g., hydrogen), a chemical (e.g., HC1), a biological product (e.g., algae, fish, or any other marine species), or the like. The generation of the first energy product may be made using any process described herein. For example, electrical power generated by the WEC device can be used in order to produce the energy product.

[0241] In an embodiment, the process 1040 may continue with operation 1042, which comprises powering a computer system coupled to the WEC device through the conversion of the energy product into electricity. 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 to electricity to power the computer system. Though, in some embodiments, the WEC device may directly power the computer system without the need to generate an intervening energy product to store energy for future use.

[0242] In an embodiment, the process 1040 may continue with operation 1043, which may comprise generating a digital good through use of the computing system. In an embodiment, the digital good may include a block-chain based coin, a trained ML algorithm, a trained Al algorithm, a software product, a digital token, server capacity, or the like. The digital good may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., a memory, a disk drive, a CD, a DVD, or other storage medium) in some embodiments. In an embodiment, the process 1040 may continue with operation 1044, which comprises wirelessly transporting the digital good to a receiving device external to the WEC. The receiving device may be a second non-transitory computer readable medium provided at a location remote from the WEC. For example, the receiving device may be located on land 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 transfer of the digital good may be transmitted through an antenna or other device for connecting to a wireless network. While wireless transport of the digital good may be faster, physical transport of the digital good stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium may also be provided by way of a vessel, a wired connection, or the like. While the foregoing disclosure has described various embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to any specific embodiment or depiction herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate modifications and substitutions herein, and the scope of the invention includes all such modifications and substitutions. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be construed to be limiting by the foreign description except where expressly so stated, but rather the invention’s scope is properly determined by the appended claims, using the common and ordinary meanings of the words therein consistent with, but not limited by, the descriptions and figures of this disclosure.

[0243] EXAMPLES:

[0244] Example 1: a system, comprising: a pressure vessel; a heating jacket coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the heating jacket comprises a heating element; a steam injector with a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet; a first fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the first inlet of the steam injector; a second fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the outlet of the steam injector; a nozzle assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle configured to eject a fluid from the system; and a third fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the nozzle assembly wherein the third fluidic path is configured to provide the fluid to the nozzle assembly.

[0245] Example 2: the system of Example 1, wherein, the first fluidic path is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel above a water line within the pressure vessel.

[0246] Example 3: the system of Example 1, wherein the second fluidic path is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel below a water line within the pressure vessel.

[0247] Example 4: the system of Example 1, wherein the second inlet is fluidically coupled to an external water source.

[0248] Example 5: the system of Example 4, wherein the external water source comprises a solute. Example 6: the system of Example 1, wherein one or more of the first fluidic path, the second fluidic path, or the third fluidic path comprise an internal coating.

[0249] Example 7: the system of Example 1, further comprising: a fourth fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the nozzle assembly, wherein the fourth fluidic path is configured to provide steam to the nozzle assembly.

[0250] Example 8: the system of Example 7, wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to emit a mixture of the fluid and the steam from the system.

[0251] Example 9: the system of Example 8, wherein the mixture is configured to vaporize after leaving the nozzle assembly to produce particles from a solute within the fluid.

[0252] Example 10: the system of Example 1, wherein the heating jacket at least partially surrounds the pressure vessel.

[0253] Example 11: the system of Example 1, wherein the heating jacket is a plain jacket, a half-pipe coil jacket, or a dimple jacket.

[0254] Example 12: the system of Example 1, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a plurality of nozzles.

[0255] Example 13: the system of Example 1, wherein the nozzle assembly has a height of 5.0 meters or greater.

[0256] Example 14: the system of Example 1, wherein the heating element is electrically coupled to a wave energy conversion device, and wherein the wave energy conversion device is configured to power the heating element.

[0257] Example 15: an apparatus, comprising: a wave energy conversion device configured to float on a body of water, wherein the wave energy conversion device comprises: a buoyant chamber configured to float on a surface of the body of water; and a tube extending down from the buoyant chamber, wherein oscillation of the wave energy conversion device in response to waves in the body of water causes water of the body of water being injected into the buoyant chamber, and wherein pressurized water within the buoyant chamber is propelled through an energy generation device to produce energy; and a system coupled to the wave energy conversion device, wherein the system comprises: a pressure vessel; a heating jacket coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the heating jacket comprises a heating element, and wherein the heating element is configured to be powered by the energy produced by the energy generation device; a steam injector fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the steam injector is configured to inject water from the body of water into the pressure vessel; and a nozzle assembly fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle for ejecting the water from the pressure vessel out of the system. Example 16: the apparatus of Example 15, further comprising: a shroud coupled to the buoyant chamber. Example 17: the apparatus of Example 15, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the water in the pressure vessel to form steam within the pressure vessel.

[0258] Example 18: the apparatus of Example 17, wherein the steam within the pressure vessel passes through the steam injector in order to pull the water from the body of water into the steam injector and propel the water from the body of water from the steam injector into the pressure vessel.

[0259] Example 19: the apparatus of Example 15, wherein the nozzle assembly is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel by a first fluidic path that is configured to provide the water from the pressure vessel to the nozzle assembly and by a second fluidic path that is configured to provide steam from the pressure vessel to the nozzle assembly.

[0260] Example 20: the apparatus of Example 19, wherein the nozzle is configured to emit a mixture of the water from the pressure vessel and the steam from the pressure vessel, and wherein the mixture vaporizes to eject particles into an atmosphere above the body of water.

[0261] Example 21: the apparatus of Example 20, wherein the particles have an average diameter of 500 pm or less.

[0262] Example 22: the apparatus of Example 15, wherein the nozzle assembly has a height that is at least 5.0 meters.

[0263] Example 23: the apparatus of Example 15, wherein the pressure vessel is below the surface of the body of water.

[0264] Example 24: a marine cloud brightening system, comprising: a pressure vessel; a heating jacket coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the heating jacket comprises a heating element; a steam injector along a first fluidic path with a first end that is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel and a second end that is fluidically coupled to the steam injector, wherein the steam injector is configured to inject a fluid from an external source into the pressure vessel through the second end of the first fluidic path in response to steam that is generated in the pressure vessel passing through the first fluidic path and through the steam injector; and a nozzle assembly with a nozzle, wherein the nozzle assembly is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel by a second fluidic path, wherein the nozzle is configured to eject the fluid received from the pressure vessel so that the fluid vaporizes after leaving the nozzle, and wherein particles within the fluid are ejected into an atmosphere above the marine cloud brightening system.

[0265] Example 25 : the marine cloud brightening system of Example 24, wherein the particles have an average diameter configured to seed clouds in the atmosphere.

Claims

We claim:

1. A system, comprising: a pressure vessel; a heating jacket coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the heating jacket comprises a heating element; a steam injector with a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet; a first fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the first inlet of the steam injector; a second fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the outlet of the steam injector; a nozzle assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle configured to eject a fluid from the system; and a third fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the nozzle assembly wherein the third fluidic path is configured to provide the fluid to the nozzle assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, the first fluidic path is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel above a water line within the pressure vessel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second fluidic path is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel below a water line within the pressure vessel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second inlet is fluidically coupled to an external water source.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the external water source comprises a solute.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first fluidic path, the second fluidic path, or the third fluidic path comprise an internal coating.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a fourth fluidic path between the pressure vessel and the nozzle assembly, wherein the fourth fluidic path is configured to provide steam to the nozzle assembly.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to emit a mixture of the fluid and the steam from the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mixture is configured to vaporize after leaving the nozzle assembly to produce particles from a solute within the fluid.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating jacket at least partially surrounds the pressure vessel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating jacket is a plain jacket, a half-pipe coil jacket, or a dimple jacket.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a plurality of nozzles.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly has a height of 5.0 meters or greater.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is electrically coupled to a wave energy conversion device, and wherein the wave energy conversion device is configured to power the heating element.

15. An apparatus, comprising: a wave energy conversion device configured to float on a body of water, wherein the wave energy conversion device comprises: a buoyant chamber configured to float on a surface of the body of water; and a tube extending down from the buoyant chamber, wherein oscillation of the wave energy conversion device in response to waves in the body of water causes water of the body of water being injected into the buoyant chamber, and wherein pressurized water within the buoyant chamber is propelled through an energy generation device to produce energy; and a system coupled to the wave energy conversion device, wherein the system comprises: a pressure vessel; a heating jacket coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the heating jacket comprises a heating element, and wherein the heating element is configured to be powered by the energy produced by the energy generation device; a steam injector fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the steam injector is configured to inject water from the body of water into the pressure vessel; and a nozzle assembly fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle for ejecting the water from the pressure vessel out of the system.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a shroud coupled to the buoyant chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the water in the pressure vessel to form steam within the pressure vessel.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the steam within the pressure vessel passes through the steam injector in order to pull the water from the body of water into the steam injector and propel the water from the body of water from the steam injector into the pressure vessel.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the nozzle assembly is fluidically coupled to thepressure vessel by a first fluidic path that is configured to provide the water from the pressure vessel to the nozzle assembly and by a second fluidic path that is configured to provide steam from the pressure vessel to the nozzle assembly.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the nozzle is configured to emit a mixture of the water from the pressure vessel and the steam from the pressure vessel, and wherein the mixture vaporizes to eject particles into an atmosphere above the body of water.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the particles have an average diameter of 500 pm or less.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the nozzle assembly has a height that is at least 5.0 meters.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pressure vessel is below the surface of the body of water.

24. A marine cloud brightening system, comprising: a pressure vessel; a heating jacket coupled to the pressure vessel, wherein the heating jacket comprises a heating element; a steam injector along a first fluidic path with a first end that is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel and a second end that is fluidically coupled to the steam injector, wherein the steam injector is configured to inject a fluid from an external source into the pressure vessel through the second end of the first fluidic path in response to steam that is generated in the pressure vessel passing through the first fluidic path and through the steam injector; and a nozzle assembly with a nozzle, wherein the nozzle assembly is fluidically coupled to the pressure vessel by a second fluidic path, wherein the nozzle is configured to eject the fluid received from the pressure vessel so that the fluid vaporizes after leaving the nozzle, and wherein particles within the fluid are ejected into an atmosphere above the marine cloud brightening system.

25. The marine cloud brightening system of claim 24, wherein the particles have an average diameter configured to seed clouds in the atmosphere.

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