Buoyant Hydrodynamic Pump With Tapered Tube for Wave Energy Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently extracting energy from ocean waves due to the slow movement and long periods of waves, and also struggle with cooling and powering large-scale computing systems and aquaculture operations.
Innovation Solution
A novel buoyant hydrodynamic pump and wave engine system that uses a tapered tube to harness wave energy, with a buoyant structure and a pressurized reservoir to generate electrical power and promote sustainable aquaculture practices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional wave energy extraction methods are used, then energy can be extracted from waves, but the devices become complex with many moving parts and high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of wave energy conversion by removing complex mechanical moving parts. The system uses a simple floating buoy connected to a generator, where wave motion directly drives the generator without intermediate mechanical components, thus simplifying the device while maintaining energy extraction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical wave energy conversion systems with a direct electromagnetic conversion system. The floating buoy's vertical motion from wave action is directly converted to electrical energy through a generator, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages, gears, and moving parts found in conventional systems
2Productivity
If large-scale computing systems are deployed, then computational power increases, but electrical power consumption and heat generation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables computing systems to power themselves by deploying wave energy buoys that generate electrical energy on-site. The generated electricity directly supplies the computing operations, creating a self-sustaining system where the computational infrastructure generates its own power through renewable wave energy conversion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges wave energy conversion and electrical power generation functions into a single integrated buoy system. The floating structure simultaneously performs wave motion capture and electrical energy generation, providing a compact self-contained power source for computing operations
3Productivity
If large-scale computing systems are deployed, then computational power increases, but cooling requirements and electrical energy for cooling increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The wave energy buoy system generates electrical power on-site to directly supply computing operations, reducing the need for extensive electrical infrastructure and associated energy losses in power transmission and distribution. The system serves its own power needs, minimizing external energy dependencies and associated losses
4Productivity
If fish are raised in reservoirs on shore, then aquaculture operations can be conducted, but water pollution from fish excrement reduces dissolved oxygen and promotes bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves aquaculture operations from a two-dimensional shore-based reservoir system to a three-dimensional offshore floating system. By deploying fish farms on floating platforms in open water, the system eliminates pollution accumulation issues associated with confined shore-based reservoirs, allowing natural water circulation and oxygenation while maintaining high fish production capacity
5Productivity
If seaweed and algae are cultivated in reservoirs, then biomass production increases, but sunlight availability and mineral nutrient concentration limit growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions seaweed and algae cultivation from shallow shore-based reservoirs to deep-water floating platforms. This dimensional change allows access to deeper water columns with greater sunlight penetration and more abundant mineral nutrients, removing the growth limitations imposed by shallow reservoir conditions while maintaining high biomass production
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently extracts energy from ocean waves with a robust and cost-effective design, reducing the need for electrical power and cooling systems, while promoting sustainable aquaculture and computing operations.
Implementation Method 1
The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water that tends to be excited and oscillate within the tube in response to wave action at the device, in particular because of interactions between that water and the tube's constriction, taper, or reduction in cross-sectional area
Implementation Method 2
Wave-driven oscillations of the device, and its attached tapered or constricted tube, result in the periodic ejections of portions of the water inside the tube
Implementation Method 3
a buoy (also referred to herein as a flotation module, hollow chamber, buoyant enclosure, buoyant body, flotation capsule, hollow flotation module, or upper hull enclosure, inter alia) to which an upper part of the tube is connected
Implementation Method 4
the water within the reservoir can be held in state of elevated pressure by compressed air or gas contained in the same enclosure and/or a fluidly communicating enclosure
Implementation Method 5
Water within such an elevated or pressurized reservoir may return to the body of water on which the device floats via an effluent conduit (also referred to herein as an effluent pipe, inter alia) within which is situated a turbine or another power-capture mechanism such as a magnetohydrodynamic generator, thereby permitting the generation of electrical power
Implementation Method 6
another power-capture mechanism such as a magnetohydrodynamic generator
Data Source
AI summary
A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.