Floating Base Flow Control for Wave Energy Recovery

The patent replaces the heavy base with a floating base that uses buoyancy as a counterweight to anchoring forces. The floating base is held in position by mooring lines or anchors rather than requiring a heavy mass to resist movement, thereby eliminating the need for extensive seabed preparation while maintaining stability in the water column.

The invention transitions from a seabed-mounted system (two-dimensional constraint on the seabed surface) to a water-column-mounted system (three-dimensional positioning in the water). This dimensional shift allows the apparatus to be installed in deeper waters without requiring the heavy base and extensive seabed preparation that characterizes bottom-mounted systems.

By using buoyancy as a counterweight rather than a heavy base, the system eliminates the time-consuming process of seabed preparation and heavy base installation. The floating base can be deployed more quickly using standard marine installation techniques for floating structures.

The invention extracts the heavy base and extensive seabed preparation requirements from the system. The stability function is achieved through a different mechanism (floating base with mooring/anchoring) that does not require the heavy base, thereby removing the time loss associated with seabed preparation.

The floating base provides dynamic adaptability to varying sea conditions. Unlike a fixed heavy base that is optimized for specific shallow water conditions, the floating base can respond to changing wave conditions, water depths, and currents. The mooring system allows the apparatus to be installed in a wide range of water depths and locations, greatly enhancing versatility.

The floating base design serves multiple functions: it provides stability through buoyancy, allows installation in various water depths, and can be moored in different configurations to suit various sea conditions. This universal design replaces the location-specific heavy base with a multi-functional floating platform that can be deployed across diverse marine environments.

The floating base with its mooring system provides dynamic response to extreme weather conditions. During storms, the floating apparatus can move with the waves rather than being rigidly constrained to the seabed, reducing structural loads. The energy capture system can be dynamically adjusted or protected while maintaining operational reliability in stormy conditions.

The floating base design inherently provides cushioning against extreme weather by allowing the structure to move with waves rather than being fixed to the seabed. This prior cushioning effect protects the energy capture mechanisms from excessive loads during storms, maintaining reliability while preserving energy capture capacity in normal conditions.