WAVE ENERGY CONVERTOR - UNIV STELLENBOSCH

Title:

WAVE ENERGY CONVERTOR

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/067177

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

A wave energy convertor (1 ) is provided comprising an elongate construction (2), typically a breakwater or harbour wall, located in a body of water having wave action associated with it with the waves moving generally in a dominant wave direction (10) and having a generally constant wavelength. A plurality of equally spaced chambers (20) extends along the length of the construction internally thereof with each chamber extending generally upwardly and having at or near its lowermost end (28) an opening (24) into the body of water. Each chamber communicates through a unidirectional valve (40, 42) respectively with each of a high pressure conduit (44) and a low pressure conduit (46) with the high pressure conduit feeding into an inlet to a turbine (56) and the low pressure conduit communicating with an outlet from the turbine. The length of the construction is approximately equal to an integral number of said generally constant wavelengths in the dominant wave direction. The construction extends from a bed (4) of the body of water to above a high water level (8) with the opening of each chamber being located below a low water level (30) of the body of water.

Inventors:

VAN NIEKERK JOHANNES LODEWIKUS (ZA)
RETIEF GIDEON DE FALLAUX (ZA)

Application Number:

PCT/IB2009/007682

Publication Date:

June 30, 2011

Filing Date:

December 09, 2009

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

UNIV STELLENBOSCH (ZA)
VAN NIEKERK JOHANNES LODEWIKUS (ZA)
RETIEF GIDEON DE FALLAUX (ZA)

International Classes:

F03B13/12

Domestic Patent References:

WO2006122397A1	2006-11-23
WO1998055764A1	1998-12-10

Foreign References:

GB2429243A

2007-02-21

Other References: