Patent ID: 7878734
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: B63B,E02B,F03B,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A wave energy converter (WEC) comprising: a float intended to lie along the surface of a body of water and designed to move in-phase with the waves present in the body of water; a spar intended to extend vertically, generally perpendicular to the float and the surface of the body of water, said spar extending below the surface of the body of water and intended to move vertically up and down out-of-phase with the waves; a power take off device (PTO), connected between the spar and the float, responsive to their relative motion to convert the relative motion to useful energy; and a heave plate symmetrically connected to a submerged portion of the spar, said heave plate extending in a plane perpendicular to the spar, said heave plate having a pair of oppositely facing surfaces extending transversely to the vertical direction of the movement of the spar element and vertical structures mounted on the oppositely facing surfaces; said vertical structures defining an enclosure whose sides are solid and of predetermined height for capturing a volume of water equal to the enclosed surface area of the damping plate multiplied by the height of the vertical structures and configured to push a volume of water in a direction parallel to and opposing the movement of the spar for thereby increasing the effective mass of water pushed in the up and down vertical direction during movement of the damping plate through the water.