Patent Description:
The development of a wave energy converter suitable for deployment in utility-scale arrays in energetic offshore sites has been frustrated by two crucial issues:.

The prospects of survival and good operational availability for the lifetime of a development are enhanced if the device is sea-worthy and avoids complexity. A wave energy absorber must function where there is significant wave energy, that is, at or close to the surface, in exposed sites, and preferably over water more than half a wavelength in depth, such as in the North Atlantic off NW Europe and latitudes between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. The greater part of the wave energy is associated with wavelengths of <NUM> to <NUM> metres, meaning that the raw energy will be appreciably reduced at depths less than <NUM> metres. Oscillating systems capable of resonating with the incident waves are can be very effective energy absorbers. Energy is typically absorbed by one or more large masses that may be arranged to oscillate in response to the excitation provided by the waves. Recovering this absorbed mechanical energy requires that the oscillating mass must react via some power take-off system against another and preferably at least comparable mass, or the seabed.

The energy absorbing mass may be negative in the form of a partially or totally submerged buoyant body, in which case it must be rigidly anchored and arranged to react against the seabed. The present inventor has realised that reacting against the seabed is a less practical solution in deep waters and will not be considered further here.

Heaving buoy point absorbers are the simplest of the oscillating systems. These are necessarily small in cross-section with respect to the wavelength. In order to incorporate sufficient mass, they may be extended vertically, in the form of a spar buoy.

A single-bodied floating buoy on compliant moorings is a simple, low-cost, and sea-worthy structure with good prospects of survival in energetic sites. Single-bodied and self-reacting point absorbers have existed since the <NUM>'s, where the incident wave energy was absorbed by an oscillating water column (OWC). Since then there have been significant advances in OWC point absorbers for the generation of electricity.

In our earlier patent application <CIT> there is described a heaving buoy point absorber of spar-buoy form, comprising two interacting massive bodies, a spar buoy and an internally trapped column of water, open to the sea at the bottom. Although similar in that it comprises a point absorber with an internal water column, the device of <CIT> differs in principle from an OWC point absorber in that the buoy itself is designed to oscillate in heave and absorb energy from the incident waves. This arrangement provides scope for tuning and control not available to an OWC point absorber, and the internal water column is not limited in its draft by the need to behave as an OWC. The mass of the heaving buoy and of the water column may be as large as is consistent with remaining as a point absorber, facilitating a more powerful device.

<FIG> of <CIT> (reproduced here as Figure No <NUM>) shows a massive heaving buoy that reacts against an internally trapped column of water. This trapped water column is in communication with the sea at the base of chamber <NUM> which is located above the inertial mass tanks <NUM>.

It is evident from the Figure and the descriptions in <CIT> that the extent and therefore mass of this water column will be constrained by the presence of the inertial mass tanks <NUM> below it and the need of the whole device to remain of small diameter with respect to the dominant wavelengths. It is evident from the Figure and descriptions that the total mass of the heaving buoy, the seawater enclosed in tanks <NUM> and <NUM>, the ballast, plus all structural components and the added mass when in motion, equates to considerably more than the water column within chamber <NUM>.

As described in <CIT> the natural period in heave is designed to match that of the incident waves by incorporating submerged tanks <NUM>, <NUM> that enclose a large neutrally buoyant mass of seawater (the 'inertial mass'), rigidly connected to the surface-piercing buoy.

This inertial mass may be adjusted by opening flap valves at the top <NUM> and bottom <NUM> of one or more of these tanks. This will alter the buoy's natural period in heave, making it possible to better match its response to changing conditions. These valves may be arranged to act as a fail-safe mechanism as, once all opened, a large water-mass is no longer trapped and the buoy's natural period in heave will shift away from any risk of resonance. Tuning and fail-safe are very advantageous features.

However, the present inventor of <CIT> has since realised that the incorporation of this inertial mass as embodied in <CIT> has certain disadvantages:.

Accordingly, there is provided a wave energy converter as defined in the claims that follow.

There now follows a description referring to <FIG> which is provided to assist in an understanding of the present teaching. It is not intended to limit to the specifics of what is herein described except as may be deemed necessary in the light of the claims that follow.

The detail of <FIG> has been described above from which it is evident that this corresponds to <FIG> of our earlier application, <CIT>, and exemplifies the present state-of-the-art in heaving buoy point absorbers that include a large and adjustable inertial mass of seawater. This seawater mass is held in tanks <NUM> and <NUM> by means of flap valves <NUM> and <NUM>. The heaving buoy reacts against a column of water trapped within cylindrical enclosure <NUM> which is open at the bottom <NUM>.

<FIG> is a line drawing of an improved wave energy converter in accordance with the present teaching. As will be appreciated by those of skill, it is a point absorber having a surface-piercing float <NUM>. The surface piercing float includes fixed buoyancy, <NUM> and a deck, <NUM>. The large and adjustable mass of seawater is now held by means of atmospheric pressure in long tubes <NUM> attached to the surface-piercing float <NUM>. It will be appreciated that for ease of illustration only one of these tubes is shown in the drawing. This combination of float, inertial mass and ballast when acting as a heaving buoy reacts against a column of seawater of comparable mass <NUM> held within a central tube open at the bottom and extending above the internal free surface to enclose an air plenum <NUM>. Details of these and further improvements embodied in the present teaching are now described with references to the following drawings.

As is perhaps more evident from inspection of the sectional view of <FIG>, the surface piercing float of the device of <FIG> differs from that of <FIG> in that it comprises a fixed buoyancy <NUM> and two air accumulator spaces <NUM>, surrounding an internal plenum <NUM> above the free surface of a water column <NUM> within the central tube <NUM> which is in fluid communication with the sea <NUM>. The surface-piercing float is coupled to a ballast mass <NUM> by a central tube <NUM> preferable at larger scale together with an open framework as indicated in <FIG>.

It will be understood that within the surface piercing float <NUM> there exists a water plane area which is equivalent to cross-sectional area of the surface piercing float when operating and the volumes of air defined in regions <NUM> and <NUM> are not open to atmosphere. Extending the inertial mass tubes <NUM> through the surface-piercing float <NUM> to above the waterline allows atmospheric pressure to be used to retain the water mass within each tube. This new arrangement, however, means that the waterplane area of the surface-piercing float will change with changes in the number of inertial mass tubes that are open or closed to atmosphere. Changes in the water plane area will alter the natural period in heave of the device. Changes in the water-plane area due to releasing inertial mass will increase the natural period of heave, contrary to that being sought by reducing the mass. This adverse effect is to an extent mitigated by a reduction in the overall added mass when the inertial mass tubes are open.

The total cross-sectional area of the inertial mass tubes <NUM> in the device as described here with its deep draught will be relatively small at commercial scale, possibly <NUM>% or less of the waterplane area of the surface piercing float. With a suitable choice of materials, the inertial mass may be of the order of <NUM>% of the total mass. The changes in the natural period in heave will be proportional to the square roots of the changes in both the water plane area and, inversely, of the total mass including added mass. This effect relates only to the device operating as a resonant heaving buoy and is not expected to diminish performance in the two surface-follower operating modes. The arrangement as described brings substantial overall improvements in reduced drag, reduced radiation losses, lower capital costs, lower maintenance costs, and greater availability. These outweigh the marginal reduction in the effect of releasing the inertial mass.

A method of adjusting the inertial mass was described in <CIT>. However, per the present teaching and as based on principles that are readily understood with reference to the schematic of <FIG>, the present invention embodies a more flexible and mechanically simpler arrangement that will also facilitate a more precise method of adjusting the inertial mass, which is in effect a mass attributed to a retained volume of sea water, attached to the heaving buoy.

<FIG> illustrates the principle of using atmospheric pressure to retain an inertial mass of water in a tube <NUM> that is open at the bottom. By way of explanation, A and B in <FIG> are similar tubes, both open at the bottom, and A is also open at the top. By closing the top of a tube filled with water, as in B, atmospheric pressure will allow a column of water to be held a few metres above the surface level. It is less costly to install and to maintain a valved arrangement with valves at the top of the tubes, with no moving parts below the water line, and such an arrangement is also advantageous in that it consequently reduces the risks arising from component failure.

Based on this understanding, tubes that are open at the bottom, but which can be selectively closed at the top, may hold or release the volume of water that is located within the respective tube, and hence the inertial mass coupled to the heaving buoy. In this way deploying a plurality of tubes in accordance with this principle can advantageously be used to effect a means of adjusting the operating mass of a wave energy converter and hence its response characteristics. Given that the variation in mass may have an effect on the stability of the converter itself, it is desirable that when deployed that such tubes are symmetrically arranged about the converter, with tubes on opposing sides of the converter desirably contributing an equivalent inertial mass.

<FIG> illustrates in schematic form how at least four and possibly more than a dozen or more tubes would be installed in a commercial-scale unit, depending on the degree of fine tuning economically justified. <FIG> illustrates two arrangements. For smaller scale devices, <FIG> shows the tubes <NUM> that accommodate the inertial mass of seawater may be arranged around the central water column <NUM> within a large diameter pipe <NUM>. In order to avoid viscous drag, a smaller number of larger diameter tubes <NUM> is to be preferred, as is available with for example smooth bore HDPE extruded water pipes. At larger scales, and with the need to accommodate a correspondingly larger inertial mass, and to minimise costs, <FIG> indicates how the tubes <NUM> may be arranged to contain the main central water column <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates how a configuration as shown in 5B may be incorporated in order to minimise drag resistance to the heave oscillations and lateral forces that may arise from currents and wave Movements.

The controls used to operate the valves used to retain or release the water column in each tube may be linked (electrically or mechanically) in diametrically opposite pairs to help maintain operational balance and an even keel.

These tubes holding the inertial masses of seawater are configured so that, in the event of extreme oscillation as may arise in very high seas, the atmospheric seal is automatically broken and the inertial mass released, resulting in a reduction in the natural frequency of heave of the buoy and a shift away from resonant conditions. Two exemplary methods of automatically achieving this fail-safe condition are described in the <FIG> and <FIG> below.

The cross-sectional dimensions of a point absorber per the present teaching are generally small with respect to the dominant wave length of the geographic location where the device is deployed, making a spar buoy the appropriate geometry when a large mass is to be included. This has a further advantage.

<FIG> illustrates that the bottom opening of the main central column of seawater <NUM> is typically half a wavelength below the mean sea level. In the event of deployment for example in North Atlantic conditions where a typical wavelength is of the order of <NUM> metres, this implies a depth of a device per the present teaching of about <NUM> metres below the mean sea level of the deployment location where the device is situated.

Having a device which provides a water column that extends to, and has an opening at, about <NUM> below the mean sea level results provides a number of distinct advantages including:.

The internal free surface will tend to remain at the mean sea level when no damping is applied, even though the buoy may be oscillating in heave or simply following the wave surface.

Once damping is applied, as when the system is closed and a pressure difference is being established or being maintained between the high- and low-pressure accumulators, the air plenum over the internal free surface will act as a spring. This will then act on the level of the internal water column, depressing it during the compression cycle, raising it during the expansion cycle. The stiffness of this spring, and hence the degree of coupling between the buoy and the internal water column, is proportional to the pressure difference between the accumulators.

The stiffness of this air spring will depend in the incident wave climate and may be controlled by the setting of the HP and LP valves including latching, and the reaction provided by one or more power trains being engaged. It may be quickly released by opening the by-pass valve between the HP and LP accumulators.

Typically, the open mouths of the inertial mass tubes <NUM> which are located at the bottom of these tubes will also be at these depths. It will be appreciated that the co-location of the open mouths of both the central tubes and the inertial mass tubes is not necessary but where provided it can advantageously assist in helping to maintain the slim shape of the tubular under water components of the device whilst allowing the necessary width of the surface piercing float.

In waves of a period longer than those that may induce a significant heave response, it is safe to retain the inertial mass, enhancing energy conversion for the surface follower mode. As the corresponding wavelengths will be greater than twice the design draft, the internal water column may begin to oscillate. This may be usefully exploited if a suitable phase difference is maintained between the surface follower and the oscillating internal water column.

As is exemplified with reference to <FIG>, the main hull structure, ie the surface-piercing float <NUM>, may fabricated conventionally from welded steel plate with ribs for stiffening. Light-weight materials such as polymers are the preferable material for the main tube <NUM> and the tubes <NUM> that hold the inertial mass. Polymers are of close to neutral mass in seawater, with the result that the inertial mass held in tubes <NUM> will be a correspondingly larger fraction of the total mass of the heaving buoy than possible with a steel structure. This increases the effectiveness of altering the inertial mass. The main tube will need a support frame if assembled from polymers. One arrangement is indicated, comprising stainless steel tension rods between the PTO deck and the ballast, holding under compression pipes designed for high jacking forces. Additional bracing or dampers (not shown) may be introduced to avoid a risk of damaging vibration.

<FIG> shows how a device of the present teaching may be configured to operate as a dual action pump, circulating air in a closed system through one or more air turbines <NUM>. The turbines <NUM> are preferably unidirectional turbines, i.e. air can only pass in one direction through the turbine. The pressure difference between the high-pressure, HP, and low-pressure, LP, accumulators is small, and the air flow rate is therefore high. For this reason, smaller turbines which are configured to operate with high RPMs may be advantageous. Rotation rates of the order of <NUM>,<NUM> or more RPM will result in smaller components that are less expensive to purchase and to maintain.

When operating, air is forced during the sinking or compression stroke from the plenum <NUM> into a high-pressure air accumulator 'HP' and drawn into the plenum during the rising expansion stroke from a low-pressure air accumulator 'LP'. One-way valves between the plenum <NUM> and the air accumulators ensure that air flows are in the correct direction enabling a close to steady flow to be established through one or more air turbines <NUM> placed between the accumulators. These valves will be of a sufficient size to ensure only minimal impedance to airflows. They may also be held closed (mechanisms not shown) during part of each cycle in order to control the response of the point absorber and to improve energy absorption, a technique known as 'latching control'. This Figure shows two additional valves. Valve <NUM> provides an option to by-pass the air turbines and is of sufficient cross-sectional area to allow the pressures in the two accumulators to be equalised within one or two wave periods. Valve <NUM> will be arranged to be energised closed so that in the event of a system failure such as the loss of the grid connection, or extreme seas it will fail open. Valve <NUM>, and if necessary, in combination with valve <NUM>, will allow adjustments to the total volume of air held in the accumulators and the plenum. This provides a method of adjusting the difference between the average pressure within the system and atmospheric pressure, and hence the still water draft of the surface-piercing float and the spring effect of the plenum.

Detailed modelling has shown that the volume of each air accumulator should be approximately five to seven times greater than the still-water volume of the plenum. This allows a suitable build up in both the high- and low-pressure air accumulators, facilitating a steady flow through the one or more air turbines.

<FIG> shows how the response of the heaving buoy may be altered by altering the amount of the inertial mass retained. During normal operations all or most of the tubes <NUM> will be filled with seawater up to valve <NUM> which remains closed, check valve <NUM> will be held open, the water being held above mean sea level by atmospheric pressure. Opening valve <NUM> for any one tube will open that tube to the atmosphere and, provided that it is internally smooth and of sufficient diameter, the level of water within it will tend to that of the mean sea level and its mass will cease to be closely coupled to that of the heaving buoy.

A multiplicity of tubes provides scope for fine tuning, or 'storm-by-storm' control, provided that the total available mass of seawater within them is a significant fraction, say of the order of <NUM>% or more, of the total mass of the heaving buoy.

Opening all valves <NUM> will de-couple all the trapped inertial mass and hence shift the response of the heaving buoy away from resonance with any probable wave frequency. This is a fail-safe mode.

In extreme weather and very large waves, the combination of the heaving excursion of the buoy and the elevated wave surface on which it floats may result in the top of the tubes <NUM> being more than <NUM> metres above the mean sea level. Atmospheric pressure cannot support a water column of this height and cavitation will result if the tube was filled and valve <NUM> closed. This condition will automatically trigger vacuum release valve <NUM> and the system will 'fail safe'. In this way a device per the present teaching will then act as a surface follower rather than as a heaving buoy. Recovery of useful power may continue on account of the alternating difference between the external wave surface and the internal free surface within the central column which will tend to remain at mean sea level as it senses conditions at depths almost unaffected by the surface waves.

To re-charge an inertial mass tube the water within it needs to be raised typically two or three metres above sea-level. The water level in tube <NUM> may be raised by exhausting the air via valve <NUM>. Alternatively, an inertial mass tube may be re-charged or partially re-charged in one or more steps if there are sufficient heave oscillations to drive the water levels within it past check valve <NUM> with valve <NUM> remaining open. Once the level passes, for example, sight glass <NUM> or a suitable sensor the valve <NUM> may be closed.

<FIG> shows an alternative configuration whereby the upper end of each inertial mass tube <NUM> is led through the internal air plenum to terminate below the surface of the enclosed column of water. In extreme weather and very large waves, the combination of the heaving excursion of the buoy and the elevated wave surface on which it floats may result in the internal surface level in the plenum <NUM> dropping below the pipe opening <NUM> thus breaking the water seal and releasing the inertial mass. The depth below the internal surface level at which opening <NUM> is set determines when such a fail-safe condition is triggered.

In this arrangement, there is the possibility that each full inertial mass pipe may act as a siphon during normal operations when the level of the internal free surface is above or below the level external free surface. The mass within the tube will remain unchanged.

<FIG> is a comparison of power generated from scale model tests (dark lines) and from numerical simulation of a similar model with a greatly increased reaction mass (lighter shade). It will be appreciated that the average power has more than doubled. As commented on in the review of the present state-of-the-art above, this increase in the reaction mass, ie the extent of the water column <NUM>, could not have been accommodated in <CIT>.

<FIG> shows power curves and optimum mass ratios for wave periods from <NUM> seconds (reading from the left) to <NUM> seconds, and significant wave height <NUM>. For energy distribution in a North Atlantic site, wave periods Tp = <NUM> - <NUM> seconds are most significant. Thus, the facility to adjust the ratio of the mass of the heaving buoy to that of the water column against which it reacts has important advantages in terms of energy absorption.

Whilst it is not intended to limit the present teaching to any specific geometric construction of dimensions unless necessary in light of the claims that follow, given that the wave energy converter per the present teaching is intended to operate in environments having energetic wave climates, such as the North Atlantic off the west coast of Ireland, there are some fundamentals in dimensions and masses of the system that need to be considered:.

The heaving buoy is operably coupled to an adjustable inertial mass distributed between a multiplicity of pipes <NUM> defining a variable volume for accommodating sea water therein. The total inertial mass held in tubes <NUM> should preferably be a large fraction of the total mass of the buoy in order to enable fine tuning of the heave eigen value.

This improved wave energy converter, intended for offshore sites, is scalable. Indicative dimensions and masses suitable for an energetic North Atlantic site are provided in the following section.

The cost of electricity measured as the levelised cost of electricity (LCoE) is the sum of all costs divided by the total value of power delivered, discounted over the lifetime of the project. The amount of useful electrical power recovered from the wave energy flux is a measure of the efficiency of the wave energy converter. For floating and self-reacting point absorbers this is typically <NUM>% or less. The highly variable wave climate associated with an oceanic site as the North Atlantic provides a major challenge for a self-reacting oscillating system. The present invention seeks to improve performance across the possible range of conditions by adopting the following measures:.

When damping is applied, as intended by the closed cycle power take-off system described, the trapped volume of air <NUM> operably varies.

In both the heaving buoy and the surface following operating modes, the mass of the buoy and the mass of the internal water column react against each other through this trapped volume of air, acting to expand it and to compress it in every cycle.

In both operating modes, this trapped volume of air <NUM> will act as a spring of varying stiffness placed between the mass of the buoy and the mass of the internal water column. This in turn will tend to elevate and depress the level of the internal free surface.

With inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM> valves as shown in <FIG>, the system will act as a pump, forcing air around the power take-off circuit. The wave energy converter in accordance with the present teaching may be set to convert wave energy by means of one of three different operating modes, selected to match the prevailing conditions. A fourth setting is adopted in extreme seas or as a fail-safe mode.

The present inventor has identified that in any one wave location, that there are different sea conditions within which a device may be exposed. Typically, a device is optimised for any one type of wave climate. However, whilst that wave climate may be the dominant wave climate it may not always be the prevailing wave climate. For example, in the North Atlantic, and shown in the data set of <FIG> it is possible to identify four distinct regions A, B, C, and D each of which have identifiable different ranges of wave heights and wave periods. Within each of these regions a device that operates differently can optimally extract energy from these conditions. Per the present teaching, the operation of the device can be modified to suit the prevailing conditions.

It is to be noted that switching between these four modes can be triggered by changes in the prevailing wave heights and wave periods, either as sensed by on-board instrumentation and control software, or as up-loaded by remote control. The change is made to happen by releasing or by re-securing the inertial mass, held by valves <NUM> and atmospheric pressure.

Whilst the device is optimised typically for the dominant conditions of the geographical area where it is to be located, it will be appreciated that these dominant conditions may not necessarily be the prevailing conditions. Hence the importance of the device being configured to transition between different operating modes.

It will be understood that in any one deployment location that there will be a prevailing set of conditions within which the device is most likely to be operating. For example, using data from the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) outer berth as shown in <FIG>, the following table confirms that operating in Mode A is the most prevalent and hence the device should be optimised for operating in Mode A.

It is also to be noted that the physical dimensions and control strategies will be those that ensure the most cost-effective conversion of the available wave energy to useful power.

For this example therefore, the device will primarily operate as a resonant heaving buoy point absorber but can also operate as a surface follower in one of two distinct modes- with our without inertial mass retained. Evidently, an additional mode adopted during repair or during extreme weather conditions is a fourth mode.

<NUM> Improved control systems, adjusting the inertial mass. An oscillating system will absorb most energy when its natural period matches that of the incident wave field and resonance may be achieved. One method of controlling the natural period in heave is achieved in the present system by adjusting the inertial mass. The relationship of the heave period to the mass and a fixed water-plane area (corresponding to the restoring or buoyancy spring) are given by the approximate formula: <MAT>.

For example, for a unit suitable for a North Atlantic site, this indicates that for a heaving buoy point absorber with a <NUM> metre radius float and <NUM> draught in still water, a total mass of approximately <NUM>,000kgs is required if the natural frequency in heave is to match a <NUM>" wave period. The corresponding values are, in round figures:.

The tubes <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> together hold the entirety of the adjustable inertial mass of the heaving buoy.

With a suitably defined set of tubes a range of natural frequencies in heave is possible, as indicated here, in round figures:.

Exact values will follow detailed engineering design and empirically validated numerical modelling in the context of a specified wave climate, taking account of factors such as viscous drag, radiation losses and mooring loads. It is clearly important to maximise the adjustable fraction of the total mass as the natural heave period is inversely proportional only to the square root of its size. A smaller fraction of the total is the ballast required to maintain the design displacement of the surface-piercing float. Replacing steel by polymers minimises the mass of the structure itself.

<NUM> Improved control systems, adjusting the mass ratios. The importance of the ratio of the total mass of the heaving buoy to the mass against which it reacts was not recognised in <CIT>. As indicated in <FIG>, analysis shows that a constant buoy-to-water-column mass ratio of approximately <NUM> would potentially forfeit a lot of energy.

Consequently, the present invention incorporates two control strategies that are based on adjusting one or both of the interacting masses and describes exemplary methods of achieving desirable results. These are:.

• Altering the natural frequency in heave of the primary energy absorber to ensure resonance. • Altering the ratio of the mass of the absorber to the mass against which it reacts to ensure maximum recoverable energy.

Table <NUM>. A portion of the internal water column is included in vertical tubes open to the sea at the bottom and to the air plenum within the plenum at the top, with the option of closing the top of each tube. These tubes are integral with the main structure of the heaving buoy. When open at both ends the seawater within each tube is a part of the mass of the water column. When closed at the top the mass of water within the tube becomes integral with the mass of the heaving buoy. This provides a method of switching mass between the heaving buoy and the water column, thus changing the mass ratio between the two.

Table <NUM>. The only mass adjusted is that of the heaving buoy, that is the inertial water mass. With the mass of the internal water column remaining un-adjusted it will be necessary to make a greater increase to the buoy mass than the mass-switching option described above if a comparable range of mass ratios is to be achieved.

Although it includes more and larger tubes for the same effect, the second of the above two options has the advantage of being mechanically simpler and easier to control. It also results in a greater mass for the heaving buoy, a potential advantage for energy absorption in the longer period waves which tend to be associated with greater wave heights and energy flux. It is to be noted that these values are illustrative examples.

Improve availability by installing two or more power trains. The flow of wave energy may change from a few kilowatts/metre to well over a megawatt/metre in the space of a day or two. There is also a marked seasonal variation. For this reason, the wave energy converter in accordance with the present teaching may incorporate two or more power trains. This is readily managed in a device sized for the North Atlantic as described above. Each power train will include three basic sub-components, an air turbine, a generator, and power electronics. With for example four such power trains, and not necessarily of the same capacity, the total capacity engaged at any time may be adjusted to more closely match the prevailing energy flux than would be possible with a single, and necessarily large, power train. This will improve overall energy absorption and performance. Such an arrangement has other advantages:.

In this context it will be noted that 'capacity factor' ceases to be a meaningful metric; carrying stand-by capacity on board would add marginally to capital costs but, by increasing availability, could improve the economics and reduce the levelized cost of electricity, the measure of the average net present cost of electricity generation for a generating plant over its lifetime.

A device in accordance with the present teaching addresses the two crucial issues mentioned in the opening background art section above:.

A device per the present teaching is configured as an axi-symmetric spar buoy with a smooth and entirely un-interrupted and streamlined shape that can heave as a unitary body. With appropriate moorings, for example dynamic tethers, this will be eminently seaworthy.

The device now incorporates the following safe operating or fail-safe features, described in more detail above:.

By-pass valves (<NUM> in Figure 9A) that equalise the HP and LP accumulator pressures such that power generation ceases.

The typical wave frequency for an exposed offshore site will account for of the order of <NUM> million cycles in a year, more than <NUM> million in the lifetime of a typical offshore renewable energy project. It will be appreciated that for a device per the present teaching the risks and implications of failure due to fatigue or component failure are reduced, notably because:.

The levelised cost of electricity is conventionally determined by discounting costs and income over the duration of the project, using the formula <MAT>.

The present invention reduces costs and increases performance in the following key respects: Reduced costs: CAPEX and OPEX:.

The performance of the wave energy converter in accordance with the present teaching is an improvement on <CIT> in several respects. These improvements may be grouped under four headings: operating mass, three operating modes, reduced losses, and improved efficiency of the power take-off.

Claim 1:
A wave energy converter comprising:
a resonant heaving buoy point absorber comprising:
a surface piercing float (<NUM>) operably coupled to a water column tube (<NUM>) extending downwardly from the surface piercing float (<NUM>), the tube being open at its bottom and being configured to accommodate a column of sea water therein, the tube being in communication with an air plenum (<NUM>) provided within the surface piercing float to effect a trapping of a volume of air above a top surface of the column of sea water (<NUM>) accommodated within the water column tube, the plenum being configured such that operably movement of the resonant heaving buoy point absorber expands and compresses the trapped volume of air; and
a power take off, PTO, in communication with and responsive to air vented from the plenum resultant from a reaction of the heaving buoy point absorber against the top surface of the enclosed column of sea water;
a plurality of adjustable inertial mass tubes (<NUM>), each adjustable inertial mass tube having a top and a bottom, the bottom being in open fluid communication with sea water, each tube being configured to accommodate a mass of sea water therein, the retention of the mass of sea water being controlled by a valve in fluid communication with the top of the tube such that sea water is retained in the tube during a movement of the point absorber in response to wave action thereon;
a fixed mass ballast;
wherein each of the surface piercing float, the water column tube, the plurality of adjustable inertial mass tubes and ballast are configured to rise and fall together as a unitary body in response to passing waves, and wherein the plurality of adjustable inertial mass tubes (<NUM>) are arranged symmetrically about the column (<NUM>) of sea water (<NUM>) accommodated within the water column tube (<NUM>).