Patent ID: 8286425

Claim:
An energy conversion system, comprising: a wave chamber configured to house an oscillating wave column, the oscillating wave column having an upstroke during which the oscillating wave column increases in height and a downstroke during which the oscillating wave column decreases in height; a turbine wheel having impulse turbine blades and communicating with the wave chamber; first and second radial flow passages extending radially from the turbine wheel; first vanes compliantly mounted at least partially in the first radial flow passage, the first vanes being biased toward a closed position and configured to pivot to an open position when impinged by a fluid flowing toward the turbine wheel such that the first vanes block the first radial flow passage during the upstroke and allow fluid to flow through the first radial flow passage during the downstroke; and second vanes compliantly mounted at least partially in the second radial flow passage, the second vanes being biased toward a closed position and configured to pivot to an open position when impinged by a fluid flowing away from the turbine wheel such that the second vanes block the second radial flow passage during the downstroke and allow fluid to flow through the second radial flow passage during the upstroke.