Ocean tide energy converter having improved efficiency
A tide motor useful for converting periodic rising and falling water levels to useful work such as electric power generation includes a primary piston having a large enclosed chamber that can selectively be filled with air for generation of upward thrust when submerged in rising tidal water or filled with water for generating downward gravitational thrust when the piston is suspended in air above a dropping tidal water level. Cyclic filling and emptying of the chamber is programmed to coordinate piston positions and water level positions, and the piston can be locked in either up or down position to achieve maximum flotation and gravitational thrust forces. An auxiliary tidal piston that can be locked in a down position has an upper water chamber provided with flood valves and an air filled, sealed flotation chamber below. The auxiliary piston is located near the primary piston, and is designed to have positive buoyancy when its respective chambers are filled with water and air. The lower area of the water chamber of the auxiliary piston is connected to the lower area of the primary piston chamber by a valve conduit so the primary piston chamber can be filled with water at its high position while it is locked up by releasing the auxiliary piston to float upwardly with its water chamber filled, and placing the primary and auxiliary piston chambers in communication with each other so water flows from the latter into the former until the primary piston chamber is filled with water before it begins its downward stroke after the water level has dropped below it. After the primary piston has completed its downward stroke, its interior chamber is drained and sealed in preparation for its next upward stroke on the next rising tide, and the water chamber of the auxiliary piston is refilled in preparation for the next cycle of operation.
- Assignee:
- EDB-82-094217
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4185464
- OSTI ID:
- 5641325
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 20 Mar 1978; Other Information: PAT-APPL-888020
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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