Ocean tide energy converter

Patent · Tue Jun 24 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5764111

Rainey, D E

A tide motor energy source includes a tidal piston with a valved chamber. The piston drives a hydraulic ram to generate electrical power through a pressure accumulator and hydraulic motor. The ram can be locked hydraulically to enable the tidal piston to be held fixed at a desired elevation and the valves in the chamber permit it to be filled with water or air. The piston with its chamber filled with air at its low tide position and then released for controlled ascent while submerged acts as a submerged float for driving the ram upwardly while the tide runs in during one phase of its operation. The piston with its chamber filled with water while locked at its highest position as the tide begins to run out, and then released to fall under control, acts as a weight suspended in air after the water level drops below the piston for driving the ram downwardly during the second phase of its operation. The rising and falling motion of the tidal piston is used as the energy source.

• Assignee: IFI; EDB-82-038953
• Patent Number(s): US 4208878
• OSTI ID: 5764111
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER
160702* -- Tidal Power Plants-- Power Conversion Systems
ACCUMULATORS
CONTAINERS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CONVERSION
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATORS
HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
PISTONS
PUMPS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TANKS
TIDAL POWER
VALVES