US 12,392,312 B2
Wave energy converter with pitch resonance tuning tanks and pneumatic turbines
Adetoso Afonja, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Stefano Brizzolara, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed by VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed on May 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/662,355.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/184,888, filed on May 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0364541 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. F03B 13/14 (2006.01); F03B 13/24 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/142 (2013.01) [F03B 13/24 (2013.01); F05B 2240/93 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wave energy converter, comprising:
a floater that is buoyant in a body of water, the floater having a geometry such that the floater pitches in an angular motion about a transverse axis in response to an incoming wave in the body of water; and
a tank in the floater having a plurality of vertical columns, a first vertical column of the plurality of vertical columns comprising a first air turbine, a second vertical column of the plurality of vertical columns comprising a second air turbine, the tank configured to store a volume of fluid and a volume of air, the plurality of vertical columns being connected by at least one horizontal conduit for movement of the volume of fluid between the plurality of vertical columns,
wherein in response to the floater pitching due to the incoming wave, a motion of the volume of fluid between the plurality of vertical columns via the at least one horizontal conduit causes air to be released or admitted via the first air turbine and the second air turbine to generate electrical power.