System for wave energy harvesting employing transport of stored energy

Abstract

A system employs wave energy harvesting apparatus and a water vessel (e.g., a ship) carrying an energy storage apparatus (e.g., array of batteries). The energy harvesting apparatus is preferably also carried by the water vessel, but may be fixed or carried by a separate water vessel. The water vessel is operated in an energy storing mode at an energy harvesting location subject to wave activity, during which the energy storage apparatus stores energy from the wave activity as harvested by the energy harvesting apparatus. The water vessel is operated in an energy transporting mode to transport the stored energy from the energy harvesting location to an energy releasing location (preferably onshore, but may be offshore) having a connection to an electrical power grid. The water vessel is operated at the energy releasing location in an energy releasing mode in which the stored energy is transformed into appropriate AC electricity supplied to the electrical power grid.

1 . A floating wave energy harvesting apparatus, comprising:
 a water vessel configured for floating in a body of water; and   a wave energy conversion apparatus mechanically coupled to the water vessel, the wave energy conversion apparatus configured to harvest energy from wave activity in the body of water;   an onboard load configured to receive the harvested energy in a form suitable for consumption by the onboard load; and   an energy storage apparatus configured to receive the harvested energy from the wave energy conversion apparatus, to store the harvested energy, and to provide at least some of the harvested energy to the onboard load in the form suitable for consumption by the onboard load.   
     
     
         2 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the energy storage apparatus includes an electrical energy storage apparatus, the wave energy conversion apparatus includes an electrical generator for providing the harvested energy as electrical energy to the electrical energy storage apparatus, and the onboard load includes an electrical load. 
     
     
         3 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the electrical energy storage apparatus includes one or more batteries. 
     
     
         4 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the electrical energy storage apparatus includes one or more capacitive elements. 
     
     
         5 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the energy storage apparatus includes a compressed gas storage apparatus, and 
 the wave energy conversion apparatus includes a gas compressor for providing the harvested energy as compressed gas to the compressed gas storage apparatus. 
 
     
     
         6 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the onboard load includes a mechanical load. 
     
     
         7 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 the onboard load includes an electrical load, and 
 the wave energy harvesting apparatus further includes a compressed gas powered electrical generator for converting compressed gas stored in the compressed gas storage apparatus to electrical energy and for providing the electrical energy to the electrical load. 
 
     
     
         8 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the energy storage apparatus includes a thermal energy storage apparatus, 
 the wave energy conversion apparatus includes a thermal energy generator for providing the harvested energy as thermal energy to the thermal energy storage apparatus, 
 the onboard load includes an electrical load, and 
 the wave energy harvesting apparatus further includes a thermal energy powered electrical generator for converting the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage apparatus to electrical energy and for providing the electrical energy to the electrical load. 
 
     
     
         9 . The wave energy harvesting apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the thermal energy powered electrical generator includes a steam turbine. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a floating wave energy harvesting apparatus in a body of water, the floating wave energy harvesting apparatus including a wave energy conversion apparatus mechanically coupled to a water vessel and an onboard load, the method comprising:
 harvesting energy from wave activity from wave activity in the body of water using the wave energy conversion apparatus;   consuming the harvested energy using the onboard load.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising storing the harvested energy as compressed gas. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising converting the stored harvested energy from compressed gas to mechanical energy prior to consuming the harvested energy using the onboard load. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising converting the stored harvested energy from compressed gas to electrical energy prior to consuming the harvested energy using the onboard load. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising storing the harvested energy as a thermal energy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising converting the stored harvested energy from thermal energy to electrical energy prior to consuming the harvested energy using the onboard load. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising converting the harvested energy from thermal energy to mechanical energy prior to consuming the harvested energy using the onboard load.