System and method for generating electricity using grid of wind and water energy capture devices

Abstract

A system for maintaining buoyant, energy-capture devices in general relative position in water in the presence of surface waves allows heeling of the energy capture devices while preventing collision. The system includes a grid of structural members that resists compression while permitting limited relative surface displacement between the first and second energy-capture devices. The structural members may be partially compressible and provide a restoring force, and they may allow heeling. Electricity from wave energy capture devices is combined in a way that smoothes variations inherent in wave action. Electricity from wind energy capture devices is combined with energy from wave energy capture devices for transmission to shore.

What is claim is: 
     
         1 . A system for maintaining buoyant, energy-capture devices in general relative position in water in the presence of surface waves, said system comprising a plurality of positioning members adapted for connection to energy-capture devices to form an array, each positioning member characterized by having:
 (A) a first attachment structure for connecting to a first energy-capture device;   (B) a second attachment structure for connecting to a second energy-capture device; and   (C) a connecting body between the first and second attachment structures that resists compression while permitting limited relative surface displacement between the first and second energy-capture devices.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1  wherein positioning members allow limited compression between the first and second attachment structures, thereby permitting limited surface displacement between energy-capture devices when attached to energy-capture devices attached near the water surface. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2  wherein a positioning member develops a restoring force returning first and second attachment structures to nominal positions. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 3  wherein a positioning member develops the restoring force with a spring. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 3  wherein a positioning member develops the restoring force fluid-mechanically. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 1  wherein positioning members allow limited movement of an energy-capture device about an attachment point, thereby permitting limited surface displacement between energy-capture devices when attached away from the water surface. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 1  further including an anchorage permitting the grid system to rotate about an anchorage point. 
     
     
         8 . A buoyant, energy-capture system for disposition in a body of water, said system comprising:
 (A) a plurality of wave energy capture devices held in general relative position by positioning members that resist compression while permitting limited relative movement between buoyant structures, wherein each wave energy capture device;   (B) at least one wind energy capture device located proximate to the plurality of wave energy capture devices that electricity; and   (C) an electricity transmission system transmitting electricity from both the wind energy capture device and the plurality of wave energy capture devices to a shore of the body of water.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the wind energy capture means comprises a wind turbine having means for reducing an amount of capture area. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the wind energy capture device comprises an axial flow turbine with variable geometry. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the wind energy capture means comprises a transverse axis wind turbine with variable geometry. 
     
     
         12 . A method of capturing energy from waves comprising:
 (A) providing a plurality of wave energy capture devices that each converts wave energy into electrical energy cyclically, where the electrical energy from each wave energy capture device has an inherent amount of cyclical variation;   (B) combining the electrical energy from the wave energy capture devices such that the amount of variation of the combined electrical energy is less than the sum of variations of electrical energy produced by each wave energy capture device; and   (C) transmitting the smoothed electrical energy to a consumption location.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of combining the electrical energy from the plurality of wave energy capture devices includes steps of:
 (A) converting alternating current electricity generated by wave energy capture devices into direct currents; and 
 (B) combining the direct currents. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further including a step of providing an amount of storage to smooth the variation of the combined electrical energy such that the amount of storage for the combined electrical energy is less than the sum of the amount of storage required to smooth variations of the electrical energy produced by each wave energy capture device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further including a step of providing an amount of storage include a step of providing storage for the combined direct currents such that the amount of storage for the combined electrical energy is less than the sum of the amount of storage required to smooth variations of the electrical energy produced by each wave energy capture device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further including steps of:
 (A) providing at least one wind energy capture device that converts wind energy into electrical energy; and 
 (B) combining electrical energy from the wind energy capture device with energy from the wave energy capture devices. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  where the step of combining electrical energy from the wind energy capture device with energy from the wave energy capture devices includes steps of:
 (A) converting alternating current electricity generated by wave energy capture devices into direct currents; 
 (B) converting alternating current electricity generated by the wind energy capture device into direct current; and 
 (C) combining the direct currents. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  where the step of combining electrical energy from the wind energy capture device with energy from the wave energy capture devices includes steps of:
 (A) converting alternating current electricity generated by wave energy capture devices into direct currents; 
 (B) combining the direct currents into a combined direct current; 
 (C) inverting the combined direct current into a summed alternating current; and 
 (D) combining alternating current generated by the wind energy capture device with the summed alternating current. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  where the step of combining alternating current generated by the wind energy capture device with the summed alternating current includes a step of operating the wind energy capture device synchronously with the summed alternating current. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transmitting step includes a step of cutting in the electricity from the wave energy devices once the combined energy from the plurality of wave energy capture devices achieves a predetermined level. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the transmitting step includes a step of cutting in the electricity from the wave energy devices once the amount of stored energy achieves a predetermined level.