Wave-energized diode pump

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus that floats at the surface of a body of water over which waves pass. Passing waves cause a nominally vertical axis of the apparatus to tilt away from an axis normal to the resting surface of the body of water. Tilting of sufficient magnitude and duration allows a fluid to flow through a channel that in an un-tilted apparatus would require the gravitational potential energy of the fluid to increase (i.e., to flow uphill), but, because of the tilt allows the fluid to flow through the channel in a downhill direction. Flowing water is trapped at a plurality of levels which in an un-tilted apparatus are higher than the respective levels from which the fluid has flowed. A subsequent tilt of the apparatus in a sufficiently different direction, and of a sufficient magnitude and duration, causes the trapped water to flow to new, yet higher levels. Successive wave-driven tilts of the apparatus incrementally raise water to a height and/or head from which a portion of its gravitational potential energy can be released, and/or converted to electrical power, by causing the water to return to a lower level by flowing through a water turbine thereby energizing an operationally connected generator, or through some other apparatus that performs a useful function when supplied with a flow of high-pressure water.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An electrical generator powered by oceanic surface waves, comprising:
 a sealable, multi-tier tank comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a peripheral wall connecting the top and bottom surfaces; 
 a first, circuitous fluid path extending from a lowermost tier to an uppermost tier; 
 a vertical channel defining a second, direct fluid path and extending from the uppermost tier to the lowermost tier, the vertical channel having a reducing cross sectional area in a direction of fluid flow; 
 a mass of fluid trapped inside the peripheral wall between the top and bottom surface; 
   a turbine disposed within the vertical channel; and   a generator operably connected to the turbine;   whereby repeated tilting of the sealable, multi-tier tank transfers the mass of fluid through the circuitous path from the lowermost tier to the uppermost tier; and   whereby accumulated fluid head is used to actuate the turbine by gravitationally moving the mass of fluid through the vertical channel.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical generator of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical generator of  claim 2 , wherein the circuitous path is a spiral ramp. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical generator of  claim 3 , wherein the spiral ramp includes vertical dividers to collect and obstruct fluid flowing down the spiral ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical generator of  claim 3 , wherein the spiral ramp is lower at a radial outward edge than at a radial inward edge along a connecting radial line. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a buoyant flotation module supporting the sealable, multi-tier tank, the buoyant flotation module adapted to receive the sealable, multi-tier tank and float at a water surface. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical generator of  claim 1 , wherein fluid is the mass of fluid is transferred through a first portion of the circuitous fluid path in response to tilting of the sealable, multi-tier tank in one of a first plurality of azimuthal directions, but not in response to tilting of the sealable, multi-tier tank in one of a second plurality of azimuthal directions. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical generator of  claim 1 , wherein fluid is the mass of fluid is transferred through a first portion of the circuitous fluid path in response to tilting of the sealable, multi-tier tank by a zenith angle of at least a threshold zenith angle, but not in response to tilting of the sealable, multi-tier tank by a zenith angle of less than the threshold zenith angle. 
     
     
         9 . A wave-driven pumping apparatus, comprising:
 an outer elevator jacket adapted to confine fluid;   a plurality of diodic elevator conduits disposed within the outer elevator jacket, each diodic elevator conduit including an inlet channel, a catchment basin, an elevator ramp, and an outlet channel, wherein a lowermost floor of the inlet channel of each diodic elevator conduit is below a lowermost floor of the outlet channel of said diodic elevator conduit, and wherein a lowermost floor of the catchment basin of each diodic elevator conduit is below a lowermost floor of the outlet channel of said diodic elevator conduit;   a liquid return conduit; and   a flow governor disposed in the liquid return conduit;   wherein the wave-driven pumping apparatus is adapted to float in a body of water;   wherein catchment basins of the plurality of diodic elevator conduits are disposed at successively higher vertical levels;   wherein the plurality of diodic elevator conduits are successively fluidly interconnected via fluidly connected outlet and inlet channels to permit liquid to move from catchment basins of lower diodic elevator conduits to catchment basins of higher diodic elevator conduits via elevator ramps when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is tilted;   wherein the plurality of diodic elevator conduits is configured to move water from catchment basins of lower diodic elevator conduits to catchment basins of higher diodic elevator conduits via elevator ramps when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is repeatedly tilted under the influence of waves in the body of water;   wherein the plurality of diodic elevator conduits includes an upper elevator conduit and a lower elevator conduit, the catchment basin of the upper elevator conduit above the catchment basin of the lower elevator conduit;   wherein the liquid return conduit is configured to drain liquid from the upper elevator conduit to the lower elevator conduit; and   wherein the flow governor is configured to instantiate a liquid pressure gradient in the liquid return conduit to limit a flow rate of gravitationally induced liquid flow in the liquid return conduit.   
     
     
         10 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the flow governor includes a water turbine, and further comprising an electrical generator operatively connected to the water turbine to generate electricity when the water turbine is rotated by liquid flow in the liquid return conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a lowermost floor of the catchment basin of each diodic elevator conduit is below a lowermost floor of the inlet channel of said diodic elevator conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein liquid is permitted to move from the catchment basins of a lower first diodic elevator conduit to the catchment basin of a higher second diodic elevator conduit via an elevator ramp of the first diodic elevator conduit when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is tilted in one of a first plurality of azimuthal directions, but not when tilted in one of a second plurality of azimuthal directions. 
     
     
         13 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein liquid is permitted to move from the catchment basins of a lower first diodic elevator conduit to the catchment basin of a higher second diodic elevator conduit via an elevator ramp of the first diodic elevator conduit when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is tilted by a zenith angle of at least a threshold zenith angle, but not when tilted by a zenith angle of less than the threshold zenith angle. 
     
     
         14 . A wave-driven pumping apparatus, comprising:
 a peripheral shell adapted to exclude fluid;   a plurality of elevator conduits disposed within the peripheral shell, each elevator conduit including an inlet aperture, a catchment basin, an elevator ramp, and an outlet aperture, wherein a lowermost threshold of the inlet aperture of each elevator conduit is below a lowermost threshold of the outlet aperture of said elevator conduit, and wherein a lowermost well of the catchment basin of each elevator conduit is below a lowermost threshold of the outlet aperture of said elevator conduit;   a liquid return conduit having a lower egress aperture; and   a flow governor disposed in the liquid return conduit;   wherein the wave-driven pumping apparatus is adapted to float in a body of water;   wherein catchment basins of the plurality of elevator conduits are disposed at a plurality of vertical levels;   wherein the elevator conduits are successively fluidly interconnected via outlet and inlet apertures to permit liquid to move from catchment basins of lower elevator conduits to catchment basins of higher elevator conduits via elevator ramps;   wherein the plurality of elevator conduits is configured to impel water from catchment basins of lower elevator conduits to catchment basins of higher elevator conduits via elevator ramps when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is repeatedly tilted under the influence of waves in the body of water;   wherein the plurality of elevator conduits includes an upper elevator conduit;   wherein the liquid return conduit is configured to drain liquid from the the upper elevator conduit to the lower egress aperture of the liquid return conduit, said lower egress aperture of the liquid return conduit being below said outlet aperture of the upper elevator conduit; and   wherein the flow governor is configured to instantiate a liquid pressure gradient in the liquid return conduit to limit gravitationally induced liquid flow in the liquid return conduit.   
     
     
         15 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the flow governor includes a water turbine, and further comprising an electrical generator operatively connected to the water turbine to generate electricity when the turbine is rotated by liquid flow in the liquid return conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein water is impelled through an elevator conduit from a catchment basin of a lower elevator conduit to a catchment basin of a higher elevator conduit via an elevator ramp when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is tilted in one of a first plurality of azimuthal directions, but not when tilted in one of a second plurality of azimuthal directions. 
     
     
         17 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein water is impelled through an elevator conduit from a catchment basin of a lower elevator conduit to a catchment basin of a higher elevator conduit via an elevator ramp when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is tilted by a zenith angle of at least a threshold zenith angle, but not when tilted by a zenith angle of less than the threshold zenith angle. 
     
     
         18 . A buoyant wave-driven pumping apparatus, comprising:
 an outer confinement jacket adapted to exclude fluid;   a stacked assemblage of gravitational fluidic diodes disposed within the outer confinement jacket, each gravitational fluidic diode including a drop and an escalation ramp;   a power-take-off pipe fed by and descending from an upper gravitational fluidic diode; and   a liquid power-take-off apparatus disposed at least in part in the power-take-off pipe;   wherein the gravitational fluidic diodes are fluidly interconnected and configured to define a diodic flow channel preferencing net upward liquid flow, said diodic flow channel incorporating at least a plurality of the escalation ramps and at least a plurality of the drops;   wherein the assemblage of gravitational fluidic diodes is adapted to impel a net upward liquid flow in the diodic flow channel when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is repeatedly tilted under the influence of waves in the body of water; and   wherein the liquid power-take-off apparatus is configured to generate electrical power when liquid exiting the diodic flow channel descends in the power-take-off pipe.   
     
     
         19 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an inlet orifice penetrating the outer confinement jacket to supply liquid to the assemblage of gravitational fluidic diodes. 
     
     
         20 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the power-take-off pipe recycles liquid to a lower gravitational fluidic diode. 
     
     
         21 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the assemblage of gravitational fluidic diodes includes a first gravitational fluidic diode, and wherein the drop of the first gravitational fluidic diode is a de-escalation ramp having steeper slope than the escalation ramp of said first gravitational fluidic diode. 
     
     
         22 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the assemblage of gravitational fluidic diodes includes a second fluid diode, and wherein the drop of the second gravitational fluidic diode is a cliff. 
     
     
         23 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of gravitational fluidic diodes includes third and fourth gravitational fluidic diodes, and wherein the drop of the third gravitational fluidic diode is an aperture emptying onto the escalation ramp of the fourth gravitational fluidic diode. 
     
     
         24 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of fluid diodes includes fifth and sixth gravitational fluidic diodes, and wherein the sixth gravitational fluidic diode includes a catchment basin, and wherein the drop of the fifth gravitational fluidic diode is an aperture emptying onto the catchment basin of the sixth gravitational fluidic diode. 
     
     
         25 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein liquid is impelled to flow upward from a lower gravitational fluidic diode to a higher gravitational fluidic diode when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is tilted in one of a first plurality of azimuthal directions, but not when tilted in one of a second plurality of azimuthal directions. 
     
     
         26 . The wave-driven pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein liquid is impelled to flow upward from a lower gravitational fluidic diode to a higher gravitational fluidic diode when the wave-driven pumping apparatus is tilted by a zenith angle of at least a threshold zenith angle, but not when tilted by a zenith angle of less than the threshold zenith angle.