Submerged wave energy converter for deep water operations

Abstract

A submergible wave energy converter and method for using the same are described. Such a wave energy converter may be used for deep water operations. In one embodiment, the wave energy converter apparatus comprises an absorber having a body with an upper surface and a bottom surface and at least one power take-off (PTO) unit coupled to the absorber and configured to displace movement of the absorber body relative to a reference, where the power take-off unit is operable to perform motion energy conversion based on displacement of the absorber body relative to the reference in response to wave excitation, and where the power take-off unit is operable to return the absorber body from a displaced position to a predefined equilibrium position and to provide a force acting on the absorber body for energy extraction.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for operating a wave energy converter comprising an absorber body, a plurality of power takeoff units coupled to the absorber body, and a plurality of mooring lines, wherein each of the plurality of mooring lines couples a power takeoff unit of the plurality of power takeoff units to a seafloor, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a controller, data from one or more sensors integrated into the wave energy converter;   determining, by the controller, a tension on a first mooring line of the plurality of mooring lines to manage a load exerted on the wave energy converter based on the data from the one or more sensors; and   adjusting the tension of the first mooring line to the tension determined by the controller.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein adjusting the tension is performed by a winch of a first power takeoff unit of the plurality of power takeoff units, wherein the first mooring line is coupled to the first power takeoff unit via the winch. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising
 determining, by the controller, a tension on a second mooring line of the plurality of mooring lines to manage the load exerted on the wave energy converter based on the data from the one or more sensors; and   adjusting the tension of the second mooring line based on the tension determined by the controller.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising independently adjusting the tension in the first mooring line and the tension in the second mooring line. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the data from the one or more sensors is indicative of the load exerted on the wave energy converter. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the data from the one or more sensors is indicative of a motion of the absorber body. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein determining the tension on the first mooring line comprises determining a tension on the first mooring line that prevents the load exerted on the wave energy converter from exceeding a predetermined maximum load. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein each of the plurality of mooring lines is arranged diagonally relative to the seafloor. 
     
     
         34 . A method for operating a wave energy converter comprising an absorber body, a power takeoff unit coupled to the absorber body, and a mooring line that couples the power takeoff unit to a seafloor, the method comprising:
 determining, by the controller, an adjustment of a tension on the mooring line and of a submergence depth of the absorber body in order to regulate motion of the absorber body and maximize power generation; and   adjusting the submergence depth and the tension in the mooring line based on the adjustment determined by the controller.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein adjusting the submergence depth comprises adjusting a length of the mooring line via a winch of the power takeoff unit to which the mooring line is coupled. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the controller, data from one or more sensors integrated into the wave energy converter,   wherein the adjustment is determined at least in part based on the data received from the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the data from the one or more sensors is indicative of energy capture by the wave energy converter. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising receiving an input from an operator, wherein the adjustment is determined at least in part based on the input from the operator. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein determining the adjustment comprises a machine-learning algorithm. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein determining the adjustment comprises comparing the data received from the one or more sensors to a lookup table. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the adjustment comprises regulating the motion of the absorber body such that a frequency of the absorber body corresponds to a frequency of ocean waves. 
     
     
         42 . A method for operating a wave energy converter comprising an absorber body, a power takeoff unit coupled to the absorber body, and a mooring line that couples the power takeoff unit to a seafloor, the method comprising:
 determining, by the controller, an adjustment of one or more of:
 a tension in the first mooring line, 
 a submergence depth of the absorber body, and 
 a geometry of the absorber body, in order to regulate motion of the absorber body to maximize power generation; and 
   adjusting at least one of the tension in the mooring line, the submergence depth of the absorber body, or the geometry of the absorber body, respectively, based on the adjustment determined by the controller.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the absorber body comprises an aperture having a movable closure, and wherein adjusting the geometry of the absorber body comprises adjusting a position of the closure. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising receiving data from one or more sensors integrated into the wave energy converter, and wherein the adjustment is determined at least in part based on the received data. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the adjustment comprises each of the tension in the first mooring line, the submergence depth of the absorber body, and the geometry of the absorber body.