Systems and Methods for Capturing Renewable Energy

Abstract

Systems and methods for capturing renewable energy are disclosed herein. An example system can include a concave receptacle configured to float on top of water, a turbine positioned centrally with the concave receptacle, a buoyancy control system having a pump and one or more vessels, a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to cause the buoyancy control system to submerge the concave receptacle under the water by filling the one or more vessels with a fluid using the pump and cause the buoyancy control system to release the fluid from the one or more vessels and allow the concave receptacle to travel upwardly so that water is directed into the turbine to produce electricity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for capturing energy, the system comprising:
 a receptacle configured to float in water, the receptacle comprises a metal mesh that has been charged to encourage accretion of calcium carbonate minerals;   a turbine positioned centrally with the concave receptacle;   a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to cause the receptacle to vertically translate so that water is directed into the turbine to produce electricity.   
     
     
         2 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power harvesting system that captures at least one of solar power and/or wind power to provide energy to the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy control system comprises a pump and one or more vessels, the pump filling the one or more vessels with air which causes the concave receptacle to travel upwardly. 
     
     
         4 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate minerals accrete between gaps in the metal mesh. 
     
     
         5 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to apply the electrical charge to the metal mesh, which allows accretion of the calcium carbonate minerals into an area of damage in the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tether coupled to the turbine that delivers the electricity to a load or storage location. 
     
     
         7 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 6 , wherein the tether is coupled at one end to a floor. 
     
     
         8 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power harvesting system that captures at least one of wind or solar to power the controller and execute cycles. 
     
     
         9 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller causes the receptacle to vertically translate at an end of a cycle of the cycles. 
     
     
         10 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 9 , further comprising a pump and vessels for submerging the receptacle, wherein the end of the cycle occurs when a threshold amount of power has been harvested, the threshold amount of power being sufficient to allow the pump to fill the vessels with the water. 
     
     
         11 . A system for capturing energy, the system comprising:
 a receptacle configured to float on top of water, the receptacle comprises a metal skeleton that has been charged to encourage accretion of calcium carbonate minerals;   a turbine positioned centrally with the concave receptacle;   a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to:
 cause a pump to purge water from one or more vessels associated with the vessel and allow the concave receptacle to travel upwardly so that water is directed into the turbine to produce electricity. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 11 , further comprising a power harvesting system that captures at least one of solar power and/or wind power to provide energy to the buoyancy control system and the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 12 , wherein the power harvesting system powers the controller and executes cycles. 
     
     
         14 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 13 , wherein the controller causes the receptacle to vertically translate at an end of each of the cycles. 
     
     
         15 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 11 , wherein the buoyancy control system is configured to open a valve of the one or more vessels to allow the one or more vessels to fill with water. 
     
     
         16 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 11 , further comprising a tether for coupling the system to a structure or floor and further to a load or storage. 
     
     
         17 . A system for capturing energy, the system comprising:
 a receptacle comprising a metal skeleton that has been charged to encourage accretion of calcium carbonate minerals;   two arcuate armatures that extend from the receptacle, the two arcuate armatures directing water towards the concave receptacle; and   a turbine positioned centrally with the concave receptacle to generate energy from the water entering the concave receptacle, wherein the water flow into a confluence point of the two arcuate armatures to enter the concave receptacle and turn the turbine to produce electricity.   
     
     
         18 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 17 , wherein the concave receptacle comprises a closed atoll. 
     
     
         19 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 17 , wherein the concave receptacle comprises a plain island. 
     
     
         20 . The system for capturing energy according to  claim 17 , further comprising a controller that is configured to apply the electrical charge to the metal skeleton, which allows accretion of the calcium carbonate minerals into an area of damage in the metal skeleton.