IE20170151A1 - A water wave energy capture process and apparatus for Harnessing energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for extracting energy from aquatic waves and to an apparatus for utilizing that process. The process involves capturing energy from a wave and exploiting that energy to carry out work. The apparatus consists of a buoyant moving component which moves in relation to a floatation component that remains submerged beneath the sea surface while the apparatus is in operation so that the buoyant moving component can exploit all manner of wave sizes without contact with the floatation component other than through a main shaft and guides, the floatation component being maintained at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface to maximize output and minimize wear. The buoyant moving component is shaped to rise with each wave and to capture energy from the wave. As the wave retreats mechanisms delay the descent of the buoyant moving component so that the buoyant moving component descends unsupported by the receding wave so that the full gravitational potential energy captured from the wave can be utilized to carry out work.

Description

A Water Wave Energy Capture Process and Apparatus for Harnessing Energy Field of Invention The present invention is a further development of the invention described in application 2014/0151 filed on 20/06/2014. now Irish Patent Number 86608 and relates to a process and apparatus for extracting energy from aquatic waves and in particular relates to a means whereby energy is captured from a wave and the gravitational potential energy in the captured water is then exploited for the purpose of doing work.

The present invention provides a novel and inventive means of increasing the efficiency of that process and apparatus.

Background to the Invention Waves are a clean, renewable source of energy. Their energy is exploitable in most ocean environments. Wave energy machines are mechanical devices designed to extract energy from the movement of aquatic waves and exploit that energy for various uses. However, wave energy devices have so far failed to exploit the full potential energy in waves for several reasons. a) Most wave energy devices are limited to exploiting the movement of the wave only, generating power through, the upward and downward movement of the wave, which raises and lowers one component in relation to another component. These devices fail to exploit the full gravitational potential energy available in each wave as a volume of water is raised and lowered in relation to the mean surface level or to a stable component within the column of water. While the moving part of the component in the device can capture energy from the wave as the wave ascends, if the moving part of the device descends supported by the wave much of the gravi tational potential energy of the descending component is dissipated into the surrounding water. b) Constant movement in an aquatic environment can cause damage to wave energy devices, This problem can arise because wave energy devices must achieve contradictory goals: the moving component must be small and buoyant enough to rise with each wave. The limited wavelength limits the size of the exposed parts of most devices and renders hem vulnerable to the turbulence of the marine environment. c) Many proposed wave energy devises generate electricity within the device itself. How ever, the turbulence of the aquatic environment, the corrosive nature of that environment, and problems resulting from water ingress can result in relatively expensive maintenance and repair, which can render devices uneconomic if the energy output of the device is low. d) Most energy devices that exploit wind or wave resources generate electricity in an irregular manner due to the irregular nature of their power source and few can store captured energy for consistent release or for release when most needed.

Accordingly there is a need for a process and an apparatus that maximizes energy extraction from waves in a simple, clean, inexpensive and storable manner. Applicant's own patent. Number 86608. granted 4/12/2015, discloses a process for extracting the full potential energy from aquatic waves and an apparatus for utilizing that process. However, it is desirable to further refine and improve upon the ideas introduced in that patent and in the subsequent innovations described in patent application number 2016/0195. filed on the 29/07/2016. In particular it is necessary to provide a means of increasing the capacity of the apparatus to exploit a greater range of waves sizes, increase the amount of energy the device can capture from each wave and to increase energy output by reducing energy loss in storage. j Statement of Invention The invention described herein further addresses the challenges inherent in generating energy from waves and provides a process and apparatus for doing so in a novel, inventive and more efficient manner. In particular this present invention provides additional mechanisms, which increase the capacity of the apparatus to exploit a greater range of waves sizes. Secondly, the invention increases the amount of energy the device can capture from each wave. Thirdly, the invention reduces the potential loss of energy after capture. In summary, the invention described herein increases the overall energy output and magnifies the operational range of the prior art: the process and apparatus described in applicant's previous patent: Irish Patent Number 86608 and patent application No. 2016/0195. filed on the 29/07/2016.

According to one aspect of the invention there is a process as set out in the appended claims for extracting the full potential energy available from aquatic waves and an apparatus for utilizing that process.

The process is comprised of the following steps: a) a -floatation component is maintained in a fixed position relative to the sea surface, only being tree to rise and fall with the tides. b) a buoyant moving component linked, and in communication, with the top of the floatation component is free to move in a vertical direction in relation to the floatation component. c) the buoyant moving component is free to be elevated by a rising wave. d) the buoyant moving component captures energy from the rising wave as the buoyant moving component rises relative to the floatation component. e) as the wave recedes mechanisms delay the descent of the buoyant moving component so that the buoyant moving component descends without the support of the receding wave, so that the buoyant moving component descends, either under its own weight alone, or under its own weight plus a weight of captured water, with the result that the maximum energy available from the wave can be harnessed to carry out useful work including the generation of electricity or the compressing of a fluid that can be stored for later exploitation.

The apparatus is a device designed to utilize this process. in one embodiment of the invention the floatation component of the apparatus can be fitted with stabilization components that keep the floatation component in a stable position in relation to the sea surface. The apparatus can also include mechanisms for exploiting the energy captured front waves and such mechanisms can include a compressor unit; which can be fluidly connected to a compressed fluid storage tank inside or outside the device.

In one embodiment of the invention an apparatus for carrying out the process can be linked to anchors on the bed of the body of water by means of mooring ropes or cables in such a way’as to keep the apparatus in position, to dampen vertical movement of the apparatus and to prevent lateral movement of the apparatus.

According to another embodiment of the invention an apparatus for carrying out the process can comprise a floatation component made up of one or more floatation units. A floatation unit can contain adjustable buoyancy chambers so that the buoyancy of a floatation unit can be changed through the alteration of fluid levels within the adjustable buoyancy chambers for the purpose of maintaining the top of the floatation component at a fixed level in relation to the sea surface. in one embodiment of the invention the buoyancy adjustment can be achieved through the insertion of fluid into the adjustable buoyancy chambers via adjustable buoyancy chamber fluid intake pipes through which fluid can be inserted and released. The buoyancy adjustment can also be achieved by the removal of fluids from the adjustable buoyancy chambers by adjustable buoyancy chamber fluid outlet pipes. in another embodiment of the invention a stability component can be attached to the floatation component to control vertical movement of the floatation component in the water column.

In one embodiment the stability component can take the shape of a plate, constructed to extend horizontally and al right angles to the vertical movement of the floatation component so that any vertical movement of the floatation component in the water column must displace a volume of water large enough to prevent any substantial vertical ο movement.

In another embodiment the stability plate can be shaped to resist upward movement of the floatation component in the water column while at the same time facilitating downward movement in the water column so as to maintain the uppermost part of the floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times. in another embodiment the stability plate can be locked to, or unlocked from, the base of the floatation component to allow assembly or disassembly at sea.

In another embodiment of the invention the stability component can be connected to the floatation component at a suitable depth below the floatation component by means of stability component cables so that the stability component is positioned below the base of the average wave, or below the zone of water most stirred by the average wave, so as to maintain the uppermost part of the floatation component at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

In another embodiment of the invention the stability component can be connected to the floatation component at a suitable depth below the floatation component by means of stability component cables so that the stability component is positioned below the base of the average wave and can be shaped to act as a stabilization drag, or sea anchor, which restricts upward movement of the floatation component in the water column while at the same time facilitating downward vertical movement of the floatation component in the water column so as to maintain the uppermost part of the floatation component at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

In another embodiment of the invention various mechanisms can be employed to maintain the floatation component below the sea surface at all times to minimize impact from waves and maximize the energy output. in one embodiment of the invention the floatation component can be stabilized by means of vertical fins attached to the body of the floatation component in order to prevent lateral rocking of the floatation component either at the top or the base of the floatation component.

In another embodiment of the invention the floatation component can be stabilized at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times by mooring ropes being fixed to the uppermost part of the floatation component and also to the lowest part of the floatation component so as to reduce rocking motion at the top of the device. in one embodiment of the present invention there is the use of a control float, which rises and fails with the waves and ensures that various mechanisms of the apparatus operate in accordance with the position of the waves regardless of the position of the floatation component so that the floatation component can remain below the sea surface at all times and the apparatus can capture energy from all wave sizes.

In another embodiment of the invention the floatation component can be stabilized at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times by the inclusion of a damper mechanism which can be connected to the mooring ropes and also, if necessary, to the stabilization drag.

In another embodiment of the present invention the floatation component can be stabilized by the inclusion of a damper mechanism that facilitates the descent of the floatation component and resists the ascent of the floatation component in response to waves so as to counteract the buoyancy of the floatation component and maintain the upper part of the floatation component at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

In another embodiment of the present invention the floatation component can be stabilized by the inclusion of a damper mechanism that facilitates the descent of the floatation component and resists the ascent of the floatation component while at the same time allowing the floatation component to rise gradually and fall gradually with the tides so as to maintain the upper part of the floatation component at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

In another embodiment of the invention the damper mechanism can consist of a damper chamber connected to. or contained within, the floatation component. The damper chamber can contain a fluid and also contain a buoyant damper float connected to the mooring ropes and. if necessary to the stabilization drag, the damper float being shaped to fit exactly within the walls of the damper chamber and be shaped to rise through the chamber fluid with ease, tightening the mooring ropes as it does so. The damper float can also be shaped to descend through the chamber fluid with difficulty so as to restrict any sudden upward movement of the floatation component in the water column and to facilitate any downward movement of the floatation component in the water column for the purpose of maintaining the uppermost part of the floatation component at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

In another embodiment of the present invention the damper float and the damper chamber can be shaped to perform as a wave-stop damper mechanism so that the position of the floatation component can be controlled by the sea surface through the use of a floating damper chamber piston that rises and falls in response to the sea surface and extends into the damper chamber serving to pump water front the upper part of the damper chamber into the lower part of the damper chamber in order to raise the damper float and tighten the mooring ropes whenever the floatation component rises above a set level in relation to the sea surface.

In another embodiment of the invention the buoyant moving component can be shaped as a hollow piston, a hollow piston being a component that can be shaped to transmit fluids while rising and failing with each wave in relation to the floatation component, the said hollow piston being directly connected to, but free to move within, the floatation component, the hollow piston also being shaped to capture and deliver energy from the movement of the waves.

In another embodiment of the invention the hollow piston can be shaped to also incorporate a hollow piston buoyancy float, which is a float that is sufficiently buoyant and suitably situated to raise the hollow piston on a rising wave.

In one embodiment of the invention the said hollow piston buoyancy float can be fixed by robust connection to the hollow piston.

In another embodiment of the invention the hollow piston buoyancy float can be fixed loosely to the hollow piston in a manner that allows the hollow piston buoyancy float to lift the hollow piston on a rising wave but also allows the said hollow piston buoyancy float to descend independently of the hollow piston as the wave recedes.

In another embodiment of the invention the hollow piston can be shaped to include a hollow' piston vessel, a hollow piston vessel being a container situated in part of the hollow piston so that the hollow piston vessel can be filled with water and can retain and release water at various stages in the wave cycle.

In another embodiment of the invention the hollow piston vessel can be shaped to include water inlet and water outlet valves shaped to admit and retain water at various stages in the wave cycle and to release water at another stage in the wave cycle.

In another embodiment of the invention the hollow piston can be shaped to rise with the wave, lifted by the said hollow piston buoyancy float in order to capture water from a wave through the said inlet valves and retain that captured water for later release through the said outlet valves and apertures when the hollow piston has completed its full descent. in another embodiment of the invention the hollow piston can be shaped to rise with the wave, lifted by the said hollow piston buoyancy float, the said hollow piston buoyancy float being sufficiently buoyant to raise the hollow piston even if the hollow piston is filling with water.

In another embodiment of the present invention the hollow piston can be shaped so that the inlet and outlet valves will remain closed when submerged by a rising wave and the hollow piston can be sufficiently buoyant to rise under its own buoyancy without the need for a float.

In another embodiment of the present invention the hollow piston inlet valves can be shaped so as to open only when the top of the hollow piston vessel has reached the peak of a wave so as to maximize the fall of the said hollow piston and maximize energy capture.

In another embodiment of the present invention the hollow piston inlet valves can be controlled by a hollow piston water inlet valve float which closes off access to the valves when the hollow piston is submerged under a wave and opens access to the inlet valves only when the top of the hollow piston vessel has reached the peak of a wave so as to maximize the fall of the said hollow piston and maximize energy capture.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said hollow piston water inlet valve float can be constructed to be insufficiently buoyant to rise above the sea surface with the result that the said hollow piston water inlet valve float will descend in relation to the hollow piston when the top of the hollow piston reaches the crest of a wave so that the said hollow piston water inlet valve float opens the hollow piston inlet valves only at the crest of the wave so as to allow the most efficient capture of water and to maximize the fall of the said hollow piston and maximize energy capture. in another embodiment of the present invention the apparatus can be shaped so that the hollow piston outlet valves open only when the hollow piston has descended to the trough of a wave, where the hollow piston outlet valves are opened by contact with the aforementioned control float, which freely rises and falls with each wave and which will have descended to the trough of the wave in advance of the said hollow piston so as to maximize energy capture. in one embodiment of the invention the hollow piston can be positioned in a hollow piston guiding structure that is shaped to control the movement of the said hollow piston, the hollow piston being free to move vertically within the hollow piston guiding structure.

In another embodiment of the invention a plurality of hollow piston guides can be supported from within the floatation component and can be positioned and shaped to confine the hollow piston and the hollow piston buoyancy float to vertical movement only.

In one embodiment of the invention the said hollow piston guides can be supported from within the floatation component and can be positioned to protrude through the body of the hollow piston vessel where the said hollow piston rises under the force of its own buoyancy and without the aid of a float.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said hollow piston guides can be buoyant hollow piston guides, supported from within the floatation component but free to rise and in a vertical direction, and thus able to rise and fall with the waves and able to guide the said hollow piston regardless of the position of the floatation component while also serving as the aforementioned damper chamber pistons, pressing down into the said damper chamber with the weight of the hollow piston at the trough of the wave so as to force damper chamber fluid from the upper part of the damper chamber into the lower part of the damper chamber to prevent the floatation component from rising higher than a set distance in relation to the sea surface.

In another embodiment of the present invention the aforementioned control float can be attached to the said hollow piston guides when the said hollow piston guides are also serving as buoyant damper chamber pistons, so that the control float raises and lowers the said hollow piston guides when also functioning as buoyant damper chamber pistons in accordance with the waves to prevent the floatation component from rising higher than a set distance in relation to the sea surface. in one embodiment of the invention a hollow piston shaft can form the central rod of the hollow piston. The hollow piston shaft can extend through, and be free to move vertically through, apertures in the hollow piston guiding structure. in another embodiment of the invention the shaft of the hollow piston can be shaped to include a hollow piston shaft air intake pipe, which can extend high enough above the sea surface so as to be in contact with air at all times.

In one embodiment of the invention the hollow' piston shaft air intake pipe can be fitted with a cowl with valves shaped to admit air and prevent the entry of water.

In another embodiment of the present invention the hollow piston air intake cow! can be shaped to also supply air to anti-vacuum air intake pipes shaped to deliver air to the interior of the hollow piston vessel so as to prevent a vacuum that might obstruct the release of water from the said hollow piston vessel.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there can also be provided a compressor unit, which can be fixed to the floatation component so that the compressor unit is directly in communication with the hollow piston shaft so that the relative movement of the hollow piston compresses a fluid inside the compressor unit.

In one embodiment of the invention the compressor unit can contain a compressor chamber containing a compressor piston fixed to, or forming part of, the base of the hollow piston shaft and hollow piston shaft air intake pipe, the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe being of sufficient length to extend above the average wave and also of sufficient length to extend into the compressor unit.

In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of compressor chamber fluid intake valves can be situated in the walls of the compressor chamber and can be positioned and’shaped to allow fluid to enter and be retained within the compressor chamber.

In one embodiment of the invention the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe can be fluidly connected to the compressor chamber fluid intake valves and can thus provide a supply of air to the compressor chamber. in one embodiment of the invention the compressor piston can be situated in the said compressor chamber in such a manner that the vertical movement of the hollow piston shaft causes the compressor piston to move vertically within the compressor chamber with each rise and fall of the hollow piston to which the hollow piston shaft is attached.

In another embodiment of the invention a plurality of compressor chamber fluid outlet valves can be positioned in the walls of the compressor chamber and can be positioned and shaped to allow fluid in the compressor chamber to escape when a set pressure has been reached.

In a further embodiment of the invention a plurality of pipes can be positioned to fluidly connect the said compressed fluid outlet valves to devises for the immediate exploitation of the compressed fluid or for the delivery of the compressed fluid to storage tanks for the storage of the compressed fluid for later exploitation.

In another embodiment of the invention the compressor unit can also be shaped so that the compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the compressed fluid outlet valves can be situated in both the upper and lower parts of the compressor chamber in such a manner that the downward stroke of the compressor piston draws fluid into the upper part of the compressor chamber while at the same time compressing the fluid trapped in the lower part of the compressor chamber. On the upward stroke, the compressor piston can then compress the fluid in the upper part of the compressor chamber while drawing the compressed fluid into the lower part of the compressor chamber. In addition the compressed fluid outlet valves in both the upper and lower parts of the compressor chamber can be positioned and adjusted to release the compressed fluid from the compressor chamber when a suitable pressure has been reached.

In another embodiment of the invention the compressor unit can also be shaped so that the compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the compressed fluid outlet valves can be situated in such a manner that the downward stroke of the compressor piston draws fluid into the upper part of the compressor chamber while at the same time compressing the fluid trapped in the lower part of the compressor chamber. On the upward stroke, the compressor piston compresses the fluid in the upper part of the compressor chamber forcing the compressed fluid through the outlet valves in the upper part of the compressor chamber into the lower pan of the compressor chamber where the said compressed fluid is further compressed by the downward stroke of the compressor piston before being released for storage or immediate exploitation. in a further embodiment of the present invention the compressor unit can be shaped to include a bu ffer mechanism to absorb, and ultimately halt, the upward momentum of the hollow piston shaft and thus bring the upward movement of the hollow piston to a halt at a fixed elevation.

In another embodiment of the invention the compressor unit can be shaped to include a buffer mechanism to absorb, and ultimately halt, the upward momentum of the hollow piston shaft only at the crest of the highest wave so as to increase the range of wave sizes from which energy can be captured. in another embodiment of the invention the said compressor unit can be shaped so that the upward stroke of the hollow piston shaft causes the fluid in the upper part of the compressor chamber to be compressed and forced in compressed form through pipes and valves into the lower part of the compressor chamber while at the same time a portion of the fluid remains trapped in the upper part of the compressor chamber and acts as a buffer, or brake, to absorb, and ultimately halt, the upward movement of the hollow piston shaft.

In another embodiment of the invention the compressor chambers can be sufficiently long so as to allow the upward stroke of the hollow piston shaft to match waves of all sizes, the said buffer mechanism only acting as a brake in the case of extremely high, and thus very rare, waves.

In another embodiment of the present invention the aforementioned buoyant moving component can be situated on top of the floatation component in a way that ensures that the said buoyant moving component is located at the level of the sea surface and. despite being sufficiently'buoyant to protrude above the sea surface, is prevented from doing so by a wave-stop buffer mechanism within the floatation component that ensures that the said buoyant moving component's uppermost part cannot rise above the crest of any wave and that the buoyant moving component's base cannot descend below the trough of any wave regardless of the wave size and regardless of the position of the floatation component.

In another embodiment of the invention a wave stop buffer chamber can be situated to encompass part of the hollow piston shaft where the hollow piston shaft has been shaped to form a wave stop buffer piston enclosed by a wave stop buffer chamber; the wave stop buffer chamber can be opened and closed according to the position of a control sleeve raised and lowered by the aforementioned control float so that the said control sleeve moves independently up and down with the waves with the result that a wave stop buffer chamber aperture in the wall of the said control sleeve will control at what level water inside the said wave-stop buffer chamber can be displaced by the rise and fall of the said wave stop buffer piston, thereby setting the limit to the rise and fall of the said wave stop buffer piston, and consequently, the hollow piston so that the rise and fall of the hollow piston is always governed by the varying position of the waves and not decided by the position of the floatation component. in another embodiment of the present invention the apparatus can be shaped so that the arrested downward momentum of the hollow piston causes the trapped water in the hollow piston vessel to exit with force through the hollow piston outlet valves when the descent of the hollow piston is halted by the sea surface, or by a wave-stop buffer mechanism, or by other means, so as to maximize the fall of the said hollow piston and maximize energy capture.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said control sleeve float can be constructed to have insufficient buoyancy for more than a small proportion of the control sleeve float's surface to protrude above the surface of the water, the said control sleeve float being shaped io rise beneath the hollow piston on the rising wave and also being shaped so that the ascent of the said control sleeve float is halted when the upper surface of the said control sleeve float comes into contact with the base of the aforementioned hollow piston water inlet valve float, which is insufficiently buoyant to rise above the sea surface and can thus halt the rise of the said control float thus halting the rise of the control sleeve and the rise of the control sleeve float aperture in relation to the aforementioned wave-stop buffer chamber and thus halting the rise of the wave-stop buffer piston, and consequently, also halting the rise of the hollow piston, thereby preventing the hollow piston vessel from rising higher than the wave surface regardless of the buoyancy of the aforementioned hollow piston vessel and regardless of the position of the floatation component in the water column.

In one embodiment of the present invention mechanisms can be incorporated in the device to delay the descent of the hollow piston so that the hollow piston descends unsupported by the receding wave with the result that the full weight of the hollow piston is exploited to carry out work.

In one embodiment of the invention the compressed fluid outlet valves in the lower part of the compressor chamber can be adjusted to retain the compressed fluid to a pressure level that will delay the descent of the compressor piston and, consequently, the descent of the hollow piston to which the said compressor piston is directly connected so that during the descent the hollow piston is supported only by the compressed fluid in the compressor chamber and not by the receding wave so that the compressed fluid in the compressor chamber can be compressed to the maximum degree.

In another embodiment of the present invention the hollow piston shaft can be shaped to incorporate a wave-controlled delay mechanism, which can include a wave-controlled delay piston enclosed by a wave-controlled delay chamber so that delay chamber outlet apertures in the wave-controlled delay chamber wall can be opened and closed according to the position of the wave trough and wave crest. in another embodiment of the present invention water can be drawn into the wavecontrolled delay chamber as a wave rises by the rising wave-controlled delay piston, which will cause a delay chamber sleeve, which surrounds the base of the wave-controlled delay chamber, to rotate by a half-turn, thus closing the said delay chamber outlet apertures so that water fills the said wave-controlled delay chamber and prevents the said wavecontrolled delay piston and, consequently the hollow piston, from descending once the said hollow piston has reached the peak of a wave.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said wave-controlled delay chamber can be shaped so that the said delay chamber sleeve can be rotated back into an open position by a buoyant delay lock sleeve, to which the said delay chamber sleeve can be loosely connected so that the said delay chamber sleeve and the said delay lock sleeve can cause each other to rotate in a horizontal direction, although the delay lock sleeve can be free to move vertically so that it can rise and fall with the wave surface due to being attached to a delay lock sleeve float, the said delay lock sleeve float being shaped to rotate a quarter-turn before rising to the surface.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said delay lock sleeve float can also be shaped so that on reaching the sea surface and coming into contact with the aforementioned control sleeve, the said delay lock sleeve float will be rotated a further quarter turn by the shape and inertia of the said control sleeve, thus returning the said delay chamber outlet apertures to an open configuration. Thus the wave-controlled delay mechanism can be constructed to prevent the hollow piston from descending until· the said delay chamber sleeve and the delay lock sleeve have rotated back a hall-turn to open the delay chamber outlet aperture and release the trapped water, thus enabling the hollow piston's descent to be governed by the level of the wave trough and regardless of the position of the floatation component in order to capture energy from all possible wave forms.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said wave-controlled delay chamber can be shaped to include one or more delay chamber inlet valves through which a fluid can be drawn into the saic 1 wave-controlled delay chamber from a delay chamber reservoir by the upward movemer it of the said wave-controlled delay piston. The said wave-controlled delay chamber can al so be shaped so that the said fluid can be released back into the said reservoir through the delay chamber outlet apertures as the wave-controlled delay piston descends.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said delay chamber inlet valves can be shaped to accommodate the base of the delay chamber sleeve, which can be shaped to include delay chamber sleeve inlet valve blades so that the force of the fluid being drawn through the delay chamber inlet valves by the rising wave-controlled delay piston causes the said delay chamber sleeve to be rotated forward a half turn which also rotates the aforementioned delay lock sleeve forward also a half turn into a locked position, the said delay lock sleeve being so shaped that the said half-turn rotation forward of the said delay lock sleeve prevents the said delay lock sleeve from rising until the hollow piston has risen to the crest of a wave, at which point the force of said fluid entering the wave-controlled delay chamber ceases and allows the said delay lock sleeve to rotate back a quarter turn which allows the said delay lock sleeve float to rise towards the surface of the water.

In another embodiment of the present invention the said delay lock sleeve can be shaped to have delay lock sleeve ridges protruding from a portion of the said delay lock sleeve's circumference, the said delay lock sleeve ridges being shaped to engage with delaychamber reservoir grooves, which can form a portion of the interior surface of the said delay chamber reservoir, the said delay lock sleeve ridges becoming trapped by the said delay chamber reservoir grooves when the said delay lock sleeve is rotated a half turn by the force of water entering the aforementioned delay chamber inlet valve so that the said delay lock sleeve float cannot rise to the sea surface until the hollow piston has stopped rising and the aforementioned fluid has ceased entering the said wave-controlled delay chamber: the said delay lock sleeve ridges being shaped to rotate back and escape from the delay chamber grooves once the fluid pressure at the delay chamber inlet valve has ceased, at which point the said delay lock sleeve float is free to rise to the sea surface.

In another embodiment of the present invention the upper surface of the said delay lock sleeve float and the base of the aforementioned control sleeve float can be shaped into such a form that when the control sleeve float comes into contact with the said delay lock sleeve float the said control sleeve float will cause the said delay lock sleeve float to rotate back a further quarter-turn, thus rotating the delay lock sleeve a further quarter-turn which causes the delay chamber sleeve also to be rotated back a further quarter-turn so that the aforementioned delay chamber sleeve apertures in the delay chamber sleeve will align with the aforementioned delay chamber outlet apertures, thereby allowing the fluid trapped inside the wave-controlled delay chamber to escape and thus allow the hollow piston to descend.

In another embodiment of the invention the apparatus can also comprise a surface buoyancy maintenance platform fixed to the top of the said floatation component and shaped in a manner that adds buoyancy to the said floatation component and maintains the top of the said floatation component in a stable manner in relation to the sea surface at all limes.

In one embodiment the surface buoyancy maintenance platform can also provide a location for hose connections and a platform for maintenance.

In another embodiment of the invention the surface buoyancy maintenance platform can contain hose connections and pipes fluidly connected to the floatation units in the floatation component. in one embodiment of the invention the floatation units can contain adjustable buoyancy chambers, the adjustable buoyancy chambers being hollow spaces within the floatation units for the storage of fluids. The adjustable buoyancy chambers can be fluidly connected io external hose connections via buoyancy adjuster hose pipes and adjustable buoyancy chamber air pressure release hose pipes which can be used to insert and remove fluid from the adjustable buoyancy chambers in a manner that allows for the adjustment of the buoyancy of the floatation units so as to adjust the buoyancy of the whole floatation component in the water column.

In one embodiment of the invention the buoyancy adjuster hose pipes and adjustable buoyancy chamber air pressure release hosepipes can be housed in fluid pipe ducts in the walls of the floatation units in order to facilitate the insertion or removal of fluids.

In one embodiment the floatation units can be locked together to form an assemblage of floatation units in a manner that provides continuous pipe ducts for the buoyancy adjuster hosepipes and the adjustable buoyancy chamber air pressure release hosepipes so as to connect the external hose connections with the adjustable buoyancy chambers.

In another embodiment of the invention an assemblage of floatation units can contain a continuous pipe duct which houses the compressed fluid hose pipe so as to connect the compressed fluid outlet valves in the compressor unit to an external hose connection for the removal of compressed fluid.

In another embodiment the floatation units can be locked together by means of male to female cpiarter-turn locking mechanisms held in place by dowels, the dowels being shaped to fit into dowel ducts in the floatation units or fit through holders on the exterior of the floatation units to prevent any lateral unlocking movement. in another embodiment of the invention a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose can connect the compressed fluid hosepipe in the floatation component to a compressed fluid storage tank. fit one embodiment of the invention a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose can connect the compressed fluid hosepipe in the floatation component to a compressor unit in another wave water capture apparatus in order for the compressed fluid to be compressed further by the actions of another wave water capture apparatus or by a series of devices acting in sequence. in another embodiment of the invention a compressed fluid storage tank can rest on, or below, the seabed.

In one embodiment of the invention compressed fluid stored in a compressed fluid storage lank can be released through valves into outlet pipes, which can deliver the compressed fluid for exploitation elsewhere. in another embodiment of the invention compressed fluid can be stored in a compressed fluid storage tank at low temperature in the vicinity of the floatation component so that the compressed fluid can be drawn by the pumping action of the buoyant moving component via flexible insulated pipes into the vicinity of the compressor chamber where the heat generated by rhe compression process can be exploited to expand the fluid for the purpose of driving a turbine.

In another embodiment of the present invention compressed fluid can be stored in a compressed fluid storage tank constructed so that the compressed fluid storage tank raises a compressed fluid storage tank weight as pressure increases within the said compressed fluid storage tank so that a steady supply of compressed fluid can be released from the said compressed fluid storage tank when required. in another embodiment of the present invention compressed fluid moving via a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose to a compressed fluid storage tank outside the body of the floatation component can be cooled in transit by seawater circulating within the said flexible insulated compressed fluid hose, the heat extracted from the said compressed fluid, can then be channeled by convection, or other means, up through the said flexible insulated compressed fluid hose to the vicinity of a compressor unit within the floatation component for the purpose of returning that heat to the compressed fluid when the compressed fluid is drawn back into the floatation component for the purpose of driving a turbine and generating electricity.

In another embodiment of the invention the aforementioned floatation component can be shaped io contain a heat exchange fluid tank, which can house a fluid reservoir, a compressor, and an internal compressed fluid tank linked to a generator turbine so that compressed fluid can be stored in the said internal compressed fluid tank at low temperature and can be drawn by pressure or other means into the vicinity of the compressor chamber where the heat generated by the compression process can be exploited to expand the cooled compressed fluid for the purpose of gaining the maximum electrical output from the said generator turbine.

The general advantages of the invention are that by delaying the descent of a buoyant moving component the process exploits the full potential energy in the descending buoyant moving component by not losing energy to the surrounding water on descent. Instead, the buoyant moving component descends unsupported by the wave and thus maximizes the energy available for useful work and. in addition, the apparatus can turn that energy into a storable form so that the process, and apparatus that utilizes that process, can supply large quantities of base-load renewable energy to an electricity grid.

One particular advantage of the present invention is that the innovations herein described allow the floatation component of the apparatus to be stabilized in the water column below the surface of the water at all times, thus allowing the buoyant moving component to operate independently of the position of the floatation component, the only contact between the said floatation component and the buoyant moving component being the shaft and the guides. As a result, the range of movement of the buoyant moving component is not limited by the position of the said floatation component, thus allowing the said buoyant moving component to exploit a greater range of wave sizes and achieve a greater energy output.

A further advantage deriving from this innovation is that the floatation component can be situated below the sea surface and the buoyant moving component does not come into contact with the floatation component other than through the said shaft and guides, thus reducing wear and preventing potential damage from contact.

A further advantage deriving from this innovation is that because the floatation component can be situated below the sea surface the floatation component can be protected from the full turbulence of the aquatic environment, thus allowing for greater stability, more efficient energy-capture and less wear.

Another advantage arising from this invention is that energy losses can be reduced when the device is utilized to compress a fluid.

A specific advantage of the present invention derives from the use of a control float. The control float is a float fixed to a sleeve, the float remaining at the surface at all times, rising and falling with each wave, and moving the sleeve in a vertical direction accordingly. The control float is designed to carry out several functions and serves to ensure that the buoyant moving component operates in relation to the changing sea surface regardless of the position of the floatation component.

A further advantage of the present invention is the use of the control float in conjunction with damper chamber pistons to transfer water within a damper chamber which enables the floatation component to be stabilized at a set distance below the lowest level of the sea surface while still being able to rise and fall with the tides.

A further advantage of the present invention is the use of floating hollow piston guides as damper chamber pistons in the damper mechanism, which simplifies the technology and reduces costs, the buoyancy being provided by the control float. The control float also works in conjunction with a wave-stop buffer chamber to halt the rise and fall of the buoyant moving component in accordance with the position of the sea surface and regardless of the position of the floatation component.

A further advantage is that the wave-stop buffer mechanism uses trapped water within the wave-stop buffer chamber to restrict the movement of the hollow' piston, thus reducing wear and prolonging the life of the apparatus.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the control float can operate in relationship with the hollow piston water inlet valve float to ensure that the hollow piston buoyant moving component, despite being buoyant, does not rise too high for the inlet valves to admit water at the crest of a wave, which means that the hollow' piston buoyant moving component can achieve the maximum rise and fall and thus maximize energy capture.

Another advantage results from the interaction between the said control float and the hollow piston outlet valves that ensures that the said outlet valves release captured water at the trough of the wave, again maximizing energy capture.

A further advantage provided by the present invention is that the release of captured water at the trough of a wave, even when the hollow piston outlet valves are temporarily submerged, is assisted by the use of anti-vacuum air intake pipes supplying air to the hollow piston vessel to replace the water at the trough of a wave.

A further advantage of the present invention results from the design of the hollow piston water inlet valve float and the hollow piston outlet valves which ensure that the hollowpiston can release captured water at the trough of a wave and not admit water until the said 5 hollow piston has reached the crest of a wave. This innovation means that the hollow piston can be sufficiently buoyant to rise without the aid of a float with the result that the volume of the hollow piston vessel can be larger and the apparatus can therefore capture more water and have a greater energy output.

A further advantage that derives from that particular innovation is that the increased size 0 of the hollow piston vessel means that the buoyant moving component is more buoyant when the hollow piston vessel is empty which allows for the use of heavier, and consequently, a more robust shaft and pistons. This greater weight in the hollow piston structure increases the structural strength and prolongs the working life of the apparatus.

A further advantage of the present invention is the use of vertical stabilization fins, which 5 can be attached to the body of the floatation component to help prevent any rocking movement at the uppermost part of the floatation component that would otherwise interfere with the effective movement of the buoyant moving component. Rocking motion is also limited by the use of the mooring ropes being attached to highest point of the floatation component.

A further advantage is the use of a delay mechanism, which is governed by the position of the sea surface through the use of a wave-controlled delay chamber and piston that is controlled by the dynamics of each wave.

A further advantage provided by the present invention is that an additional innovation allows compressed fluid to be cooled by water in transit to a compressed fluid storage tank .5 outside the body of the floatation component by means of a double-walled insulated pipe.

The water in this heat-exchange process, having extracted the heat from the compressed fluid, can travel by convection up into the vicinity of a compressor unit within the floatation component for the purpose of returning the heat to the compressed fluid at a later stage in order to further expand the compressed fluid when the compressed fluid is drawn 0 from the storage tank and delivered to a turbine so that greater energy can be utilized in driving the turbine and generating electricity.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the design allows for compressed fluid to be stored in a compressed fluid storage tank at low temperature situated within the floatation component of the device from where the compressed fluid can be drawn by pressure, or other means, into the vicinity of the compressor chamber where the heat generated by the compression process can be exploited to further expand the fluid in order to maximize the power output when driving a turbine, thus ensuring that very little energy’s lost from the apparatus.

A Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows an exterior side elevation of one embodiment of the invention in relation to the sea surface and the seabed.

Figure 2 shows a close-up external side view of the same embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a cross-section side view of the interior of the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows an angled top-view of parts of the hollow piston shaft and also depicts the control float, the inlet valve float, and the delay lock sleeve float - all in isolation from the rest of the apparatus and all from the of same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section interior side view of the wave-stop buffer chamber and the wave-control delay chamber in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section top view of the delay mechanism in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a top view cross-section at the level of the piston of the delay mechanism in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figlire 8 shows a cross-section bottom-view at the level of the base of the delay mechanism showing the Delay Chamber Water Reservoir and the parts in the Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades Housing from the same embodiment of the invention. Figure 9 shows a cross-section top view of the delay mechanism in a closed - locked position in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 shows a cross-section top view of the delay mechanism in a closed - unlocked position in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 1 shows a cross-section top view of the delay mechanism in an open - unlocked position in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 12 shows a side view' of the control float key in relation to the delay lock sleeve float in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 shows an angled side-view of the delay lock sleeve float in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 14 shows a top-view of the delay lock sleeve float in the same embodiment of the invention.

Figure 15 shows a side view cross section of the damper chamber and piston in the same embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure 16 shows a side view cross section of the compression process in an embodiment of the invention that uses a heat conservation system and an external fluid storage tank and generates electricity within the apparatus.

Figure 17 shows a side view cross section of the Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose in the same embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure I 8 shows a top-view cross-section of the Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose in the same embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure 19 shows an external side view ofthe apparatus in relation to the Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose and a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank on the seabed from the same embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure 20 shows a side view cross section of another embodiment of the invention which uses an enclosed system with a Heat Exchange Fluid Tank and which generates electricity within the apparatus.

A Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 There is illustrated an external side view depicting one embodiment of the invention in relation to the Sea Surface (Q) and the Seabed (R). Included in this illustration is: the Floatation Component (A) floating below the surface (Q) and below the level of the wave trough (K): a Buoyant Moving Component (B) situated above the level of the wave trough (K).

Also shown is a Stability Plate (D) attached to the Floatation Component (A) and serving to inhibit upward movement of the Floatation Component (A). There is also illustrated Mooring Ropes (F) connected to seabed anchors (not shown); Stabilization Fins (C). which serve to limit lateral rocking movement of the apparatus. Also depicted is a Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (E) connected to a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (M) on the seabed; a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank Weight (X), which serves to maintain a steady pressure within the Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (M) as compressed air is drawn off via an insulated Pipe to shore (W) situated under the Seabed (R) which can deliver compressed fluid for exploitation at sea or on land.

Also shown is the Average Wavelength in the North Atlantic (Ύ), the Depth of the Wave Zone (J), the area of water turbulence caused by the wave, which extends from the Trough, or Lowest Point of the Wave (K.) to the Base of the Wave Zone (L).

As illustrated according to the invention the uppermost part of the said Floatation Component (A) can be maintained in a stable position at any level below the trough or lowest level of the wave (K) in most aquatic environments regardless of the average wave height as a result of a) being moored by anchors on the Seabed (R); b) being controlled in its vertical movement by a Stabilization Plate (C) and Stabilization Fins (D). which serve to hold the said Floatation Component (A) steady within the water column so that the top of the Floatation Component (A) remains below the level of the wave trough (K) or lowest point of the average wave; c) being amenable to buoyancy adjustment through the altering of the ratio of air to ballast water in the Floatation Component (A). d) being subject to control by a damper mechanism using a damper float inside a damper chamber (not shown) and damper chamber pistons (not shown) all of which keep the Floatation Component (A) in a set position below the lowest point of the wave and sea surface at all times while still allowing the Floatation Component (A) to rise and fall with the tides.

All the components thus listed and all the constituent parts of the apparatus can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described.

Figure 2 Referring to figure 2 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a close-up external side-view of the apparatus.

Depicted are the Air Intake Cowl (1) and a Hollow Piston Vessel (3). The Hollow Piston Vessel (3) forms part of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component and is shaped as a 5 vessel for the capture and retention of water when at the crest of a wave and the release of the said water at the trough of a wave.

The said Hollow Piston Vessel (3) is shaped to ascend on a rising wave until the roof of the said Hollow Piston Vessel (3) reaches its highest point at the crest of the wave at which point the Hollow Piston Inlet Valve Float (16) drops into place over the Hollow Piston 0 Vessel Water Inlet Valves (not shown) and allows the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) to be filled with water. The rise and fall of the said Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component, of which the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) is a part, is controlled by the Hollow Piston Guides (5), which are robust structures which can form part of the Control Float (N ) and which can protrude through the body of the Floatation Component and also through the Hollow 5 Piston Vessel (3) to allow the said Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component to move in a vertical direction only.

Also shown is the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38), which is a float that raises and controls the position of the Delay Lock Sleeve, (not shown), which in turn controls the position of the Delay Chamber Sleeve (not shown), which opens and closes the water outlet apertures 0 in the Delay Chamber (not shown).

Also shown in relation to this embodiment of the apparatus are the average wave, range between trough and crest off the Irish Atlantic Coast (0) and the range of vertical movement (Z) of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component B.

Figure 3 Referring to Figure 3, there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view elevation of the Floatation Component (A), Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component B, the Average Wave Fleight (O), the Maximum Length of the Stroke of the Hollow- Piston (Z).

Also shown is the Air Intake Cowl (1), through which air is drawn into the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) by the vacuum created in the Down-stroke Compressor Chamber (15) on the upward stroke of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8), when the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) is raised by a wave and duly lifts the Hollow Piston Vessel (3), to which it is attached. Also shown are the Anti-Vacuum Air Intake Pipes (57). which supply air to the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) to prevent a vacuum in the vessel as water is ejected at the wave trough.

Also shown is inc Hollow- Piston Water Inlet Valve Float (16). which allows water to flow into the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) via the Hollow Piston Vessel Inlet Valves (6) only when the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) has reached the crest of a wave.

Also shown according to this embodiment of the invention is the Control Float (N ) - a float fixed to a Control Sleeve (58). The Control Float (N) remains at the surface at all times, rising and falling with each wave, and moving the Control Sleeve (58) in a vertical direction accordingly.

In this embodiment of the present invention the Control Float (N) has several functions. The Control Float (N) regulates the level at which trapped water can be released from a Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13). which is situated inside the Floatation Component (A), the said Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13) acting as a brake on the movement of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B), so that the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) is confined to moving within the range of each wave crest and wave trough so that the roof of the Hollow Piston Vessel (3 ) does not rise above a wave crest, and so that the base of the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) does not descend below a wave trough, thereby allowing the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) to be raised and lowered in accordance with each wave and regardless of the position of the Floatation Component (A).

In this embodiment of the present invention the Control Float (N) also controls the position of the Damper Chamber Pistons (59). which function within the Damper Chamber (T) to keep the Floatation Component (A) at a fixed depth beneath the sea surface at all times. In this embodiment of the present invention the Damper Chamber Pistons (59) are also part of the same structure as the Hollow Piston Guides (5), which ensure the vertical movement of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) at all times.

In this embodiment of the present invention the Control Float (N) also triggers the release of trapped water in the Delay Cylinder (51) so as to allow the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) to fall once a wave has receded, the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) having been prevented from falling until the Control Float (N) has reached the wave trough and interacted with the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38), thus the Control Float (N) functions as part of the delay mechanism which ensures that the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) falls without the support of seawater, thereby maximizing energy capture from each wave.

In this embodiment of the present invention the Control Float (N) also serves to open the Hollow Piston Vessel Outlet Valves (7 - not shown here, see Fig 4) allowing water to exit the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) through the Control Float Outlet Valves (46) when the Hollow' Piston Vessel (3) has reached the trough of the wave, thereby removing the need for the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) to descend to a fixed place in relation to the Floatation Component (A), and to instead extract energy from all wave sizes in a variety of sea conditions regardless of the location of the Floatation Component (A) so as to increase energy output and reduce damage resulting from impacts between the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) and the Floatation Component (A).

Also shown according to this embodiment of the invention is the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9) containing the Up-stroke Compressor Chamber Piston (10), the pan of the Hollow· Piston. Shaft (8) that is wide enough to trap and compress fluid in the larger Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9), and which, on the upward stroke of the Hollow Piston Shaft ( 8). compresses fluid in the upper part of the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9). forcing some of the fluid through the Compressed Fluid Connecting Pipe (12) into the Down-stroke Compressor Chamber (15), where the partly-compressed fluid is further compressed by the Down-stroke Compressor Piston (17) on the down-stroke of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8) and then forced out through a Down-stroke Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (19) and into a Compressed Air Hose Down-Pipe (20), a pipe that transfers the fully compressed fluid from the second compression in the Down Stroke Compressor Chamber (15)'and delivers the compressed fluid to a generator or to a storage tank.

In this embodiment of the invention the Down-stroke Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (19) can be biased to restrict the escape of the compressed fluid into the Compressed Fluid Down-Pipe (20) so that the said compressed fluid remains partly trapped and serves to delay the downward movement of the Down-stroke Compressor Piston (17). Thus the said trapped fluid can also delay the descent of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B). to which the Compressor Piston (17) is connected by the Hollow Piston Shaft (8).

As a result of this delay the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) will descend without the support of the receding wave and thus cause the Down-stroke Compressor Piston (17) to descend with the full gravitational potential energy of the captured water and the weight of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component B in order to compress the fluid in the Down-stroke Compressor Chamber (15) to the maximum degree.

Upon the full descent of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8) any water that has leaked down into the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9) is compressed by the downward pressure on the descent of the Upstroke Compressor Chamber Piston (10) and expelled via the Upstroke Compressor Chamber Water Drain Valves (27) along with air trapped in the lower part of the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9).

Also shown in Figure 3 are the Mooring Rope Pulleys (28) and the Mooring Ropes (F).

Figure 4 Referring to Figure 4. there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention an angled top-view of the pans of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8). which is depicted in isolation from the rest of the device, together with the associated floats.

Depicted here is the Air Intake Cowl (1). which admits air into the Anti-Vacuum Air Intake Pipes (57). which prevent a vacuum when water is exiting from the Hollow Piston Vessel (3): the Air Intake Cowl (1) also admits air into the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) which delivers air down through the centre of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8), which forms the central rod linking all the elements in this part of the device. Also depicted is the Hollow Piston Vessel (3). which can be a container with Hollow Piston Vessel Water Inlet Valves (6). which admit the entry of water when aligned with the Hollow Piston Water Inlet Valve Float (16) through the Hollow Piston Water Inlet Valve Float Valves (61). Also shown are the Hollow Piston Outlet Valves (7). which can release water from the Hollow. Piston Vessel (3) once the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component (B) has completed its descent.

Also shown is the Control Float (N) which controls the delay mechanism, which stalls the descent of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component, controls the variable buffer mechanism which restricts the range of movement of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving 5 Component so that the movement coincides with that of the waves, controls the release of water from the Hollow Piston Vessel (3), and controls the Damper Chamber Pistons (not shown - see Figure 3) which restrict the rise of the Floatation Component (A) to a set level below the water surface.

Also depicted are: the Control Float Outlet Valves (46) through which water escapes from 0 the Hollow Piston Vessel (3), and which prevent water from re-entering the Hollow Piston Vessel (3) on the rising wave; the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) which triggers the release of trapped waler from the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51 - not shown - see Figure 3) and allows the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component to descend without the support of the wave: the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber Piston (60), which is controlled by the 5 position of the Control Sleeve Aperture (62 - not shown - see Fig 5) so that the rise and fall of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component is controlled by the position of the w aves and not by the position of the Floatation Component. Also shown here is the Delay Chamber Piston (53). which draw's water into the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51 not shown - see Figure 3) on the rising wave and is prevented from falling by the water 0 trapped in the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51 - not shown - see Figure 3) until the wave has descended to its lowest point. Also shown here is the Upstroke Compressor Chamber Air Intake Pipe Valves (11). which deliver air from the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) to the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9 - not shown - see Figure 3). Also shown are the Upstroke Compressor Piston (10) and the Down-stroke Compressor Piston 5 (17).

Figure 5 Referring to Figure 5 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the present 0 invention a cross-section side view elevation of part of the interior of the Floatation Component depicting part of the Control Float (N), which is attached to the Control Sleeve (58) which together rise and fall with each wave, moving the Control Sleeve Apertures (62) vertically in relation to the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13) and the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber Apertures (63). through which water is drawn into the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13).

On'the rise of the wave, the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber Piston (60), which is part of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8). draws water into the lower part of the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13) and expels water from the upper part of the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13 ). Then after the descent of the wave, the said Wave-stop Buffer Chamber Piston (60) descends and expels water from the lower part of the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13) while drawing water into the upper pan of the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13).

The position of the said Control Sleeve Apertures (62) thus decides how high or how low the said Wave-stop Buffer Chamber Piston (60) can travel and consequently how high or how low the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component can rise or tali, the said'Wavestop Buffer Chamber Piston (60) being unable to travel below the level of the Control Sleeve Apertures (62.) due to water always being trapped below that point in the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13 ). and the said Wave-stop Buffer Chamber Piston (60) also being unable to travel above the Control Sleeve .Apertures (62) due to water always being trapped above that point in the Wave-stop Buffer Chamber (13 ). Thus the distance of the rise and tali of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component is controlled by the level of the sea surface and not by the position of the Floatation Component, with which the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component does not come into contact while functioning in this embodiment of the present invention.

Also depicted in Figure 5 according to this embodiment of the present invention are the parts of a delay mechanism in a closed position, in which the lower part of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8) is shaped into a Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53). which, moves vertically within a Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51), ascending with the rising wave and drawing water into the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) front a Delay Chamber Water Reservoir (64) through the Delay Chamber Inlet Valve (54), the force of the entering water causing the Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades (65), and consequently the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52), to rotate a half-turn. As the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) is connected to the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) via a Delay Inter-Sleeve Grip (72), this rotation causes the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) to also rotate a half turn, which forces the Delay Lock Sleeve Ridges (67) to engage with the Delay Chamber Reservoir Grooves (68), which prevent the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) and the attached Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38), from rising with the ascending wave.

In this closed-locked position the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) prevents water escaping from the Delay Chamber (51) so that when the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component has risen to the crest of the wave the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component cannot descend until the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) has rotated back a halfturn to the original position, in which the Delay Chamber Sleeve Apertures (69 - not shown here) are once again aligned with the Delay Chamber Outlet Aperture (55) and the trapped water can escape back into the Delay Chamber Water Reservoir (64).

This rotation cannot happen until the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component has reached the crest of the wave and the upward movement of the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53) has stopped drawing water into the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) at which point the buoyant force of the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) will cause the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) to rotate a quarter turn. This rotation disengages the Delay Lock Sleeve Ridges (67) from the Delay Chamber Reservoir Grooves (68), which in turn allows the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) to rise to the surface of the wave.

At the surface of the wave the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) meets the Control Float (N). which will be descending with the falling wave and, having a Control Float Key (70) shaped to fit into a Delay Lock Sleeve Float Groove (71) on the surface of the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38), in such a way that the descending force of the Control Float (N) and the upward force of the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38), causes the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) to be rotated a further quarter turn. This rotation causes a similar quarter-turn rotation of the Delay Lock Sleeve (66), which causes a similar quarter-turn rotation of the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) back to the original open position so that the Delay Chamber Sleeve Apertures (69 - not shown here) once again align with the Delay Chamber Outlet Aperture (55) so that the trapped water can escape back into the Delay Chamber Water Reservoir (64) and the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component can descend with the full gravitational force of the structure and the captured water so that the maximum amount of energy can be extracted from the wave.

Figure 6 Referring to Figure 6 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top-view of the parts of the delay mechanism showing the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), the Hollow Piston Shaft (8), the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53), the wall of the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51), the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52), the Delay Lock Sleeve (66), the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38). and the Control Float (N) Figure 7 Referring to Figures 7 there is illustrated according to this embodiment ofthe invention a cross-section top-view at the level ofthe piston ofthe parts of the delay mechanism showing the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2). the Hollow Piston Shaft (8), the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53 ). the wall of the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51), the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52), the Delay Lock Sleeve (66), the Delay Chamber Water Reservoir (64), and the Delay Chamber Reservoir Grooves (68). r igure 8 Referring to Figure 8 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section bottom-view ofthe parts ofthe delay mechanism at the level ofthe base of the delay mechanism showing the Delay Chamber Water Reservoir (64), Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades Housing (73). Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Funnel (74). Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades (65). the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52), the WaveControlled Delay Chamber (51). Delay Chamber Inlet Valves (54). the Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades Rotation Stop (75). and the Delay Chamber Inlet Aperture (76).

Figures 9. 10. and 11 Referring to Figures 9, 10, and 11, there is illustrated according to this embodiment ofthe invention a cross-section top-view of the parts ofthe delay mechanism at the level of the piston showing the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), the Hollow Piston Shaft (8), the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53). the wall ofthe Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51), the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52), the Delay Lock Sleeve (66), the Delay Lock Sleeve Ridges (67). the Delay Inter-sleeve Grip (72), Delay Chamber Reservoir Grooves (68) and the Delay Chamber Water Reservoir (64). the Delay Lock Sleeve Aperture (84). the Delay Chamber Sleeve Aperture (69), and the Delay Chamber Outlet Aperture (55).

Figure 9 shows the delay mechanism in closed-locked position with the Delay Lock Sleeve Ridges (67) engaged with the Delay Chamber Reservoir Grooves (68), when water is entering the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) on the rise of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component with the rising wave.

Figure 10 shows the delay mechanism in closed-unlocked position the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) and the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) having rotated forward clockwise a quarter turn after water has stopped entering the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) once the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component has reached the crest of the wave and the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53) can draw no more water into the Delay Chamber (51).

Figure 11 shows the delay mechanism in open position after the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38 - not shown here - see fig 3) and the Control Float (N - see fig 3) have engaged at the trough of the wave causing the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) and the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) to rotate forward clockwise a further quarter turn so that the Delay Chamber Outlet .Aperture (55 - see also figure 3) and the Delay Lock Sleeve Aperture (84) align with the Delay Chamber Sleeve Aperture (69) in the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) allowing the rapped water to escape back into the Delay Chamber Water Reservoir (64) and allowing the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component to descend without the support of a wave.

Figures 12, 13, 14 Referring to Figure 12 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view of the parts of the delay mechanism showing the Control Float Key (70) al the base of the Control Float (N) in relation to the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) and the Delay Lock Sleeve Float Groove (71) where the Control Float Key (70) engages with the Delay Lock Sleeve Float Groove (71) to cause the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (3'8) to rotate a quarter turn in a clockwise direction when the Control Float (N) descends with the receding wave and engages with the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38), which is free to rise to the sea surface once the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component has reached the wave crest and stopped rising.

Referring to Figure 13 there is depicted an angled top-view of the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) and the Delay I.ock Sleeve Float (38) showing the Delay Lock Sleeve Float Groove Referring to Figure 14 there is shown a top-view of the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) and the Delay Lock Sleeve Float Grooves (71).

Referring again to Figures 5. 6, 7. 8, 9, 10. 11, 12. 13, and 14. the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) and the Delay Lock Sleeve (66). are linked by the Delay Inter-Sleeve Grip (72) in such a way that the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) is free to move vertically in relation to the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) but both the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) and the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) must always move together in horizontal rotation.

Consequently, when the rise of the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53) causes water to be drawn through the Delay Chamber Inlet Valve (54) into the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) the force of the water coming through the Delay Chamber Sleeve inlet Funnel (74 - Fig 8) turns the Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades (65 - Fig 8) a half-turn in an anti-clockwise direction, which, in turn, causes the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) to be rotated horizontally a half-turn in an anti-clockwise direction which, in turn, causes the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) to also be rotated a half-turn in an anti-clockwise direction until the Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades (65 - figure 8) are stopped by the Delay Chamber Sleeve Blades Rotation Stop (75 - figure 8).

This rotation leaves the Delay Lock Sleeve Ridges (67 - figs 5, 10, 11) interlocked with the Delay Chamber Reservoir Grooves (68) - figs 5, 9, 10, 11) and puts the Delay Chamber Sleeve (52) and the Delay Lock Sleeve (66) in the positions depicted in Figure 9. in which the Delay Chamber Outlet Aperture (55 - shown in fig 5) is in a closed position and water being drawn into the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) by the rising Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber Piston (53) cannot escape, thus preventing the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component B from descending with the support of the receding wave due to the trapped water in the said Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51).

Referring again to Figures 5, 6. 7, 8. 9. 10, and 11, when the ascent of the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component B has halted at the crest of the wave the rise of the WaveControlled Delay Chamber Piston (53) is also halted so that water is no longer being drawn into the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) and the Delay Chamber Sleeve Inlet Valve Blades (65 - figure 8) are free to rotate back in a clockwise direction. The buoyancy force of the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38), then causes the Delay Lock Sleeve Ridges (67) to rotate a quarter turn in the clockwise direction, sliding free of the Delay Chamber Reservoir Grooves (68) and moving into the position depicted in Figure 10, where water remains trapped inside the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) but in which the said Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) is free to rise to the sea surface.

At the sea surface the said Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) interacts with the Control Float Key (70) at the base of the Control Float (N), which has descended with the receding wave, thus causing the Delay Lock Sleeve Float (38) to rotate a further quarter turn in a clockwise direction, taking up the position depicted in the Figure 11 in which the Delay Chamber Sleeve Aperture (69) and the Delay Lock Sleeve Aperture (84) are aligned with the Delay Chamber Outlet Aperture (55) in the Wave-Controlled Delay Chamber (51) so that the trapped water is released and the Hollow Piston Buoyant Moving Component B can descend without the support of the receding wave.

Figure 15 Referring to Figure 15 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view of the parts of the damper mechanism showing the Damper Chamber (T) and a Damper Float (25) fitting exactly inside the said Damper Chamber (T).

The Damper Float (25) can be connected from below to anchors in the seabed via Mooring Ropes (F) and Mooring Rope Pulleys (28) positioned within the Floatation Component (A - see figure 2).

The Damper Float (25) is otherwise free to move vertically inside the Damper Chamber (T) and, being buoyant, will move upward inside the Damper Chamber (T) when the Mooring Ropes (F) are slack. As a result of the Damper Float (25) tightening any slack that occurs in the Mooring Ropes (F), the said Damper Float (25) will assist any sudden descent of the Floatation Component (A) caused by the receding of a wave and will resist any sudden upward movement of the Floatation Component (A - see figure 2) due to the rising of a wave.

In addition, the Damper Float (25) is shaped so that fluid inside the Damper Chamber (T) can move rapidly from above the Damper Float (25) to below the Damper Float (25) via Valved Damper Float Vertical Channels (30), which facilitate the rapid upward movement of the Damper Float (25) in response to a receding wave. However, the said Valved Damper Float Vertical Channels (30) prevent the transfer ofthe fluid from below the Damper Float (25) to above the Damper Float (25) so that the Damper Float (25) will not respond to a rising wave and will thus keep the Mooring Ropes (F) tight at all times. As a result the Damper Float (25) will help maintain the uppermost part ofthe Floatation Component below the level of the wave trough at all times.

The Damper Float (25) is also shaped to facilitate fluid gradually moving in either direction via open, non-valved, narrow Damper Float Vertical Channels (26) which facilitate the gradual transfer ofthe fluid in either direction within the Damper Chamber (T) thus allowing the gradual rise and fall ofthe Damper Float (25) in response to rising and falling tides so that the Damper Float (25) can help maintain the uppermost pail ofthe Floatation Component below the level ofthe trough of a wave at all times.

Also shown in Figure 15 is the Damper Chamber Piston (59), which, in this embodiment ofthe invention, can be formed from the lower part ofthe Hollow Piston Guides (5) and can also be fixed, or form part of, the Control Float (N), so that the Damper Chamber Piston (59) rises and falls with each wave together with the Control Float (N). Consequently, the rise and fall ofthe Damper Chamber Piston (59) forces Damper Chamber Fluid (80) and Damper Chamber Filler Air (81) to be drawn in and out of a Damper Chamber Piston Shaft (79) via Damper Chamber Piston Water Transfer Apertures (78), the said Damper Chamber Piston Water Transfer Apertures (78), being positioned so that as long as the Floatation Component remains a set distance below the wave trough, the said Damper Chamber Piston (59) will only draw Damper Chamber Fluid (80) into, and push Damper Chamber Fluid (80) out of, the said Damper Chamber Piston Shaft (79) via the Damper Chamber Piston Water Transfer Apertures (78).

However, should the Floatation Component rise higher than the set distance below the wave trough the Damper Chamber Piston (59) will descend further into the Damper Chamber (T) and will reach lower than the Damper Chamber Piston Water Transfer Apertures (78) and consequently will trap the Damper Chamber Fluid (80) in the Damper Chamber Piston Shaft (79), where the said Damper Chamber Fluid (80) will be forced by the downward pressure ofthe Damper Chamber Piston (59) to pass through Damper Chamber Piston Transfer Valves (77) into the lower part of the Damper Chamber (T) below the Damper Float (25), thus forcing the Damper Float (25) upwards and tightening the Mooring Ropes (F) and thereby preventing the Floatation Component from rising closer to rhe surface and thus serving to maintain the Floatation Component at a set distance below the water surface at all times. Also shown are the Filler Air Supply From Upstroke Compressor Chamber (82) and the Excess Filler Air Outlet Pipe and Valve (83).

Figures 16, 17, 18, 19.

In Figures 16,17, 18, and 19 according to another embodiment of the invention in which power is generated within the device, there is illustrated a cross-section side view of the parts of a system that recovers some of the energy that is lost as heat during the process of compression, and that stores that heat in a fluid, and that returns that heat to the compressed fluid before the compressed fluid is released into a turbine for the purpose of maximizing the output of electricity generated within the apparatus.

Referring to Figures 17, 18 and 19 according to this embodiment of the invention there is depicted a Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21) which surrounds a Compressor Unit (I), into which air is delivered via the Hollow Piston Shaft (8), the air being compressed in the Compressor Unit (I), first in the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9) and then forced by the pressure differential into the Down-stroke Compressor Chamber (15), where the air is further compressed before being forced by the pressure differential into a Compressed Fluid Down-Pipe (20), which delivers the compressed air, via a Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (E) to a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (M - figure 20) located outside the body of the Floatation Component (A) on the seabed as depicted in Figure 19.

Referring to Figures 17, 18 and 19, there is illustrated in this embodiment of the invention the said Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (E), which is an insulated flexible pipe containing the said Compressed Fluid Down-Pipe (20), and a Compressed Fluid Up-Pipe (24), which returns the compressed fluid from the Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (M) to the Floatation Component (A) when power is required.

Surrounding the said Compressed Fluid Down-Pipe (20), and the Compressed Fluid UpPipe (24) within the said Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (E) is a Heat Exchange Fluid (14), which is free to circulate around the Compressed Fluid Up-Pipe (24) and around the Compressed Fluid Down-Pipe (20) and is also fluidly connected io the said Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21), and thus serves to extract heat from the compressed fluid traveling down the Compressed Fluid Down-Pipe (20), and then stores the extracted heat in the said Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21), where the extracted heat can be returned to the compressed fluid as the said compressed fluid returns along the Compressed Fluid Up-Pipe (24) and -ravels through a Pre-Turbine Heat Exchanger (33) inside the said Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21) prior to being released into a Turbine (34) which spins an Alternator (36) to generate electricity, thereby reducing the loss of energy through heat loss after compression and maximizing the power output of the apparatus.

Figure 20.

In Figure 20 there is illustrated according to another embodiment of the invention a crosssection side view of the parts of a fully sealed internal fluid-filled insulated system for the containment of the entire compression and compressed-fluid storage process for the purpose of reducing heat loss during and after compression so as to maximize power output.

Depicted in Figure 20 is a Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21), which contains an Air Reservoir (40) from which air is drawn into the Compressor Unit (I) by the vacuum being created initially in the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9) by the downward movement of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8), the air being compressed first in the Upstroke Compressor Chamber (9) by the upward movement of the Hollow Piston Shaft (8) and then forced by that pressure into the Down-stroke Compressor Chamber (15), where the air is further compressed before being forced by the pressure differential into a Compressed Air Cooler (37), which is a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the compressed air into a Heat Exchange Fluid (14), which circulates freely throughout the said Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21) and serves to transfer heat by convection from the Compressed Air Cooler (37) to the vicinity of a Pre-Turbine Heat Exchanger (33).

Having lost heat to the Heat Exchange Fluid (14), the compressed air is transferred by a Cool Compressed Air Pipe (43) to an Internal Compressed Air Tank (39). The Internal Compressed Air Tank (39) contains a lid in the form of a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank Weight (X), which is heavy enough to maintain constant pressure when compressed air is drawn from the Internal Compressed Air Tank (39). The space above the Compressed Fluid Storage Tank Weight (X) and the space above the lid of the Air Reservoir (40) are fluidly connected by a Filler Fluid Transfer Pipe (45) to facilitate the transfer of a filler fluid so as to ensure pressure is equalized at all times and no vacuum is created.

When power is required, compressed air is released from the Internal Compressed Air Tank (39) and travels via a Compressed Air Pipe (50), which is a partly flexible pipe, which delivers compressed air from the Internal Compressed Air Tank (39) to the aforementioned Pre-Turbine Heat Exchanger (33), where the compressed air recovers heat from the Heat Exchange Fluid (14) before being released into the Turbine (34), causing the Turbine (34) to revolve, spinning the Alternator (36) to generate electricity.

Electricity generated by the Alternator (36) can be transmitted via a DC Cable (H), to the seabed, and thence to shore, to the grid or elsewhere.

Exhaust air can be removed from the Turbine (34) via a Turbine Exhaust Pipe (41), which is a pipe that brings exhaust air from the Turbine (34) to the Air Reservoir (40), from where the air can be drawn back into the Compressor Unit (I) so that the process can be repeated.

To prevent overheating in the system a Seawater Cooling Heat Exchanger (47), which is a thermostat-controlled seawater heat exchange system inside the Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21) can remove excess heat when necessary by admitting seawater though a Seawater Cooling Heat Exchange Intake Valve (48) and releasing the subsequently heated seawater through a Seawater Cooling Heat Exchange Outlet Valve (49) in order to maintain a maximum heat within the Heat Exchange Fluid Tank (21) at all times.

AH the components thus listed and all the constituent parts of the apparatus described in these drawings can be made in any form, materia! or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described.

Claims (80)

1. ) An apparatus for harnessing the energy in wave water, the apparatus comprising: a) a floatation component, which is maintained in position and buoyant in the water column in such a manner that the said floatation component maintains the buoyancy of the said apparatus in the water column; b) stabilization components, which form part of, or are contained within, or are attached to, the said floatation component; the said stabilization components being shaped and deployed to: i) restrict lateral movement of the said floatation component at the surface of the body of water; ii) restrict vertical movement of the said floatation component in the body of water, iii) maintain at all times the uppermost part of the said floatation component at a fixed position in relation to the sea surface, iv) prevent any rocking motion by the floatation component, v) maintain the location of the said floatation component in the body of water; c) a buoyant moving component that is fixable in place relative to the said floatation component but is free to move independently of the said floatation component; the said buoyant moving component being sufficiently buoyant to be elevated by all but the smallest waves and only restricted in the distance to which it can rise when elevated by the very largest waves; the said buoyant moving component also being shaped to be controlled by any delaying mechanism, that causes the said buoyant moving component to descend independent of, and unsupported by, a receding wave; e) a mechanism fixable in place relative to the said floatation component and the said buoyant moving component that can respond to the movement of the said buoyant moving component and can convert that movement into other energy forms for the purpose of doing work.

2. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said floatation component can have sufficient buoyancy to float at the uppermost level in a body of water at all times or can be constructed so as to always remain at a fixed depth below the water surface while rising and falling with the tides or can be constructed to always remain at a fixed depth above the seabed or be constructed so as not to rise above the level of the trough, or lowest point, of the average wave.

3. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said floatation component can consist of one or more floatation units, a floatation unit being a robust buoyant structure, or float, shaped to facilitate the insertion or removal or rearrangement of fluids in a manner that allows for the adjustment of the buoyancy of the said floatation unit, thereby allowing the adjustment of the position of the said floatation component in the water column.

4. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said floatation unit can contain an adjustable buoyancy chamber, the said adjustable buoyancy chamber being fluidly connected to externa! hose connections, the external hose connections being fittings that allow for the attachment of external hoses for the transmission of fluids to the said adjustable buoyancy chamber via fluid pipe ducts in the walls of the said floatation unit, the said fluid pipe ducts being shaped to house pipes for the transmission of fluid to and from the said adjustable buoyancy chamber.

5. Compression process can be exploited to expand the said compressed fluid for the purpose of turning a turbine with greater force. 5) An apparatus'as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plurality of the said floatation units can be locked together to form an assemblage of the said floatation units so that the said fluid pipe ducts in the walls of the said floatation units will form continuous ducts connecting the said external hose connections with the said adjustable buoyancy chambers.

6. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each, or all, of the said floatation units is shaped to contain a floatation unit maintenance aperture, the said floatation unit maintenance aperture being an aperture in the base of the said floatation unit shaped to enable maintenance to be carried out.

7. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said stabilization components include mooring structures connecting the said apparatus to anchors in the bed of the body of water in such a manner as to maintain the said apparatus in a fixed position and restrict lateral movement.

8. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said stabilization components include a surface buoyancy maintenance platform fixed to the said floatation component: the said surface buoyancy maintenance platform being constructed of buoyant material and fixed to the said floatation component in such a way that the said surface buoyancy maintenance platform maintains the uppermost part of the said floatation component at a fixed level in relation to the sea surface, and can restrict lateral movement by the said floatation component.

9. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said surface buoyancy maintenance platform contains hose connections and pipes fluidly connected to the said floatation units in the said floatation component.

10. Aforementioned compressed fluid storage tank, the said flexible insulated compressed fluid hose also being constructed to contain a freely-circulating heat exchange fluid, the said heat exchange fluid being of a material which can absorb heat efficiently from the compressed fluid in the said compressed fluid down-pipe, the said flexible insulated compressed fluid hose also being shaped to convey warmed heat exchange fluid into the 10) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said stabilization components include a stability plate forming part of, or attached to, or connected by means of ropes or cables to. the said floatation component so that the said stability plate can be positioned below the wave base, or sufficiently deep in the water column so as to be in the zone of water least stirred by the average wave, so as to restrict vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column.

11. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the said stability plate can extend horizontally from the said floatation component so that any vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column must lift a volume of water.

12. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said stability plate can be shaped or structured to restrict upward vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column while at the same time facilitating downward vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column so as to maintain the uppermost part of the said floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

13. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said stability plate is shaped in a form that allows the said stability plate to be locked to, or unlocked from, the base of the said floatation component.

14. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stabilization components can include vertical fins fixed to, or forming part of, the floatation component so as to restrict any lateral movement by the floatation component in the body of water.

15. Floatation component, the said floatation component being shaped to contain pipes positioned to convey the said wanned heat exchange fluid into the vicinity of the aforementioned turbine. 15) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the stabilization components can include a damper mechanism connected directly to the mooring system and attached to, or forming part of, the said floatation component, the said damper mechanism being shaped to restrict any sudden upward movement of the said floatation component in the water column caused by waves while at the same time facilitating any sudden downward movement of the floatation component in the water column caused by waves so as to maintain the uppermost part of the said floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

16. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the said damper mechanism can be shaped to facilitate the gradual vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column caused by tides by adjusting to the upward and downward movement of the tides so as to maintain the uppermost part of the said floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

17. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the said damper mechanism can be connected directly to a stability plate or stability device suspended below the floatation component so as to maintain the uppermost part of the said floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

18. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the said damper mechanism can consist of a damper chamber connected to, or contained within, the said floatation component, the said damper chamber being a chamber which can contain a damper chamber fluid and can also contain a damper float connected to the mooring system from beneath, the said damper float being shaped to rise through the said damper chamber fluid with ease but also shaped to descend through the said damper chamber fluid with difficulty so as to restrict any sudden upward movement of the said floatation component in the water column caused by waves and to facilitate any sudden downward movement of the said floatation component in the water column caused by waves for the purpose of maintaining the uppermost part of the said floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times.

19. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the said damper float can be shaped to contain vertical channels with valves through which the said damper chamber fluid can flow from the upper part of the said damper chamber to the lower part of the said damper chamber with ease, the said vertical channels also being shaped to prevent the said damper chamber fluid from flowing from the lower part of the said damper chamber to the upper part of the said damper chamber so that the said damper float can rise with ease but will descend with difficulty so that the said damper mechanism keeps the mooring ropes tight so as to maintain the uppermost part of the said floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface at all times regardless of the waves.

20. Up-pipe being a pipe shaped to transfer compressed fluid from a compressed fluid storage tank to the vicinity of a turbine, the said compressed fluid up-pipe also being shaped to absorb heat from the said warmed heat exchange fluid within the said flexible insulated compressed fluid hose and also from the warmed heat exchange fluid within the vicinity of the compressor unit before the said compressed fluid is released into the aforementioned 25 turbine. 20) An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the said damper float can be shaped to include narrow open channels which allow the gradual transfer of the said damper chamber fluid within the said damper chamber in either direction, thereby allowing the gradual rise and fall of the said damper float in the said damper chamber in accordance with the tides for the purpose of maintaining the uppermost part of the floatation component in a fixed position in relation to the sea surface all times regardless of the tides.

21. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the said damper chamber can be shaped to include a hollow shaft that fluidly connects the area of the said damper chamber above the said damper float with the area of the said damper chamber below the said damper float, the said damper chamber shaft also being shaped to have damper chamber shaft outlet valves below the aforementioned damper chamber float, the said damper chamber shaft outlet valves being biased to release the said damper chamber fluid into the lower part of the damper chamber whenever a set pressure has been reached in the said damper chamber shaft, so as to cause the said damper chamber float to rise and tighten the mooring ropes.

22. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the said damper chamber shaft can be shaped to include a piston that can rise and fall with each wave in relation to the said damper chamber shaft, the said damper chamber shaft having apertures positioned in the upper pan of the said damper chamber above the said damper chamber float and through which fluid is free to circulate, the said apertures being situated at a point below the lowest reach of the said damper chamber piston whenever the floatation component remains below a fixed point in relation to the water surface but above the lowest reach of the said damper chamber piston whenever the floatation component rises above a fixed point in relation to the water surface, the said damper chamber piston being shaped to compress the said damper chamber fluid trapped below the said apertures to a pressure at which the said damper chamber shaft outlet valves are biased to release the said compressed damper chamber fluid into the lower part of the damper chamber.

23. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the said damper chamber piston can be shaped to be buoyant enough to rise and fall with each wave, the upper parts of the said damper chamber piston being attached to a float and also shaped to serve as a guide to ensure that the aforementioned buoyant moving component is restricted to vertical movement only.

24. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said buoyant moving component can be shaped into the form a hollow piston, the said hollow piston being a buoyant moving component that can be shaped to admit and transmit fluid.

25. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said floatation component can include a guiding structure which is fixable relative to the said floatation component, or forms part of the said floatation component; the said guiding structure being positioned so as to protrude above the surface of the body of water.

26. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the said hollow piston is shaped to fit exactly within a hollow piston guiding structure, the said hollow' piston being free to move vertically within the said hollow piston guiding structure.

27. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the said hollow piston includes a hollow piston buoyancy float, the said hollow piston buoyancy float being shaped in such a form as to be elevated by a rising wave, the said hollow piston buoyancy float also being in contact with the said hollow piston and being sufficiently buoyant so as to raise the said hollow piston when the said hollow piston buoyancy float is elevated by a wave.

28. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the said hollow piston is shaped in part for the collection of water from a wave and is also shaped to retain the said water in the manner of a hollow piston vessel and is also shaped to prevent the said water from escaping from the said hollow piston vessel until the said hollow piston vessel has descended in the aftermath of a wave.

29.) An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the said hollow piston can be shaped to include a plurality of hollow piston valves or apertures positioned in the said hollow piston guiding structure,.or in associated floats, or in the walls of the said hollow piston vessel, the said hollow piston valves or apertures being shaped and positioned to allow the entry of water only when the said hollow piston has reached the crest of a wave, the said hollow piston valves or apertures also being shaped to allow the escape of the said water only when the said hollow piston has completed a full descent following the ebbing of a wave.

30. Within the floatation component for the purpose of reducing the loss of energy from heat loss during and after compression; the said heat exchange fluid tank being shaped to contain heat exchange fluid, which can act as a heat store and also as a means of transferring heat from a compressed fluid to a thermal mass within the heat exchange fluid tank. 30) An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the said hollow piston can be connected to a hollow piston water inlet valve float, the said hollow piston water inlet valve float being shaped to admit water to the said hollow piston vessel only when the top of the said hollow piston vessel has reached the crest of a wave, the said hollow piston water inlet valve float also being shaped to exclude water when the top of the said hollow piston vessel is not at the crest of a wave.

31. ·) An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the said hollow piston includes a hollow piston vessel that is shaped to be sufficiently buoyant when empty of water to raise the said hollow piston until the top of the said hollow piston vessel has risen to the crest of a wave without the aid of a float.

32. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the said hollow piston includes a hollow piston shaft, the said hollow piston shaft being shaped and positioned to form the central rod of the said hollow piston.

33. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the said hollow piston shaft is shaped and positioned to extend through apertures in the roof and floor of any guiding structure and into the interior of the aforementioned floatation component, the said hollow piston shaft also being free to move vertically through the said roof and floor apertures in any hollow piston guiding structure and move vertically within the interior of the said floatation component.

34. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes any mechanism that delays by any means the descent of the said hollow piston so that the said hollow piston can descend unsupported by a float or by a receding wave.

35. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the aforementioned hollow piston buoyancy float is connected loosely relative to the said hollow piston so that the said hollow piston can descend independently of both the wave and the said hollow piston buoyancy float.

36. ) .An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the said hollow piston also includes a plurality of hollow piston buoyancy float guides, the said hollow piston buoyancy float guides being shaped and positioned in a manner that confines the said hollow piston buoyancy float to'vertical movement only.

37. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the said hollow piston buoyancy float guides can be shaped to contain hollow' piston buoyancy float guide chambers, the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers being shaped to admit water and to retain the said water and also shaped to contain buoyancy float guide chamber pistons fixed robustly to the said hollow piston, the said buoyancy float guide chamber pistons being shaped to be supported by water contained within the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers.

38. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers can be shaped to contain buoyancy float guide chamber outlet valves, the said buoyancy float guide chamber outlet valves being shaped to release the said water held in the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers only when the said hollow piston buoyancy float has descended a set distance, or has descended to the trough of a wave, so that the said hollow piston descends unsupported by a receding wave.

39. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the aforementioned hollow piston shaft within the said floatation component is shaped at one point into the form of a wide, robust piston, which serves as a wave-controlled delay piston, the said wave-controlled delay piston being shaped to fit exactly within a wave-controlled delay chamber also situated within the floatation component, the said wave-controlled delay chamber also being shaped to admit water when the said delay piston is rising and also shaped to retain the said water in order to prevent the descent of the delay piston.

40. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the aforementioned wave-controlled delay chamber can be fluidly connected to a delay chamber water reservoir also situated within the floatation component, the said wave-controlled delay chamber being shaped to contain delay chamber inlet valves that admit water from the said delay chamber water reservoir and the said wave-controlled delay chamber also being shaped to retain the said water, the said wave-controlled delay chamber also being shaped to include a delay chamber outlet aperture, through which water can be released into the aforementioned delay chamber water reservoir.

41. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the aforementioned delay chamber inlet valves can be shaped so that water will be drawn into the said wave-controlled delay chamber on the rising of the aforementioned wave-controlled delay piston, the said wavecontrolled delay chamber being shaped so that the force of the said water entering through the said delay chamber inlet valves will rotate by a half-turn a delay chamber sleeve, the said delay chamber sleeve being shaped to surround the said wave-controlled delay chamber, the said delay chamber sleeve also being shaped to close off and prevent water escaping from the said delay chamber outlet aperture when rotated a half-turn.

42. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein the aforementioned delay chamber sleeve is shaped to be linked to, and surrounded by, a delay lock sleeve in such a way that the said delay chamber sleeve and the said delay lock sleeve can each cause the other to rotate in a horizontal direction, the said delay lock sleeve also being shaped to be vertically mobile and can also be fixed to a delay lock sleeve float, which is sufficiently buoyant to raise the said delay lock sleeve vertically until the said delay lock sleeve float has reached the sea surface; the said delay lock sleeve also being shaped to be unable to rise vertically without rotating back a quarter-turn.

43. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the said delay lock sleeve can be biased to rotate back a quarter-turn halfway towards the original open position once the delay chamber sleeve, which is linked to the said delay lock sleeve, is no longer being held in a forward half-turn position by the force of water entering the aforementioned wavecontrolled delay chamber, the said delay lock sleeve being linked in such a way to the said delay chamber sleeve as to cause the said delay chamber sleeve to also rotate back a quarter-turn to a position in which the trapped water inside the said wave-controlled delay chamber remains trapped but in which the aforementioned delay lock sleeve float is free to rise to the surface.

44. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein the said delay lock sleeve float is shaped to have an upper surface formed in such a way that the said delay lock sleeve is rotated back an additional quarter-turn when the said delay lock sleeve float encounters a control float, the said control float being a float shaped to surround the aforementioned hollow piston shaft and the aforementioned hollow piston vessel and is shaped to be free to rise and fall with each wave independently of the said hollow piston.

45. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the aforementioned delay chamber sleeve and the said delay lock sleeve are shaped to contain apertures which are shaped to align with an outlet aperture in the wall ofthe aforementioned wave-controlled delay chamber when the said delay chamber sleeve and the said delay lock sleeve have rotated back two quarter-turns to a position which allows the release of the trapped water from the said wave-controlled delay chamber, thus allowing the descent ofthe aforementioned wave-controlied delay piston and also the hollow piston without the support of a wave.

46. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein various devices can be connected to the hollow piston in a manner that exploits the force exerted by the movement ofthe said hollow piston for the purpose of carrying out work.

47. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 46, wherein a compressor unit is fixable relative to the said floatation component and the said hollow 7 piston, the said compressor unit also being fluidly connected to a source of fluid in a manner that allows the said fluid to be introduced into a compressor chamber within the said compressor unit and expelled from the said compressor chamber as part of a compression process powered by the movement ofthe said hollow piston relative to the said floatation component.

48. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein a compressor piston is fixed to the base of the aforementioned hollow piston shaft, the said compressor piston being situated in the said compressor chamber in such a way that the vertical movement ofthe said hollow piston shaft causes the said compressor piston to move vertically within the said compressor chamber.

49. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein a plurality of compressor chamber fluid intake valves are situated in the walls of the said compressor chamber, the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves being positioned and shaped to allow fluid to enter and be retained within the said compressor chamber.

50. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 49, wherein a plurality of compressed fluid outlet valves are situated in the walls of the said compressor chamber so that the said compressed fluid outlet valves can be shaped, positioned, and adjusted when necessary to allow fluid in the said compressor chamber to escape and be excluded from the said compressor chamber when a set pressure, or various selected pressures, within the said compressor chamber have been reached.

51. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the said compressor unit is shaped so that the upward stroke of the said compressor piston draws fluid into the compressor chamber via the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the downward stroke of the said compressor piston compresses the said fluid.

52. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 51, wherein the said compressor unit is shaped so that both the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the said compressor chamber compressed fluid outlet valves are situated in both the upper and lower parts of the said compressor chamber in such a manner that both the downward stroke of the said compressor piston and the upward stroke of the said compressor piston can compress fluid and the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the said compressor chamber compressed fluid outlet valves are shaped to release compressed fluid from the compressor unit when a suitable pressure has been reached.

53. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 52, wherein the said compressor unit is shaped so that the said compressor chamber fluid outlet valves can be situated in an upstroke chamber and can be fluidly connected to down-stroke chamber inlet valves, the said downstroke chamber inlet valves being situated in a down-stroke compressor chamber of the said compressor unit in such a way that a fluid compressed in the said upstroke chamber of the said compressor unit by a rising upstroke chamber piston can be introduced into the said-down-stroke compressor chamber in such a way that the said compressed fluid can be further compressed by the downward stroke of a down-stroke compressor piston before being released for. storage or for immediate exploitation.

54. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the said compressed fluid outlet valves are of a structure which allows the said compressed fluid outlet valves to be adjusted to release compressed fluid only when the pressure in the said compressor chamber reaches a pressure sufficient to slow the descent of the said hollow piston so that the said hollow piston descends unsupported by a receding wave.

55. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein fluid pipe ducts in the walls of the said floatation units are shaped to form a continuous duct connecting the said compressed fluid outlet valves to an external hose connection.

56. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein a plurality of compressed fluid hose pipes fluidly connect the said compressed fluid outlet valves in the compressor chamber to a device, or devises, for the exploitation or storage of compressed fluid from the said compressor chamber.

57. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 53, wherein the said compressor unit is shaped into an upstroke compressor chamber and a down-stroke compressor chamber so that the downward stroke of the aforementioned hollow piston shaft draws fluid into the said upstroke chamber, the said upstroke chamber being shaped and connected to the said hollow piston shaft in such a way that some of the said fluid introduced into the said upstroke chamber can be compressed by an upstroke compressor piston on the upward stroke of the said hollow piston shaft and forced in compressed form into the said downstroke compressor chamber, the said upstroke compressor chamber also being shaped to extend above the upstroke compressor chamber outlet pipes in such a way that the remainder of the said fluid in the said upstroke compressor chamber remains trapped in the said upstroke compressor chamber and acts as a buffer that halts the upward movement of the said upstroke compressor piston for the purpose of halting the upward movement of the said hollow piston shaft so as to prevent the upward movement of the hollow piston from causing damage to the device in the process of being halted.

58. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 57, wherein the aforementioned hollow piston shaft is shaped to include a wide, robust section which serves as a wave-stop buffer piston, the said wave-stop buffer piston being shaped to fit exactly within a wave-stop buffer chamber, which is situated within the floatation component, the said wave-stop buffer chamber being surrounded tightly by a control float sleeve, which is sufficiently free to move vertically as a result of being attached to the aforementioned control float, which rises and falls with each wave.

59. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 58, wherein the aforementioned wave-stop buffer chamber is shaped to contain a wave stop buffer chamber aperture, the wave-stop buffer chamber aperture being an opening shaped so that water trapped within the said wave-stop buffer chamber can circulate between the said wave-stop buffer chamber and the aforementioned delay chamber water reservoir.

60. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 59, wherein the aforementioned control float sleeve, which tightly surrounds the said wave-stop buffer chamber, can be shaped to include a control sleeve aperture, the said control sleeve aperture being shaped so that water can only leave and reenter the said wave-stop buffer chamber through the said wavestop buffer chamber aperture when the said wave-stop buffer chamber aperture is aligned with the said control sleeve aperture; the said wave-stop buffer chamber being shaped so that water above or below the said control sleeve aperture remains trapped in the said wave-stop buffer chamber so that the said wave-stop buffer piston is prevented from traveling any distance above or below the position of the control sleeve aperture with the result that the position of the said control float on the sea surface governs the position of the aforementioned hollow piston so that the said hollow piston can only rise and fall in accordance with the height or depth of each wave.

61. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 60, wherein the aforementioned hollow piston water inlet valve float is insufficiently buoyant to protrude above the sea surface and is positioned to block the rise of the aforementioned control float at the crest of a wave, the said control float being attached to the aforementioned control float sleeve, which governs the position of the said control sleeve aperture, which, in turn, governs the position of the wave-stop buffer piston and therefore limits the rise of the said hollow piston in accordance with the crest of each individual wave.

62. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein any suitable mechanism can be deployed to halt the upward or downward movement of the said buoyant moving component to maximize the extraction of energy from waves by the apparatus and to protect against damage to the apparatus due to movement in response to waves.

63. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the topmost part of the said hollow piston shaft is shaped into the form of a hollow piston shaft air intake pipe, the said hollowpiston shaft air intake pipe being fluidly connected to the aforementioned compressor chamber fluid intake valves for the purpose of supplying air to the aforementioned compressor, the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe being of sufficient length to extend above the average wave so that the uppermost part of the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe is always in contact with air.

64. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 63, wherein the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe is fitted with an air intake cowl, the said air intake cowl being shaped to admit air and prevent the entry of water into the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe.

65. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 64, wherein the said air intake cowl is shaped to also comprise anti-vacuum air intake pipes, the said anti-vacuum air intake pipes being pipes that deliver air to the aforementioned hollow piston vessel for the purpose of preventing a vacuum when water is exiting the said hollow piston vessel at the trough of a wave.

66. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the said hollow piston vessel can comprise a plurality of hollow piston vessel water outlet valves, the said hollow piston vessel w'ater outlet valves being valves shaped to release water from the said hollow piston vessel only when the said hollow piston vessel water outlet valves make contact with the aforementioned control float at the trough of a wave.

67. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 56, wherein one or more of the said compressed fluid hose pipes can be shaped to fluidly connect the said compressed fluid outlet valves in the said compressor unit to one or more compressed fluid storage tanks for the storage of the said compressed fluid.

68. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 67, wherein a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose can be shaped to connect the said compressed fluid hosepipes in the said floatation component to one or more compressed fluid storage tanks situated on the seabed or elsewhere.

69. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 68, wherein compressed fluid storage tank outlet valves can be shaped to fluidly connect the interior of the said compressed fluid storage tank to external insulated compressed fluid pipes in a manner that allows fluid to be released into the said external insulated compressed fluid pipes when a set pressure within the said compressed fluid storage tank has been reached.

70. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 67, wherein a compressed fluid storage tank can be shaped so that compressed fluid stored in the said compressed fluid storage tank at lowtemperature can be further compressed by the injection of additional fluid driven by the action of the said buoyant moving component to the point where outlet valves in the said compressed fluid storage tank release the said compressed fluid into external insulated compressed fluid pipes, which deliver the said compressed fluid to a device where the application of heat will expand the fluid and turn a turbine.

71. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 67, wherein a compressed fluid storage tank can be shaped to support a weight which will rise as the fluid pressure increases within the said compressed fluid storage tank and descend as the said compressed fluid is released from the compressed fluid storage tank so that the said fluid can be released at a steady pressure.

72. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 71, wherein a flexible insulated compressed fluid nose connecting the aforementioned floatation component to a compressed fluid storage tank can be shaped to transfer compressed fluid, which is stored in the said compressed fluicl storage tank, back into the said floatation component and into the vicinity of the said compressor unit, the said compressor unit being shaped so that the heat generated by the

73. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 72, wherein a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose can be shaped to contain a compressed fluid down-pipe, the said compressed fluid down-pipe being constructed to fluidly connect the said compressor unit with the

74. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 73, wherein a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose can also be shaped to contain a compressed fluid up-pipe, the said compressed fluid

75. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 74, wherein the said floatation component can be shaped to contain a heat exchange fluid tank, the said heat exchange fluid tank being a fully sealed internal fluid-filled insulated vessel for the containment of the entire compression, compressed fluid storage and heat-exchange process, and which is situated

76. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 75, wherein a heat exchange fluid tank can be shaped to contain an air reservoir, an air reservoir being a storage tank shaped to contain waste fluid from a generator turbine and which can be fluidly connected to a compressor, whose outlet valve is fluidly connected to a compressed air cooler, a compressed air cooler being a heat exchanger that is shaped to transfer heat acquired in the compression of a fluid into-the aforementioned heat exchange fluid, which fills the said heat exchange fluid tank in such a way that heat can ascend to the area around the said generator turbine and serve io heal compressed fluid prior to the said compressed fluid entering a generator turbine.

77. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 76, wherein the said heat exchange fluid tank can also be shaped to contain an internal compressed fluid tank, an internal compressed fluid tank being a tank shaped for storing cooled compressed fluid and which can be fluidly connected via a pre-turbine heat exchanger to the said generator turbine so that the said compressed fluid passing through the pre-turbine heat exchanger recovers or gains heat for the purpose of maximizing the electrical output of the apparatus.

78. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 77, wherein the said heat exchange fluid tank can also be shaped to contain a seawater cooling heat exchanger, the said seawater cooling heat exchanger being a heat exchanger situated in the base of the said heat exchange fluid tank and which can be fluidly connected to a seawater cooling heat exchanger intake valve and also io a seawater cooling heat exchanger outlet valve so that excess heat can be removed from the said heat exchange fluid tank.

79. ) An apparatus for harnessing the potential energy in wave water being substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

80. ) A process for harnessing the potential energy in wave water, using the apparatus as claimed in any previous claim, as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.