WO2009019572A2 - A wave energy pump assembly - Google Patents

A wave energy pump assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009019572A2
WO2009019572A2 PCT/IB2008/002049 IB2008002049W WO2009019572A2 WO 2009019572 A2 WO2009019572 A2 WO 2009019572A2 IB 2008002049 W IB2008002049 W IB 2008002049W WO 2009019572 A2 WO2009019572 A2 WO 2009019572A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pump assembly
arm member
elongate
support frame
operatively
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2008/002049
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2009019572A3 (en
Inventor
Simon Andrew Wijnberg
Original Assignee
Simon Andrew Wijnberg
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Simon Andrew Wijnberg filed Critical Simon Andrew Wijnberg
Publication of WO2009019572A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009019572A2/en
Publication of WO2009019572A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009019572A3/en
Priority to ZA2010/01483A priority Critical patent/ZA201001483B/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/1805—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is hinged to the rem
    • F03B13/181—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is hinged to the rem for limited rotation
    • F03B13/1815—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is hinged to the rem for limited rotation with an up-and-down movement
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/1845—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom slides relative to the rem
    • F03B13/1865—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom slides relative to the rem where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension only
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/1885—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is tied to the rem
    • F03B13/189—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is tied to the rem acting directly on the piston of a pump
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • Y02A20/138—Water desalination using renewable energy
    • Y02A20/144—Wave energy
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a cost effective wave-powered pump assembly.
  • the invention relates to a wave-powered pump assembly used in the desalination of seawater by means of reverse osmosis, but not necessarily so.
  • osmosis involves the pumping of seawater at high pressure into a chamber, the chamber being separated by a semi-permeable membrane into two volumes.
  • the membrane allows water flow through it but blocks the transport of salts and other particles so that the water in the volume beyond the membrane, referred to as "permeate", is desalinated and the salt is left behind in the volume operatively in front of the membrane.
  • a difficulty with the process is that the pump pressure must be higher than the osmotic pressure in order to force seawater through the membrane and permeate out of the module.
  • One known pump used in this reverse osmosis process comprises a wave- powered pump including a wave follower component having means to cause it to be suspended within a body of water and anchoring means for mooring the wave follower to the seabed or other surface below the body of water.
  • Known wave followers are generally non-Archimedean in the sense that the wave follower is pulled in a downwards fashion into the water by the motion of the wave so that the mass of the water displaced by the wave follower is greater than the mass of the wave follower.
  • the wave follower is operatively connected to a piston pump comprising a cylinder within which is mounted a reciprocity piston for pumping the seawater, generally to a shore-based desalination chamber.
  • a pump assembly for use in pumping a liquid medium
  • the pump assembly comprising a generally elongate wave-powered arm member having flotation means for operatively facilitating suspension of the arm member in the liquid medium, the arm member being hingeably attachable at one end to a rotatable support frame means in which the arm member is movable in generally vertical relation to the support frame means and in which the support frame means is rotatably connectable to a generally upper end of an elongate support shaft member, the support shaft member including anchoring means for securing the support shaft member in generally vertical relation to a surface submersed beneath the liquid medium, the pump assembly including one or more pump means having liquid inlet and outlet means and in which movement of the arm member within the liquid medium operatively controls the alternative opening and closing of the inlet and outlet means.
  • Figure 1 is an exploded side view illustration of one embodiment of the pump assembly according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic side view illustration of the pump assembly of the invention in situ; and Figure 3 is a plan view illustration of the pump assembly according to the invention.
  • the pump assembly of the invention comprises a generally elongate wave- powered arm member (6) having flotation means for operatively facilitating suspension of the arm member in the seawater, the arm member being hingeably attachable at one end to a rotatable support frame means (5) in which the arm member is movable in generally vertical relation to the support frame means and in which the support frame means is rotatably connectable to a generally upper end of an elongate support shaft member (4), the support shaft member including anchoring means (2) for securing the support shaft member in generally vertical relation to a surface submersed beneath the liquid medium, preferably the seabed (3), the pump assembly including one or more pumping means having seawater inlet and outlet means and in which movement of the arm member within the water operatively controls the alternative opening and closing of the inlet and outlet means.
  • the elongate arm member rests on a fulcrum (7) aided into position by lateral guides which are bolted into place.
  • This configuration allows the elongate arm member to move in a vertical plane relative to the support frame means and to rotate in the horizontal plane relative to the centre of the anchoring means.
  • the anchoring means comprises a central base element having a central aperture (8) and at least four outwardly extending support legs (9). Each support leg includes a receiving aperture for receiving an anchoring pole (10).
  • the anchoring poles are long, steel poles which pass through the receiving apertures and penetrate the seabed substratum in order to anchor and stabilize the pump assembly.
  • the elongate support shaft (4) passes through central aperture (8) and penetrates the seabed substratum.
  • the support shaft member is wider that the anchoring poles and is hollow, allowing it to serve as a seawater conduit.
  • the support frame member and operatively attached arm member rotate in the horizontal plane while the arm member is also free to simultaneously move in the vertical plane. Accordingly, the configuration of the support frame means and the arm follows the action of the waves in both directions utilizing both the upward and downward motion of each wave, thereby maximizing efficiency.
  • the wave-powered arm is able to align in sympathy with the direction of the waves.
  • seawater is sucked up through the hollow central support shaft member (4) acting as a conduit.
  • the water is sucked through multiple layers of sand, which acts as a natural filter removing most of the particulates in the water that is operatively sucked in the pump.
  • the seawater flows into the cavity of one pumping device through the inlet valve.
  • the wave-powered arm us pulled in a generally upwards direction by the floatation device whilst passing over the crest of a passing wave, the cylinders of one of the pumping devices are forced to compress, thereby expelling the seawater under high pressure from the cavity through a one-way outlet valve into a connected pipe which directs the water to a shore-based desalination chamber.
  • the other pumping device (on the opposite side of the support shaft member (4)) is forced to expand, drawing the cylinders apart. Water is drawn into the cavity, ready to be expelled by the next stroke of the arm member. As the crest is replaced by the trough of the wave, the ballast device facilitates in the downward movement of the arm member.
  • the size of the ballast and floatation devices as well as the diameter of the pumping devices can be changed to suit the local conditions of the ocean as well as the purpose for which the pump assembly is employed.

Abstract

A pump assembly (1 ) for use in pumping a liquid medium, preferably seawater, is provided. The pump assembly comprising a generally elongate wave-powered arm member (6) having flotation means for operatively facilitating suspension of the arm member in the seawater, the arm member being hingeably attachable at one end to a rotatable support frame means (5) in which the arm member is movable in generally vertical relation to the support frame means and in which the support frame means is rotatably connectable to a generally upper end of an elongate support shaft member (4), the support shaft member including anchoring means for securing the support shaft member in generally vertical relation to the seabed, the pump assembly including one or more pumping means having liquid inlet and outlet means and in which movement of the arm member within the liquid medium operatively controls the alternative opening and closing of the inlet and outlet means.

Description

A WAVE ENERGY PUMP ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a cost effective wave-powered pump assembly. In particular, the invention relates to a wave-powered pump assembly used in the desalination of seawater by means of reverse osmosis, but not necessarily so.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Extensive regions of the earth lie on the path of trade winds and are surrounded by water, particularly seawater. Many of these land regions lack reliable sources of potable water and in a state of arid or semi-aridness.
There are a number of known methods used in the desalination process of seawater. Conventionally, desalination has largely depended on fossil fuels as the source of power for such processes. The increasing scarcity of fossil fuels, and the accompanying increased cost of such fuels, has rendered these methods largely unavailable to poorer, undeveloped countries.
Desalination of seawater by means of wave-powered reverse osmosis is known. The earliest known uses of this method of desalination were hindered by the lack of adequate knowledge relating to effectively drawing power from waves, at the necessarily high pressure required by the reverse osmosis process, and the concomitant costs associated therewith. In general, osmosis involves the pumping of seawater at high pressure into a chamber, the chamber being separated by a semi-permeable membrane into two volumes. The membrane allows water flow through it but blocks the transport of salts and other particles so that the water in the volume beyond the membrane, referred to as "permeate", is desalinated and the salt is left behind in the volume operatively in front of the membrane.
A difficulty with the process is that the pump pressure must be higher than the osmotic pressure in order to force seawater through the membrane and permeate out of the module.
One known pump used in this reverse osmosis process comprises a wave- powered pump including a wave follower component having means to cause it to be suspended within a body of water and anchoring means for mooring the wave follower to the seabed or other surface below the body of water. Known wave followers are generally non-Archimedean in the sense that the wave follower is pulled in a downwards fashion into the water by the motion of the wave so that the mass of the water displaced by the wave follower is greater than the mass of the wave follower. The wave follower is operatively connected to a piston pump comprising a cylinder within which is mounted a reciprocity piston for pumping the seawater, generally to a shore-based desalination chamber. These known wave-powered pumps are generally secured to the seabed at deployment sites having relatively small tidal ranges. The difficulty is that the pump stroke must be increased to accommodate the tidal range in order to avoid periods where the wave follower is entirely submerged in water, thus curtailing its response to wave movement. Moreover, such an arrangement could subject the mooring to excessive physical stresses as a result of the direct strain of the upward force of the wave. A further associated problem with these known wave-powered pumps is that they only are only able to harness the energy from the upwards motion of the wave. Accordingly, the pumps utilize approximately half of the available wave energy. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a wave energy pump assembly for use, preferably in reverse osmosis applications, which has advantages over many prior art pumps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a pump assembly for use in pumping a liquid medium, the pump assembly comprising a generally elongate wave-powered arm member having flotation means for operatively facilitating suspension of the arm member in the liquid medium, the arm member being hingeably attachable at one end to a rotatable support frame means in which the arm member is movable in generally vertical relation to the support frame means and in which the support frame means is rotatably connectable to a generally upper end of an elongate support shaft member, the support shaft member including anchoring means for securing the support shaft member in generally vertical relation to a surface submersed beneath the liquid medium, the pump assembly including one or more pump means having liquid inlet and outlet means and in which movement of the arm member within the liquid medium operatively controls the alternative opening and closing of the inlet and outlet means.
Further features of the invention provide for the liquid medium to preferably comprise seawater or other saliferous medium; for the surface to preferably comprise a seabed; for the anchoring assembly to comprise a base element having a generally central aperture and four support legs for engaging the seabed; for the support legs to preferably include apertures for receiving anchoring poles; for the anchoring poles to be inserted through the receiving apertures into the seabed; for the elongate support shaft to preferably be hollow and to constitute a seawater conduit; for the elongate support shaft to be receivable through the central aperture of the base element and to be locatable within the seabed; for the elongate support shaft to be of a wider diameter than the anchoring poles; for the rotatable support frame means to include a central receiving sleeve for receiving the generally operatively upper end of the support shaft in rotatable engagement; for the elongate arm member to generally be of a tapering configuration having a wider and a narrower end and in which the wider end is attachable to the rotatable support frame; for the elongate arm member to be operatively suspended at its free end by floatation means; for the elongate arm member to be attachable to one or more stabilizing ballast weights at its free end; for the pumping devices to preferably comprise one or more telescopic pumps; for each telescopic pump to be attachable at one point to the support frame means and to the elongate arm member at another pint; for the inlet and outlet means to preferably constitute one-way inlet and outlet valves; for the outlet valve to be connectable to a conduit pipe for operatively directing seawater to a land-based desalination unit.
In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood a description of one embodiment of the invention follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is an exploded side view illustration of one embodiment of the pump assembly according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view illustration of the pump assembly of the invention in situ; and Figure 3 is a plan view illustration of the pump assembly according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a wave energy pump assembly is provided, generally illustrated by numeral (1). The pump assembly is generally intended for pumping seawater or other salt water medium, at high pressure to an offshore desalination chamber.
The pump assembly of the invention comprises a generally elongate wave- powered arm member (6) having flotation means for operatively facilitating suspension of the arm member in the seawater, the arm member being hingeably attachable at one end to a rotatable support frame means (5) in which the arm member is movable in generally vertical relation to the support frame means and in which the support frame means is rotatably connectable to a generally upper end of an elongate support shaft member (4), the support shaft member including anchoring means (2) for securing the support shaft member in generally vertical relation to a surface submersed beneath the liquid medium, preferably the seabed (3), the pump assembly including one or more pumping means having seawater inlet and outlet means and in which movement of the arm member within the water operatively controls the alternative opening and closing of the inlet and outlet means.
The elongate arm member rests on a fulcrum (7) aided into position by lateral guides which are bolted into place. This configuration allows the elongate arm member to move in a vertical plane relative to the support frame means and to rotate in the horizontal plane relative to the centre of the anchoring means. The anchoring means comprises a central base element having a central aperture (8) and at least four outwardly extending support legs (9). Each support leg includes a receiving aperture for receiving an anchoring pole (10). The anchoring poles are long, steel poles which pass through the receiving apertures and penetrate the seabed substratum in order to anchor and stabilize the pump assembly. The elongate support shaft (4) passes through central aperture (8) and penetrates the seabed substratum. The support shaft member is wider that the anchoring poles and is hollow, allowing it to serve as a seawater conduit.
The wave-powered arm member (6) is a generally tapered structure, having a wider and a narrower end with the wider end being operatively attachable to the support frame means. One or more floatation devices (11) are attachable to the tapered narrower end of the arm member. The floatation devices facilitate in maintaining the arm member is a suspended state within the seawater. In addition, one or more ballast devices (12) are attachable to the arm member, preferably at its tapered end, in order to provide stabilization for the arm.
In operation, the support frame member and operatively attached arm member rotate in the horizontal plane while the arm member is also free to simultaneously move in the vertical plane. Accordingly, the configuration of the support frame means and the arm follows the action of the waves in both directions utilizing both the upward and downward motion of each wave, thereby maximizing efficiency. The wave-powered arm is able to align in sympathy with the direction of the waves.
The pump assembly includes at least two pumping devices, which in the preferred embodiment of the invention are pumps of the telescopic variety. These pumping devices are locatable on either side of the support frame and each pumping device is attachable at one point to the support frame member and, at another point, to the elongate arm member. Generally, a telescopic pump comprises at least two cylinders in a nested arrangement. When the cylinders are forced to move apart, a civility is define for receiving liquid, in this case, seawater. A one-way inlet valve allows the seawater to flow into the expanding cavity. As the cylinders are forced into a state of compression, the seawater is forced to move out of the pump through a one-way outlet valve.
In operation, seawater is sucked up through the hollow central support shaft member (4) acting as a conduit. The water is sucked through multiple layers of sand, which acts as a natural filter removing most of the particulates in the water that is operatively sucked in the pump. The seawater flows into the cavity of one pumping device through the inlet valve. As the wave-powered arm us pulled in a generally upwards direction by the floatation device whilst passing over the crest of a passing wave, the cylinders of one of the pumping devices are forced to compress, thereby expelling the seawater under high pressure from the cavity through a one-way outlet valve into a connected pipe which directs the water to a shore-based desalination chamber. In the same movement, the other pumping device (on the opposite side of the support shaft member (4)) is forced to expand, drawing the cylinders apart. Water is drawn into the cavity, ready to be expelled by the next stroke of the arm member. As the crest is replaced by the trough of the wave, the ballast device facilitates in the downward movement of the arm member. The size of the ballast and floatation devices as well as the diameter of the pumping devices can be changed to suit the local conditions of the ocean as well as the purpose for which the pump assembly is employed.
It will be understood that the invention provides for a simple, yet highly effective wave-powered pump assembly that has wide application potential depending on requirements. Also, numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A pump assembly (1) for use in pumping a liquid medium, the pump assembly comprising a generally elongate wave-powered arm member (6) for operatively suspending in the liquid medium, support means for supporting the arm member within the liquid medium and anchoring means (2) for anchoring the pump assembly within the liquid medium, the pump assembly being characterized in that the arm member is hingeably attachable at one end to a rotatable support frame means (5) and in which the arm member is movable in generally vertical relation to the support frame means, the support frame means being rotatably connectable to a generally upper end of an elongate support shaft member (4), in which the support shaft member is operatively secured by the anchoring means in generally vertical relation to a surface (3), the pump assembly including pumping means having inlet and outlet means for alternatively drawing liquid into and expelling water from the pump assembly.
2. A pump assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the liquid medium is seawater and the surface is the seabed (3).
3. A pump assembly as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the anchoring means (2) comprises a base element having a generally central aperture (8) adapted to receive the support shaft member (4) such that the support shaft member and four support legs (9) for operatively engaging the seabed.
4. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each support leg includes an aperture for receiving an anchoring pole (10).
5. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support shaft member (4) is hollow and serves as a conduit for the liquid medium.
6. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate arm member is of a generally tapered configuration, having a wider and a narrower end respectively.
7. A pump assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the wider end of the support arm is hingeably attachable to the support frame member.
8. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support frame means (5) includes a receiving means for receiving the generally operatively upper end of the support shaft member (4) in rotatable engagement.
9. A pump assembly as claimed in claim 7 in which the receiving means is in the form of an elongate receiving sleeve.
10. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate arm member (6) rests on a fulcrum (7) means at the operatively upper end of the support frame member, operatively facilitating movement in the vertical plane relative to the support frame.
11. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate arm member (6) is operatively suspended at one end by at least one floatation device.
12. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate arm member is attachable to one or more stabilizing ballast weight means.
13.A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pumping means are at least two telescopic pumps having liquid inlet and outlet valves.
14. A pump assembly as claimed in claim 13 in which each pumping means is attachable at one point to the support frame means (5) and at another point to elongate support arm (6).
15. A pump assembly as claimed in claims 13 and 14 in which at least one outlet valve is attachable to a conduit pipe leading to a land-based desalination chamber.
16. A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate arm assembly is moveable in the vertical and horizontal plane relative to the anchoring means.
17.A pump assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which movement of the elongate arm member (6) controls the opening and closing of the inlet and outlet valves.
18. A method of pumping a liquid medium using a pump assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 16 including the steps of causing a wave- powered elongate arm member to move both vertically and horizontally relative to its anchoring means thereby operatively utilizing the upwards and downwards motion of a wave.
PCT/IB2008/002049 2007-08-03 2008-08-04 A wave energy pump assembly WO2009019572A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA2010/01483A ZA201001483B (en) 2007-08-03 2010-03-01 A wave energy pump assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA2007/06820 2007-08-03
ZA200706820 2007-08-03

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITVR20090080A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2010-12-06 Mario Bortolo Candellaro PLANT FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF WAVE MOTORCYCLE
CN102603035A (en) * 2012-03-09 2012-07-25 大连理工大学 Tidal energy unsteady boosting seawater desalinization and power generation assembly
FR3126456A1 (en) * 2021-08-31 2023-03-03 Michel Bourriaud Purpose Wave energy device with float and active lever for maritime sites with large tidal ranges.

Citations (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3970415A (en) * 1975-04-10 1976-07-20 Kaj Widecrantz One way valve pressure pump turbine generator station
US4111610A (en) * 1974-06-03 1978-09-05 Brown Henry C Wave-powered, pivoted float pumping system with increasing opposition to extreme movement of lever arm
WO1992014926A1 (en) * 1991-02-14 1992-09-03 Alan Keith Vowles Wave energy generator
WO2006106184A1 (en) * 2005-04-07 2006-10-12 Finn Escone Oy Method and device for collecting wave energy
WO2007030841A1 (en) * 2005-09-06 2007-03-15 Johannes Jacobus Vosloo Sea swells power electricity generation apparatus

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4111610A (en) * 1974-06-03 1978-09-05 Brown Henry C Wave-powered, pivoted float pumping system with increasing opposition to extreme movement of lever arm
US3970415A (en) * 1975-04-10 1976-07-20 Kaj Widecrantz One way valve pressure pump turbine generator station
WO1992014926A1 (en) * 1991-02-14 1992-09-03 Alan Keith Vowles Wave energy generator
WO2006106184A1 (en) * 2005-04-07 2006-10-12 Finn Escone Oy Method and device for collecting wave energy
WO2007030841A1 (en) * 2005-09-06 2007-03-15 Johannes Jacobus Vosloo Sea swells power electricity generation apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITVR20090080A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2010-12-06 Mario Bortolo Candellaro PLANT FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF WAVE MOTORCYCLE
CN102603035A (en) * 2012-03-09 2012-07-25 大连理工大学 Tidal energy unsteady boosting seawater desalinization and power generation assembly
FR3126456A1 (en) * 2021-08-31 2023-03-03 Michel Bourriaud Purpose Wave energy device with float and active lever for maritime sites with large tidal ranges.

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ZA201001483B (en) 2011-06-29

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