POWER TAKE-OFF APPARATUS FOR A WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER AND WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER COMPRISING THE SAME

摘要

A power take-off apparatus for a wave energy converter of point absorber type, comprising: a cylinder (1) adapted to be attached to a floating device and comprising a first upper end and a second lower end; a piston (5) arranged to reciprocate inside the cylinder (1) and having a piston rod (6) adapted to be attached to a mooring; at least one penstock (13) arranged parallel to the cylinder (1) and comprising a first lower end in fluid communication with the second end of the cylinder (1) through a first opening, and a second upper end comprising a second opening; a housing (16) arranged above the first end of the cylinder (1), wherein the housing (16) is in fluid communication with the penstock (13) through the second opening and in fluid communication with the first end of the cylinder (1) through a third opening in a bottom of the housing (16) such that the cylinder (1), the at least one penstock (13) and the housing (16) together form a closed loop for a working fluid in the power take-off apparatus; and a water turbine (4) arranged inside the housing (16) and oriented such that working fluid entering the housing (16) from the at least one penstock (13) through the second opening causes rotation of the water turbine (4) to drive an electrical generator (15) connected thereto. A wave energy converter comprising such a power take-off apparatus is also disclosed.