VIDEO: Lorin Wave Energy Converter

January 26, 2015

The system consists of barges that are linked to fixed beams, parallel to the coast, with steel bars and support bearings.

Every barge independently makes movements vertically on the surface. The ropes, constantly fixed on the barges, transfer these movements to the intermediate shafts.

There is an intermediate shaft for each barge and on the intermediate shaft there are two fixed pulleys and two fixed gears.

The double gearing and pulling system is designed because of the different directions the waves move – different direction moving a different gear.

Each intermediate shaft is connected to the main shaft, which means that all movements are conducted to the main shaft which spins in only one direction, running the electricity generator it’s connected to.

The energy recovery method of the system is the transfer of the potential energy which the weights linked to barges and pulleys gain when they move.

The prototype of the device has been built, and it’s currently under trials.

Take a look at the scaled device being tested in a water tank.