WAVEENERGYCO – RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE GO!

HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT

The first attempt was done on a beach near Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, 1996.

HISTORY

The goal of sustainable energy services is to transition from traditional, fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass.

The cable extended about 200 yards into the surf, beyond the beakers, and ran first through a pulley attached to an engine block, and then up to a submerged, upside-down hammock with an inflated truck inner tube serving as a float. The small 24-volt DC motor spun by the bicycle tire would light up two small lights for about 3 seconds with each wave. Eventually the friction of the pulley wore through the cable.

This was the first concept to eliminate the use of a pulley.
A sealed bearing at the pivot point eliminates the risk of wearing through the cable.
Stainless steel cable with a tension strength of one ton was purchased for a second attempt.
Later, the horizontal arm was lengthened to compensate for tidal variations in a way that allows the top of the vertical arm to oscillate through a largely horizontal arc regardless of tide levels.
The length of the horizontal arm was the unique aspect of the first US patent.

Initial artist’s conception of device eventually deployed in Guinea. The weight below the barrel is heavier than the weight on shore, so that force can be captured onshore regardless of whether the barrel is falling or rising on the waves..

The first water unit was lost in deep water

First attempt for both the water and beach portions of the unit in Guinea. See video for explanation.

Second attempt for the water unit deployed in Guinea. The larger basked was filled with sandbags to provide a stable anchor at the bottom, over which the arm unit (one end is not visible in the picture) would rotate.

Launching the second water unit in Guinea, February 2009.
A narrow escape from being thrown onto the rocks visible onshore while swimming out to examine the water unit during high surf caused the inventor to abandon the effort.