AN OCEAN WAVE POWERED DESALINATION SYSTEM

An ocean wave-driven sea water desalination plant employs ocean bottom mounted and hinged flaps driven in oscillating motion by wave surge force to drive rotary pumps which directly pressurize filtered sea water for use by a reverse osmosis (RO) plant and a hydraulic motor-generator set which provides electrical power to RO plant peripheral devices. Means are provided to control the filtered sea water pressure presented to the RO membranes to a preferred set point value. Means are also provided to control the pump reaction torque presented to the flap independently of water pressure by adjusting the effective pump displacement with a pulse width modulated valve shunting the pump ports to maximize captured wave power. Control of pump reaction torque may be effected slowly according to average sea state conditions or in real-time to further enhance captured wave power.