Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Blue Energy – Ocean Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Introduction
A most promising energy solution today is to harness the kinetic power of the Ocean waves
and flowing currents of Sea or River. Many projects are underway and they aim to generate
enough electrical energy for millions of homes without burning fossil fuels. These forces of
nature is free, steady and predictable.
The present invention describes several fluid pumping apparatuses and their applications in
extracting energy from waves or flowing currents. The pumping apparatuses are driven by a
float, an oscillating pontoon, an oscillating paddle, an impeller, a vertical rotary wheel or a
pendulum member. The pumped fluid (water and/or air) is supplied to drive a fluid motor or
a turbine, which in turn operates a generator to produce electric power.
Existing Technology
Existing wave powered devices for extracting energy from wave action generally use a float
to actuate a pump. Most of these known devices use a complex system of piping and
valves.
There is a need for other wave powered devices that are simple in design with the aim of
lowering the cost of energy conversion from renewable wave forces or water currents.
New Invention
M/S IP Management Pte Ltd has invented a revolutionary fluid currents energy converter
device by combining double acting fluid pumping apparatuses and moveable racks to
convert Ocean waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Fundamental Mechanical Devices
The two fundamental mechanical devices are the Moveable device – Pontoon and Racks
and the Fixed device – Various configurations of Double Acting Fluid Piston Pump.
The pumping apparatuses are driven by floats; the pumped fluid (water and/or air) is then
supplied to drive a fluid motor or a turbine, which in turn operates a generator to produce
electric power.
Each inlet or outlet of each pump mechanism is controlled by a flap or a ball, whilst the
piston or piston rod is driven by a float, a laterally oscillating pontoon, an oscillating paddle,
an impeller, a vertical rotary wheel or a pendulum member.
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Moving Devices – Pontoon & Racks
M1 - Pontoon and Racks
Oscillating Pontoon & Vanes
A floating structure / pontoon in a body of water. The submerged bottom has vanes such
that the floating structure is oscillated laterally by wave forces.
M2 - Pontoon & Racks
Oscillating Pontoon & Pivoted Paddle
Photo
A paddle is pivoted on a floating pontoon and the paddle is oscillated by under-currents.
M3 - Pontoon & Racks
Horizontal Rotary Wheel & Aerofoil Vanes
Photo
Partially submerged impeller is made up of a plurality of aerofoil sections disposed around
the periphery of the rotary wheel. The rotary wheel is rotated by the body of flowing
currents.
M4 - Pontoon & Racks
Vertical Rotary Wheel & Vanes
Photo
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
The vertical rotary wheel has a plurality of peripheral aerofoil vanes and it is partially
submerged in a body of running water so that some of the aerofoil vanes catch the running
currents and cause the rotary wheel to rotate.
M5 – Pontoon & Racks
Curve Rack & Aerofoil Vanes
Photo
The curved rake face of the pendulum member is lined with aerofoil vanes. When water
currents flow through the face of the pendulum member, a lifting force is generated. By
alternating the direction of the lifting force, the pendulum member is set in oscillation.
Fixed Devices - Double Acting Fluid Pump
F1 – Piston Pump
A fluid pump mechanism comprising: a first inlet that allows fluid to enter into a piston
chamber on one side of a piston, which is disposed to translate inside the piston chamber;
a second inlet that allows fluid to enter into a second chamber, which is fluidly in
communication with an opposite side of the piston; and an outlet that alternately receives
fluid from the piston chamber and second chamber when said piston and its piston rod are
driven according to rising and falling waves or flowing currents.
Rising Waves
The pump has two chambers which are fluidly in communication through a bottom channel.
In the first chamber, a piston is arranged to reciprocate as its piston rod is actuated by a
float. When the float moves up as a rising wave passes, it pushes the piston upward and
resulting dynamic flow of the fluid closes the top left red ball at the left hand inlet. At the
same time, fluid pressure on the lower side of the piston becomes lower and it causes fluid
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
to flow through the right hand inlet into the second chamber and then into the piston
chamber through the bottom channel.
The dynamic flow of the fluid near the top left inlet and partial vacuum at the right hand inlet
cause the center blue ball at a top center outlet to move over to the right chamber, to
prevent fluid from flowing back into the right hand chamber. As a result, fluid is pumped in
through the right hand inlet in an up-stroke of the piston and the fluid taken in through the
left hand inlet is pumped out through the center top outlet.
Falling Waves
Now the float moves down a trough of a passing wave, it pulls the piston downward and
partial vacuum generated at the left hand inlet causes the top left inlet to open. At the same
time, fluid pressure on the lower side of the piston becomes higher and it causes fluid to
flow through the bottom channel into the right hand chamber. The dynamic flow of the fluid
in the right hand chamber closes the right hand inlet but causes the top center blue ball at
the outlet to move over to the left hand (piston) chamber to prevent fluid from flowing back
into the left hand chamber. As a result, fluid is pumped in through the left hand inlet in a
down stroke of the piston and fluid taken in through the right hand inlet is pumped out
through the top outlet. In this manner, fluid is pumped in through the left and right hand
inlets, but out through the top center outlet in a double acting manner as the piston is
reciprocated inside the piston chamber as it is actuated by the rising and falling of the float.
The balls are guided in their respective places by a net or mesh. The balls are dimensioned
so that they are operable to close or open respective inlets and outlets according to
pressure or partial vacuum generated by the piston, and fluid is thus pumped through the
outlets in a double acting manner.
F2 – Piston Pump
Rising Waves
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Falling Waves
This pump has another piston arranged to reciprocate inside the right hand chamber and
the two piston rods are connected by a link bar which is pivoted about an axis whilst the
piston rods are slidable along respective slots in the link bar. Preferably, the slots are
equidistant from the pivot axis, and the pistons and piston rods are of the same respective
sizes so that displacements at the rod side of the two pistons are the same and fluid flow
between the two chambers through the bottom channel allows the two pistons to
synchronise.
F3 – Piston Pump
Rising Waves
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Falling Waves
The pump is similar to the F2 pump except that the two pistons are connected by a pulley
and rope system or sprocket and chain system instead of the link bar.
F4 – Piston Pump
Rising Waves
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Falling Waves
This frame pump is similar to the above pump in that there are two pistons except that the
piston rods extend in opposite directions to each other and that the piston rods are
connected to an actuating frame. The actuating frame is connected to a float by a rod.
The actuating frame is guided to translate linearly as it is actuated by the float according to
the rising and falling of waves, and fluid is pumped out through the two outlets in a double
acting manner.
F5 – Piston Pump
Rising Waves
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
This pump has three chambers, an inner chamber and two outer outflow chambers. In the
inner chamber, a piston is arranged to reciprocate as its piston rod is actuated by a float
when the float rides on a rising and falling wave. The inner chamber also has two inlet ports
with each being disposed at opposite ends of the inner chamber.
When the float is moved upwards as a rising wave passes, it creates a partial vacuum
below the piston and two red balls at the inlet port opens. At the same time, as the piston is
pushed upwards, fluid flow closes a red ball at the second inlet but two blue balls move
outward over to both outer chambers so that fluid is pumped out through an outlet.
Falling Waves
When the piston is moved downwards, partial vacuum above the piston is created and as a
result, the upper inlet port becomes opened. The pressure below the piston is increased
and lower inlet port becomes closed whilst outflow ports become opened.
As a result, fluid flows through the outflow chambers and the balls near the outlet are
shifted to allow the fluid to flow out through the outlet. In this manner, fluid taken in through
the inlet chamber is pumped out of the outlet through both the outflow channels.
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
F6 - Piston Pump
Rising Waves
The pump has a piston chamber and an outflow chamber. The piston chamber has two inlet
ports with each being disposed on opposite ends of the piston chamber. When the float
pushes the piston upwards, bottom inlet port becomes opened whilst the upper inlet port is
closed.
At the same time, a top center blue ball at an outlet is move over to the right hand chamber
so that water is pumped out through the outlet.
Falling Waves
When the pump is operated with the float pulling the piston downward, partial vacuum is
created above the piston and the top inlet port becomes opened. At the same time,
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
pressure below the piston is higher and the bottom left hand inlet port becomes closed;
thus, water is pumped out of the outflow chamber to the outlet.
In this manner, the pump is thus operable in a double acting manner.
F7 – Piston Pump
Rising Waves
The pump is similar in construction to the above pump except that the inlet ports are
configured along a side of the piston chamber with an inlet plate and a valve plate. The inlet
plate has a plurality of holes. In each hole is disposed a red ball. The left hand side of each
hole is conical in shape.
The right hand side of the inlet plate is in contact with the valve plate which has a plurality
of holes that are offset from the associated holes. In use, when the red balls in the
respective holes are pushed outward by positive pressure in the piston chamber, each red
ball contacts the respective conical end to form a seal.
Falling Waves
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
When the red balls are pulled inward by suction pressure in the piston chamber, each red
ball is moved to the right and contacts the valve plate but the holes on the valve plate allow
fluid flow into the piston chamber. With moving of the top blue ball, water is pumped out
through the outlet from the piston chamber or outflow chamber.
Renewable Energy Converter Configuration
The present invention provide double acting pump mechanisms when the piston
reciprocates inside the piston chamber as the piston is driven by a float according to rising
and falling waves.
Based on the fundamental working principle and variations of the above fixed and moving
devices, many designs of energy converters can be configured.
Design A1 - Water Piston Pump
In this example, a submerged pump is operated to pump water to an elevated storage tank.
Water from the storage tank is channeled to rotate a fluid motor or a turbine, which in turn
rotates a generator to produce electricity.
Design A2 - Air Piston Pump
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
A pump is disposed above the water level and is operated to pump air to drive a
turbine/motor and a generator. The air supply line near the turbine has an accumulator and
a flow control valve. The accumulator and flow control valve help to regulate air flow rate to
the turbine/motor to maintain a more constant flow.
Design A3 – Air & Water Piston Pump
This design is operable to pump air and water. When the pump mechanisms are above the
waves, they are suited to pump air. When the pump mechanisms are inverted so that they
are submerged under water, they become suited to pump water.
A plurality of pumps can be connected in parallel to supply water to an elevated storage
tank, to supply compressed air/water directly to a turbine/fluid motor or to integrate both in a
system.
Design B1 - Actuator T-Bar Piston Pump
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
The pump system includes a pump which is similar in construction to the above pump
except that each end of the piston rods terminates with a roller. A T-shaped actuator bar is
pivoted to the body of the pump such that when the float is pushed up and down by wave
forces, the actuator bar oscillates about a pivot and, in turn, reciprocates the pistons.
As a result, fluid (air or water) enters through inlets and fluid is pumped out through outlet in
a double acting manner. The fluid from the outlet is then channeled to drive a turbine or fluid
motor, which in turn drives a generator to produce electric power.
Design B2 - Actuator Bar Piston Pump
This actuator bar pump system uses the above single piston pump and a float pivoted to
rise and fall with wave forces. The piston rod of each piston pump is pivoted to an end of an
actuator bar whilst the opposite end of the actuator bar is constrained to slide within the
float, so that with rising and falling wave actions, the piston rod is driven in and out of the
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
piston pump and water or air is then pumped in a double acting manner to drive a
turbine/fluid motor directly or through a storage tank.
Design B-3 Chain Piston Pump
Helicopter view
Front view
Each pump body is configured to include two actuator T-bar piston pumps being arranged
end-to-end with a sealed turbine disposed in between. When a float, which is pivoted to a Tbar actuator, is moved up and down by wave forces, the T-bar actuator drives the
connected piston rod and causes fluid to be discharged out of each piston pump outlet to
turn the sealed turbine.
Design C1 - Oscillate Pontoon & Piston Pump
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
This frame pump is similar to the above pump in that there are two pistons except that the
piston rods extend in opposite directions to each other and that the piston rods are
connected to an actuating frame.
The pistons of two pumps are interconnected and are linked to a floating structure or
pontoon. The floating structure/pontoon is constrained to oscillate laterally with respect to
the pump system.
A lower part of the floating structure/pontoon that is submerged in a body of water has
vanes such that when the floating structure is oscillated laterally by wave forces, it
reciprocates the two pistons. In this way, fluid (air or water) is pumped in a double acting
manner from the outlets of the pumps to drive a turbine or fluid motor, which in turn drives a
generator to produce electric power.
Design C2 – Oscillate Pontoon & Paddle Piston Pump
See supply drawing
The pump system is built on a floating pontoon. The pump system includes any one of the
above pumps. A paddle is pivoted on the pontoon such that when under-currents oscillate
the paddle, it reciprocates two pistons and fluid (air or water) is then pumped in a double
acting manner through the pump outlets to drive a turbine or fluid motor, which in turn drives
a generator to produce electric power.
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Design C3 – Oscillate Actuator T Bar & Piston Pump
Text later
Design D1 - Horizontal Rotary Wheel & Piston Pump
The pump system includes two or more of the above pumps. The pump system has an
impeller mounted on an underside of a horizontal, rotary wheel. On the topside of the rotary
wheel, there is a crank pin or shaft that is located at a radius from the centre of the rotary
wheel. Two piston rods of pumps are separately connected to the crank shaft through two
link bars.
The impeller is made up of a plurality of aerofoil sections disposed around the periphery of
the rotary wheel. When the impeller is submerged or partially submerged in a body of
flowing currents, the impeller is caused to rotate. Rotation of the rotary wheel reciprocates
the pistons in the respective piston chambers. With the pump system, operation of the
pistons in the pumps conveys fluid (water or air) out through the respective outlets in a
double acting manner to drive a turbine or fluid motor, which in turn drives a generator to
produce electric power.
Design D2 - Vertical Rotary Wheel & Piston Pump
The pump system has a vertical, rotary wheel. The rotary wheel has a plurality of peripheral
aerofoil vanes and it is partially submerged in a body of running water so that some of the
aerofoil vanes catch the running currents and cause the rotary wheel to rotate. For
illustration, the pistons of two pumps are connected separately to a crank shaft on the rotary
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
wheel by link bars. Rotation of the rotary wheel is translated to reciprocal movements of the
pistons and water / air is thus pumped out through the outlet of each pump in a double
acting manner to drive a turbine or fluid motor, which in turn drives a generator to produce
electric power.
Design D3 – Vertical Rotary Wheel & Underwater Piston Pump
See supply drawing
Design D4 - Curved Rack & Piston Pump
The pump system has a pendulum member that is operable to oscillate about a pivot. A
counter weight is provided on an upper part of the pendulum member to reduce the torque
required to oscillate it. The lower edge of the pendulum member has a curved rake, which
is in engagement with a gear. In turn, the gear is in engagement with a linear rake, which is
mounted on the actuating frame of the component pump.
The face of the pendulum member is lined with aerofoil vanes. Each aerofoil vane is made
up of a leading aerofoil section and a trailing aerofoil section. Each leading aerofoil section
is fixed with respect to the face of the pendulum member but the trailing section is pivotable
about an axis by a toggle bar. In use, when water currents flow through the face of the
pendulum member, a lifting force is generated at each aerofoil vane in relation to the
direction of the aerofoil trailing section and the pendulum member swings to one side.
At the end of each swing, the pendulum member hits an adjustable stopper which then
toggles the toggle bar; as a result, the toggle bar turns each trailing section to a second
direction opposite from its first direction. In effect, the lifting forces on the vanes change
direction and swing the pendulum member in a reverse direction.
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
The swinging of the pendulum member causes the gear to turn, which in turn causes the
actuating frame of the pump to oscillate and fluid is thus pumped from the outlets to drive a
fluid motor /turbine and a generator to produce electric power.
Design D5 – Mobile Rotary Wheel & Piston Pump
drawing
This rotary wheel and piston pumps assembly is suspended from a boom on a mobile
trailer. The rotary wheel, which has a plurality of peripheral aerofoil vanes, is partially
submerged in a body of running water, so as to catch the running currents and to drive the
piston pumps. Fluid discharged from the piston pumps is then used to drive a generator to
produce electric power.
Design E1 – Ocean Farm Piston Pump System – Single Platform
While specific embodiments have been illustrated, it is understood that many changes,
modifications, variations and combinations thereof could be made without departing from
the scope of this invention.
For example, a plurality of one or more of the above pump configurations can be connected
in a network, for instance, to a turbine. It is also possible that the electric power generated
by the above pumping systems is connected through a controller before power is supplied
to the electricity grid system.
Design E2 - Ocean Farm Piston Pump System - Network
An Ocean farm system comprises a number of network combinations of the above devices,
be they the same, mixed or different configurations being linked mechanically or electrically.
A network may be connected to a generator. Several generator outputs may be fed to a
battery bank, which is then connected to an electricity substation. Alternatively, the
generator outputs may be fed directly to an electricity grid.
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com
Blue Energy – Ocean / River Power (Piston Pump & Racks)
Fluid Pumping Apparatuses Powered By Waves Or Flowing Currents
Video A new invention using “Double acting fluid pumps, movable racks and turbines” to extract
and convert energy from waves or flowing currents into electricity.
Comparative advantages of Ocean wave driven double acting pump energy converter
devices:
The Ocean is full of kinetic energy available for us to harness. A large percentage of people
staying near the coastlines can benefit from this renewable energy, which is clean and
green. Some other advantages are:
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Harness different forms of fluid currents.
Generic construction, simple device.
Easily available parts.
Simple, unsophisticated design.
Mass production.
Silent operation
No technological incertitude.
Main applications:
Install at locations near coastlines.
Development and collaboration opportunity:
We are seeking investors, industrial partners, end users, R & D organisations to fund the
development program and commercialisation of our fluid current converter devices.
Opportunities for development and commercialisation are open for discussions.
Conclusion
The Ocean currents around us are available for us to harness. These racks and pump
energy converter devices give us a chance to convert wave or flowing currents into
electricity. The concept design is simple, unsophisticated and cost effective, thus allowing
us to harness huge unlimited renewable energy from our surrounding. Help the Earth now.
If you can solve the power, you can solve almost everything,
M/S IP Management Pte Ltd
Lam Teng Choy (Henry)
henry@lamtengchoy.com
mobile: (+65) 9684 8586
International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2011/000232
IP Management Pte Ltd
www.LamTengChoy.com