| Technology - Wave Blanket |
|
WaveBlanket is a flexible membrane for absorbing and converting ocean waves into useful energy.
Unique features of the WaveBlanket include:
As a result, the WaveBlanket solves long-standing problems with wave energy conversion:
Specifically, the WaveBlanket is an inflated cellular membrane which forms a close-coupled seal with the surface of the water and experiences local perturbations as flexure between adjacent cells - creating pressure. The pressure is relieved through turbines to do useful work.
Mass Per Watt WaveBlanket is the only device to use the wave itself as the reacting force. By leveraging the vacuum created by the trough of the wave against the peak of the same wave, the WaveBlanket achieves fullwave attenuation without an external point of reference - eliminating the need for a counterweight, reaction mass, or physical grounding. Pelamis, by contrast, uses gravity to react against a huge concrete mass. The use of gravity as the primary reacting force imposes a huge mass requirement on the design; which if rigid, produces imposing structural burdens resulting in higher than necessary costs of construction, insurance, transportation, maintenance, and decommissioning. In Addition, the WaveBlanket uses air pressure rather than steel to effect beam-mode resistance to perturbation. Together, these differences result in a three orders-of-magnitude improvement over the nominal 40-80 Watts per ton of current rigid stations.
Capital Cost per Kilowatt Capital cost is closely related to mass. In general, almost all factors of production experience cost in proportion to product mass. The WaveBlanket reduces mass and cost at every stage of implementation from construction to decommissioning.
Risk The Primary risk in the industry is a rare and unpredictable event in which fast moving waves overcome slower waves creating constructive interference resulting in a king or rogue wave. Storms present a challenge, but are quite predictable allowing evasive procedure to be taken. While rigid designs seek to resist bending from rogue waves and storms at all costs, the WaveBlanket is the only device with a bend-to-survive approach.
Peak Load Availability Energy demand generally peaks in the hot summer months - when the wave energy is at its lowest. One solution, for which the WaveBlanket is well suited, is to rate the station based on summer conditions, and to bleed off the overproduced energy the rest of the year. While it seems counter-intuitive to waste energy, the additional cost of rating a station to generate more electricity when less is needed may be a poor investment.
|
|
||||||||
|
©2005
WindWavesandSun.com
|