Tuvalu
The Project
- Details
- Category: Tuvalu
High efficiency power generation system, using the waves of the sea by a float.
In the first phase, a first prototype designed at the Industrial Equipment Design Center of the Technical University of Catalonian (CDEI-UPC) was built.
Later tests were carried out at the Marine Engineering Laboratory (LIM) of the same university which has an artificial channel that creates waves of different types. This helped us to verify the operation of the physic principle and the system’s viability, as well as to analyse the system’s outputs.
Once the tests were realized, some members of the CDEI engineer team were incorporated to Corporación Capricornio to continue with the development of the system
For this first phase, we had the support of the Spanish government: CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial), IDEA (Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de Energía), etc; the Catalan government: CIDEM (Centre d'Innovació i Desenvolupament Empresarial), ICAEN (Institut Català d’Energia); as well as research and development organizations and companies such as Innova, UPC, etc.
An awarded project
From the 5th to the 8th of September 2002, the IX International Fair of Inventions and New Patents GALACTICA 2002 was held in Vilanova i la Geltrú. These days, Vilanova i la Geltrú was once again the European capital for inventions with around 200 innovations from all around Spain and abroad. The company ARLAST INVEST exhibited its project in the CDEI-UPC stand, showing the first prototype at a reduced scale of the system which was designed and developed at the CDEI-UPC and was tested at the Marine Engineering Laboratory. The project was awarded the 2002 International Inventiveness First Prize and the Special Prize of the City Council of Vilanova i la Geltrú.
In view of the results obtained in this first phase (Médol), improvements in the initial design were made and a second TUVALU prototype at a scale of 1:8 was built
Once again this prototype was empirically studied analysing the results obtained in a series of tests at the LIM channel.
Next, we can see real data obtained from the system: generated power mean and output mean:
In view of the results registered, we decided to move forward the third phase of the project: the manufacture of the TUVALU prototype at a scale of 1:2
The System
- Details
- Category: Tuvalu
The system, named TUVALU, is a simple, robust and economic system that takes advantage of the movement of ocean waves to produce net energy (0% CO2 emissions, low environmental impact, etc..).
The idea is utilizing buoyancy force and its vertical displacement of a buoy anchored to the sea bed. The force is then transformed into electric energy through a mechanism in the interior of the aforementioned floating body. Recuperation of the cable is achieved by using the electronic generator as an electronically powered engine thereby consuming a low percentage of the energy extracted from the wave. This guarantees a constant tension in the cable.
The chain or cable coils in each of the floating cylinders. These cylinders rotate inside the main structure. The effect would be similar to an inverted Yo-Yo; when stretching the cord, the Yo-Yo turns.
At the other end of the chain or cable, a weight or ballast is attached to anchor the system to the sea bed.
In the case of the buoy (both cylinders and the main structure), when it rises with the wave, the cables stretch the cylinders and cause them to rotate. The mechanical energy obtain in the cylinders is converted to electrical energy by means of a generator connected to the transmission.
In this prototype, energy will be dissipated. In the future, however, this energy will be transported to the coast by means of electric cables on the sea bed. On the cost there will be a station to convert electricity to the quality conditions demanded by electricity companies
Even though the physic principle is the same, ARLAS INVEST has achieved in the latest versions of the design, a compact set reducing manufacturing costs considerably and allowing floats self-cleaning to prevent marine fauna incrustation. We also have to mention that output improvements are due to substitute pneumatic energy (that stabilizes the intermittent energy flux) for electronic power that manages more efficiently all the parameters of the system.
Low maintenance cost is due to the fact that all mechanisms are hermetically closed inside the buoy preventing any contact with sea water.
The system is flexible to rough weather conditions, a very important characteristic as many similar systems have failed because of this reason. The buoy is anchored to the sea bed and accompanies waves, no matter if they are 1 or 10 meter high (in the cylinders there is enough cable length to rise above the level of waves and tides).
Features
- Details
- Category: Tuvalu
The system is composed by two floats joined by a structure that form a basic unit called module. The union of a set of N modules is called buoy
Dimensions
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Number of modules: 1
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Float diameter: 2m
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Float length: 4m
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Useful force: 10800 kg
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Weight per float: 2000 kg
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Generators: 1 unit of 15 kW. per float
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Installed power: 30 kw
