The WaveRoller is no longer a concept and is generating “bottom wave” power right now (video). A WaveRoller device is a plate anchored on the sea bottom by its lower part. The back and forth movement of bottom waves moves the plate, and the kinetic energy produced is collected by a piston pump. This energy can be converted to electricity by a closed hydraulic system in combination with a hydraulic motor/generator system.

In surface waves or swell, water particles roll in a circular motion. Coming in toward the shore, this energy is squeezed by the reducing depth. Below the surface swell, at a depth half of the length of the swell, the circular rolling motion becomes more elliptical, and at the sea bottom the water particles rock back and forth up to the breaker line. This is the “bottom wave” phenomenon. It has been studied and concluded that surface waves and bottom waves are strongly correlated.

Bottom waves are by nature more continuous and predictable than wind. The reason is ocean swell which travels through ocean and hence can be forecasted days before it comes to shore. This gives excellent possibilities for predictable energy generation.

For more info, hop over to AW-Energy

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 2:26 pm and is filed under Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.