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Light from wind and waves

August 22, 2003

Engineers of PROEKTSTROYSERVIS (Kaliningrad) know how to make the stormy sea work. They have designed a unique sea-based wind-and-wave plant, which allows to convert the energy of wind and waves into electricity. The plant is not afraid of any storms.

In appearance, the entire construction is reminiscent of a float, UFO or the restaurant in the Ostankino TV Tower: a broad circle put on a counterbalance stick. The circle ensures floatation, it resembles a hollow washer made of metal, its diameter making at least 30 meters (this is half the length of the sea-wave in the Baltic Sea) and the displacement being equal to 250 tons. A through shaft is in the center. The counterbalance is inside the shaft. Most importantly, the counterbalance is not fastened rigidly, but with the help of a joint. Almost complete agility of the counterbalance makes the construction exceptionally stable, the waves would inevitably shake the rigid construction loose, striving to break the counterbalance off the broad floating part. The solution has been invented by Grigory Shpakov, corresponding member, Russian Academy for Natural Sciences, marine engineer, and the entire construction is base on this particular peculiarity.

As per the wind/waves energy transformation devices, the designers have not invented them but utilized already known ones. For example, to make the wind work, the plant is equipped with the so-called rotary windmill. In essence, it is the same wind turbine, only the axle, to which the blades are attached, is arranged not horizontally, as usual, vertically. The plant's another advantage is that it whirls at any wind direction, and the plant is easier to produce and maintain.

The so-called wave converter allows to utilize the energy of waves. That is a large number of piston pumps placed along the circumference inside the flotation case. The pistons are also pivotally connected with the case. The construction resembles a crab with a large number of very agile "pistol-legs". Choppiness makes them move, and it is rather easy to convert energy of this motion into electric power.

The obtained power can be used for a number of purposes: it can be transmitted to the coast, preserved in accumulators, water can be desalted with its help, compressed air can be got, petroleum can be extracted. The most important thing is that a lot of energy is obtained - the capacity of such plant is 270 kWt, out of which 70 kWt are ensured by the windmill, and the remainder - by the wave converter.

An accommodation facility is allocated on the power-plant, it is also round and placed on the surface of the floatation case. That makes the construction resemble a UFO. If the windmill is replaced by the oil derrick (such option is also provided for by the authors), then exploratory oil wells can be drilled. And finally, the plants themselves suppress waves. Therefore, when placed staggered, they will protect the coast from destructive storms. In this case, less energy will be produced.

Informnauka (Informscience) Agency