AErospace Designs Being Used In Wave Energy System

November 21st, 2009

Frist off, let’s explain what a “wave energy system” is. At first read you probably think this has something to do with radio, gamma, or whatever type of wave in some sort of central vacuum system that pops into your mind. At least it did the first time I heard about it a couple years ago. It is the most common wave, however. Water waves in the ocean. The ones we like to surf on.

Ocean wave energy is captured directly from surface waves or from pressure fluctuations below the surface. It is as simple as that. For more in depth reading on Ocean Wave Energy, just wander over here to a site dedicated to the process.

Most wave catchers had major issues in that the devices are plagued by battering storms, limited efficiency, and the need to be tethered to the seafloor.

Now, a team of aerospace engineers is applying the principles that keep airplanes aloft to create a new wave-energy system that is durable, extremely efficient, and can be placed anywhere in the ocean, regardless of depth.

The researchers, from the U.S. Air Force Academy, will present their design at the 62nd annual meeting of the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics on Nov. 24, 2009, in Minneapolis, Minn.

“Our group was working on very basic research on feedback flow control for years,” says lead researcher Stefan Siegel, referring to efforts to use sensors and adjustable parts to control how fluids flow around airfoils like wings. “For an airplane, when you control that flow, you better control flight–for example, enabling you to land a plane on a shorter runway.”

Also, an interesting development is discussed in combination with the capturing of wave energy for the new system that is being developed. Since the system is designed to effectively cancel incoming waves, capturing their energy while flattening them out, there is an added application as a storm-wave breaker.