anaconda_wec_1

Here is ocean Wave Energy Converter (WEC), Anaconda under development in UK to produce carbon free electricity.

  • Anaconda is a long rubber tube closed at both ends and is filled completely with water.
  • Floats in the sea and is oriented in the direction of wave travel.
  • It is designed to be anchored just below the sea’s surface, with one end facing the oncoming waves.
  • The ocean waves induce a bulge in the tube which travels just in front of the wave, picking up energy and increasing progressively in size.
  • The traveling bulge accumulates the energy from the waves and at the end of the tube, the energy can be used to drive a turbine.
  • It is estimated that typically an Anaconda of 7 metre diameter and 150 metre long, can produce 1 Mega Watt of average power from Atlantic waves.
  • The project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
  • Checkmate Seaenergy, part of the British Checkmate Group, has an exclusive license to develop Anaconda for commercial use.
  • In comparison to other WECs, as Anaconda has less moving parts, maintenance is easy and has trouble free performance even in rough weather conditions.
  • Some encouraging applications of Anaconda can be expected by 2010.

Here is a sketch of Anaconda from bulgewave.

anaconda_wec_2

Here is animation of bulge tube action and power take off operation of Anaconda.

Here is a video clip of Anaconda WEC.

More information is available at Bulgewave, EPSRC, Checkmate Seaenergy.

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