Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) are the scourge of any man made structure encased in a moving fluid (be it air or water). Prof Michael Bernitsas of the University of Michigan however views them in a more positive light and is developing a way to harness power from the slow moving fluid.
He had already acquired some funding from the US Military to develop early prototypes which he hopes to test in a river soon. The system, which he dubbed VIVACE (vortex-induced vibration for aquatic clean energy), is of a modular design and can generate 51 watts per cubic meter of water flowing at three knots.
Basically it is a horizontal cylinder on springs that moves up and down between two upright tracks as water flows past it, creating mechanical energy that is converted into electricity.
Based from the video, you place the cylinder modules facing the direction of the moving fluid and the bobbing motion is what generates the electricity. Much of the improvements in the design were derived by watching how fishes swim and harness the power of VIV to propel themselves more efficiently in water.
Check out this video for a more graphical explanation on how VIVACE works.
The technology looks promising since there is a large abundance of untapped energy in slow moving waves and streams. And since the harnessing system moves slowly it was said that it will pose less danger to fish swimming nearby
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Category: Hydro, Wave, Clean Energy
