In Australia, scientists at the RMIT (Institute of Technology) are investigating possible ways to obtain more energy from the waves that occur at sea. To do this, they have designed a kind of turbine that works efficiently and that they hope will begin to be sold for use.
This turbine has two propellers that collect twice as much energy as other prototypes of similar turbines that take advantage of the movement of the waves to obtain energy.
Generates twice as much energy as current systems
The idea of obtaining energy in this way is not new. In fact, it has a name: wave energy. However, it is now when different companies and companies are using different mechanisms to obtain energy in this way.
One of the most conventional ways to extract energy from the waves is by means of a punctual absorption buoy , which is a device that floats but is anchored to the bottom of the sea. This system does not stop rising and falling constantly because of the waves, and taking advantage of this movement an energy converter that is under the sea is driven.
The RMIT scientists used this buoy system anchored to the sea as a starting point for their research. This system to collect the energy uses a series of sensors and other electronic devices that are precisely synchronized with the incoming waves. However, this can lead to reliability problems, plus it is easier to break.
To avoid these problems, all sensors were removed from this new turbine and it was built with a structure that allowed it to float up and down naturally with the waves.
A simple, profitable and non-polluting system
The generator is housed in a buoy on the surface that allows it to protect itself from corrosion . Tests showed that this system was capable of creating twice as much energy as similar systems developed by other companies. Also, it is a much simpler and cheaper design to make.
The key is that this turbine is constantly synchronized with the movement of the waves allowing you to increase the amount of power you can get.
After doing the first experiments in laboratories , the team hopes to move on to doing larger tests in water tanks and then finally doing the definitive test in the same ocean.
It is still a technology that needs more testing and needs to be optimized, but it is certainly a big step forward in creating a new, clean and cost -effective system from which to draw power.