VIVACE
27 March 2009
Vortex Induced Vibrations Aquatic Clean Energy A device designed to capture and convert energy from ocean and river currents has been developed by Vortex Hydro Energy, a Michigan based company, to provide a new source of clean and renewable energy. The prototype is now being tested in the Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory at the University of Michigan, and should be soon applied in a field demonstration.

The world's river and ocean currents carry an enormous amount of kinetic energy, but most of this water flows slower than four miles per hour and existing turbines cannot generate enough electricity at such speeds.
The new VIVACE converter is designed to generate electricity from slow moving water, typically found in ocean and river currents flowing slower than 2 knots (about 3.7 km per hour). Moreover, the device should work also in water surges, taking advantage of faster flows.
The converter exploits the turbulent effects of vortices (swirling currents) that form around an obstacle in flowing water.
The device consists of a cylinder which is placed below the surface of the water, across the direction of current flow. As water flows past the device, it is disturbed and creates vortices which cause the cylinder to oscillate or vibrate. The mechanical energy derived from these oscillations can be efficiently converted into electrical energy via a generator.

This energy source is estimated to be cheaper than both wind and solar power.
In fact, although installation expenses would be initially high, this technology should be economically competitive due to low maintenance costs and the wide range of conditions under which the system could operate."
 

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