From: Andrew Hamilton [hamilton@mbari.org]
Sent: Monday,
February 06, 2012 5:21 PM
To: 'gcomer01@harris.com';
'taltshuler@teledyne.com'; 'ByusF@battelle.org'; 'dkelly@bluefinrobotics.com';
'jdyer@irobot.com'; 'cbyoung@oceaneering.com'
Cc: 'Doug Au'; 'Jim
Fein'; 'jgb@mbari.org'
Subject: RE: Ocean Wave Energy Technology Open
House at MBARI
Dear friends.
For several years now DARPA has supported engineering research at MBARI
into the possibilities of wave-energy harvesting for buoy platforms
(moored, drifting, and/or station keeping). The project has worked to evaluate and test a
proof-of-concept prototype that generates electricity at levels greater than is
currently available from solar and wind solutions. The aim of the
program has been to develop a numerical model
that enables the design of wave
energy bouy systems that are independent and capable of generating
average powers of 200-2000 Watts depending on the system size and deployment location. To validate that model a
system has been built and demonstrated in the range of 400 Watts average power in Monterey
Bay. As part of the program we are interested in exploring potential
commercial applications and technology transfer paths.
To this end we are
planning to hold an open house on March 22nd with the intent of exposing
interested parties to the technology developed under this program. You are
invited to attend or send a representative. This event will be held
in conjunction with a DARPA program review
on March 21st, therefore the DARPA program manager (Aaron Lazarus), DARPA
support personel and the MBARI project team will be in
attendence.
The four technology
elements that will be highlighted, and are potentially available for
transition to a commercial entity are:
1)
A specifically developed numerical model that is capable of modelling the
behavior of a wide range of wave-energy devices. This model is a
time-domain solution of the equations of motion, including linear
wave-hydrodynamics, non-linear drag forces, and arbitrary power take-off
forcing. This model has been validated by comparison to the at-sea tests that
have been performed. In addition to providing design guidance for the
device that has been built, the numerical model provides a tool for
understanding the scaling of this type of small-scale wave-energy harvesting
device.
2) An electro-hydraulic based power
take-off device that operates at efficiencies of greater than 70% (electrical
power out divided by mechanical power in). This device was developed for
the demonstration platform and has been tested in the ocean several
times.
3) An AUV dock
that supports the MBARI tethys AUV, a 12" diameter
vehicle. This dock is designed to provide battery re-charge and
communications through the wave-energy buoy, or another source of power and
communications.
4) A freely
floating wave-energy conversion buoy based upon the power take-off device
described in item 2 and the dock described in item 3. Various at-sea tests
of this system have been performed over the past year, and a demonstration
deployment of the entire system is planned for July 2012.
Please let me know
of your interest in this event and your availability on the scheduled date
(March 22nd). If you have any questions or are interested in further
discussions, please feel free to contact me, Jim Bellingham, or Jim Fein.
Contact details are provided below.
Best Regards,
Andy Hamilton
_______________________________________________
Andrew Hamilton,
Ph.D.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research
Institute
7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing,
CA 95039
Phone:
831-775-1861 Fax: 831-775-1646
http://www.mbari.org/