Underwater Wind Turbines

[Queasy]

Link

Underwater wind turbines ? it's an idea so simple you wish you?d patented it. Actually, they're called tidal turbines, and their rotors are propelled by tidal currents instead of wind. The largest test of this new type of power production is under way in New York City's East River, with six 35-kilowatt turbines scheduled to be installed by mid-March in a channel that's off-limits to large vessels. As the 16-ft.-dia. rotors spin, as close as 6 ft. to the water's surface, they'll provide power to a supermarket and a parking garage. Once the test wraps up in June 2008, Virginia-based Verdant Power hopes to add hundreds more turbines, potentially reaching a total capacity of as much as 10 megawatts ? enough to power 4000 homes. The test should answer real-world questions, such as whether the rotors will become encumbered by barnacles. But with researchers estimating that our rivers and estuaries could provide up to 130,000 gigawatt-hours per year ? about half the yearly production of the country's dams ? it's only a matter of time before major energy utilities begin testing the waters.

 

[mercanucaribe]

I hope they spin slow enough that they don't interfere with wildlife. By the way, won't they move the moon closer to the earth by dampening tidal activity?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Yep, and whats really cool is they have had small scale units like this for some time that are available to the public. I have investigated self sufficent (off grid) power generation for some time, and the water turbines are actually more iffecient and produce more power that most wind turbines or solar sources. If you have a cabin in the woods with a fast flowing river or stream nearby they can be be really handy for power generation.

 

[Goosemaster]

just imagine being a fish and getting flung around in one of these thigns;D

 

[elektrolokomotive]

It's a water turbine; not a wind turbine. The writer of the article is a bonehead for even bringing up wind turbine. Bad writing FTL.

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
It's a water turbine; not a wind turbine. The writer of the article is a bonehead for even bringing up wind turbine. Bad writing FTL.

LOL, had to read it again but yeah, underwater wind turbine? How does wind occur underwater?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
It's a water turbine; not a wind turbine. The writer of the article is a bonehead for even bringing up wind turbine. Bad writing FTL.

Hehe...I was wondering if anyone else was going to catch that.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I hope they spin slow enough that they don't interfere with wildlife. By the way, won't they move the moon closer to the earth by dampening tidal activity?

From the caption of a pic in the article:

Tidal turbines placed in New York City?s East River will pivot with the shifting current, which can flow as fast as 4 knots. The turbines (artist?s rendition, right) appear to be safe for fish because the rotors are slow-turning and blunt-edged. (Illustration by Grant Niesner).

I guess fish can avoid them if they are slow-moving enough.

 

[alien42]

found a pic

 

[iroast]

What about highway turbines that harness the wind generated by passing cars?

 

[Jeff7]

Tidal power generators? This sort of thing has been around for awhile, hasn't it?

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I hope they spin slow enough that they don't interfere with wildlife. By the way, won't they move the moon closer to the earth by dampening tidal activity?

The Moon is currently receding from Earth by a few centimeters per year. Maybe we'd manage to slow that down by a few micrometers per year.

Originally posted by: iroast
What about highway turbines that harness the wind generated by passing cars?

I don't know that that'd be a good idea. For one thing, I don't know that that wind carries all that much energy to begin with. It'd cause other problems - people would feel compelled to drive faster to help "solve" the energy crisis, or they might all start driving the next time there's a power outage.

 

[Rapidskies]

Maintenance is gonna be a pain for something like this. Rust, flooding, change of water elevation, logs, repairs. Gluck.

 

[BrownTown]

Also, doesn't seem like much of an energy solution, said that even ideally if placed in every available location it could only provide half what hydro does which means it would be like 5% of our power needs.

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Tidal power generators? This sort of thing has been around for awhile, hasn't it?

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I hope they spin slow enough that they don't interfere with wildlife. By the way, won't they move the moon closer to the earth by dampening tidal activity?

The Moon is currently receeding from Earth by a few centimeters per year. Maybe we'd manage to slow that down by a few micrometers per year.

Anyone want to refresh my memory? If you increase tidal drag wouldn't you accelerate the rate that the moon is receding from the earth?

 

[Crono]

I remember making good use of tidal generators... in Total Annihilation

 

[chari]

I think it's great that technology like this is being thought up. But I am sure that this will run into problems, I guess that's why they are doing the testing.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: TuxDave
Anyone want to refresh my memory? If you increase tidal drag wouldn't you accelerate the rate that the moon is receding from the earth?

By just envisioning it quick, if seems that if allowing the tides normally also allows the Moon to move away from Earth (Earth's rotation slows as a result, conservation of angular momentum), then restricting the motion of the tides would also act against this momentum transfer, preventing the Moon from receding as quickly.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I hope they spin slow enough that they don't interfere with wildlife. By the way, won't they move the moon closer to the earth by dampening tidal activity?

Well, if they use *just* the right amount of turbines, maybe they can stop the moon from moving away from the earth. Then again, won't that slow down the rotation of the earth?

 

[Chewy]

umm, y'all have it wrong: the moon's gravity is what causes tidal waves...not the other way around

 

[GuitarDaddy]

LOL at all the moon comments

The tidal effect is caused by the moons gravitational pull. Using tidal energy or even altering the tides (not likely) would have zero effect on the moon. Cause and effect does not work in reverse.

 

[Chewy]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
LOL at all the moon comments

The tidal effect is caused by the moons gravitational pull. Using tidal energy or even altering the tides (not likely) would have zero effect on the moon. Cause and effect does not work in reverse.

jinx...buy me a coke

 

[GuitarDaddy]

:beer:

Here, have a brew instead

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

YAY "high voltage" signs on the beach....

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I hope they spin slow enough that they don't interfere with wildlife. By the way, won't they move the moon closer to the earth by dampening tidal activity?

hahaha
The tides don't control the moon, the moon controls the tides!

The moon is in orbits the earth. Because of the moons gravity, the water is pulled towards it causing the tides. If we were to artifically change the tides, it would have no effect on the moons orbit whatsoever.

If the gravity caused by the water has any effect on the moon, it's mathmatically insignificant compared the gravity caused by the earth

 

[Bootprint]

The UK version from 03.