On the brink of a wave revolution (BBC) {wave/tidal energy}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Simon Gompertz
Business Correspondent, BBC Working Lunch

Briefly, the buoy has a central column which stays pretty well immobile, even in heavy seas.

Wide discs under the water restrict its movement. But around it is a float, which bobs up and down, lifting rods in and out of the centre of the column. The rods drive a generator.
***
The Pelamis looks like a snake and it moves like a snake. In a finished machine, the long sections are joined by shorter "knuckles". These are the power modules where the generating work is done.

In the sea, the bigger tubes pull hydraulic rams in and out of the power modules, as the whole structure twists in the waves. That's how wave power is converted to electric power.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/working_lunch/4857668.stm



Wish this had been done by a science or technology, rather than business, correspondent. Rather disjointed article, particularly if you're looking for technical details. OTOH, there are video links for three different generators.

[phantom power]

1. It's weird to read my native pronunciation being explained to me :-)

How do other countries pronounce "boo-ee?"

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. In the midwest, we pronounce it - "tar' git"

This is cool. Wave energy. I wonder how it deals with major storms. In Lake Michigan, we sometimes have waves more than 25 feet high. Those are no joking matter. The Great Lakes are some of the most dangerous waters around for commercial boating. Still, wave energy seems to be pollution free, there for the taking and no obvious side-effects.
What about fish?

[buddysmellgood]

3. I suppose one could tie little generators to fish and have them pull them

around... but the wave energy seems like an easier route. BWAAH HAHA HA :rofl:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. Damn, and I thought I was the resident curmudgeon. Yippeee!

[Kailassa]

5. In Australia, it's pronounced "boy". n/t