A NOVEL FLUID KINETIC ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICE, MARINER, CAN EXPLOIT THE CURRENT FLOW IN NEAR AND OFFSHORE APPLICATIONS. THE TECHNOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE IS BASED ON THE EFFECT OF DRAG FORCES ACTING ON A BODY. BY DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLING THE SIZES OF THE TWO DRAG BODIES IN THE FLOW, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A RECIPROCATING MOTION THAT CAN BE USED TO GENERATE POWER. THE MARINER PROJECT OFFERS AN ALTERNATE APPROACH VIA A MECHANICALLY SIMPLE ENERGY EXTRACTION SYSTEM THAT ELIMINATES COMPLEX CONTROLS, REDUCES ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, AND EXPANDS DEPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES TO AREAS WITH LOWER FLOW SPEEDS AND HIGHER MARINE LIFE PRESENCE.

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

Investigators