Orkney Islands try new wave power system A new type of wave power harnessing machine called the Oyster will be installed off the Orkney Islands for trials beginning this Autumn.
The device is different from other wave power devices because it uses hydraulic technology to transfer the power it harvests to the shore. Dr Ronan Doherty, chief technical officer of Aquamarine Power, the Edinburgh-based company that has designed the Oyster, told Science Daily: "A key design feature is a 18-metre wide oscillator."
The oscillator, a large paddle that moves to and fro with the waves, is attached to a piston which pumps water to the shore. There, the water is converted into power by conventional hydroelectic generators.
The Oyster, which is at the concept stage at the moment, is designed to be deployed in water depths of 12 to 16 metres. However, it is also a simple design, which means that there are fewer submerged moving parts that could be damaged in bad weather. Doherty says: "There is no underwater generator, power electronics or gearbox underwater to go wrong. All the complex power generation equipment remains easily accessible onshore."
Doherty adds that the team has researched where the Oyster could be deployed and is confident that it could change energy supply methods around the world.
"Our computer modelling of coastlines suitable for this technology shows that Spain, Portugal, Ireland and the UK are ideal candidates in Europe," he says. "Globally there is huge scope in areas like the North West coast of the USA and coastlines off South Africa, Australia and Chile. We estimate that the potential size of the market could be in excess of £50 billion."
Science Daily: Harnessing Wave Power With New 'Oyster' Machine
译文:
奥克尼群岛试用新的波浪电源系统
一种命名牡蛎的新款波浪电源产生机，将于今年初秋在奥克尼群岛安装试用。
这种设备应用水压科技将其所获电源转移上岸，有异于其他的类似设备。牡蛎是设址于爱丁堡的海蓝电源公司所设计。该公司技术总长官罗南杜贺狄博士告诉《科学日报》说：“一个18米宽的振荡器是关键的设计特点。”
活塞附加着随波往复摆动的宽大振荡器，把水抽上岸。常规的水力发电机即在岸上把水转化为电源。
目前正处于概念阶段的牡蛎，乃设计为在12至16米深度的水中运转。不过，它也是一个简单的设计，即是说，在水中操作时可能由于恶劣天气而受损坏的部件较少。杜贺狄说:“不会有水下发电机、电源电子或是齿轮箱在水面下发生出错的事。一切复杂的发电装备皆留在岸上，便于看管。”
杜贺狄补充说，其团队已经调查了牡蛎在何处能有用武之地，并确信它将能改变全球的能源供应方法。
“我们对适宜用此科技的海岸线所做的电脑模拟显示，在欧洲的理想候选地为西班牙、葡萄牙、爱尔兰和英国，” 他说，“以全球而言，在美国西北岸和南非以外海岸线、澳大利亚以及智利等区域皆有大展鸿图之良机。我们估计，潛在的市场额可能超越五百亿英镑。”
Science Daily: Harnessing Wave Power With New 'Oyster' Machine