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NEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCE connected to the land-based WaveReaper generator via the power- transmitting wire. The barrels are also connected by a thinner wire between them so that if the power wire should break, the barrels don't drift away in the sea. This also evens out the possibility that the barrels would smash into each other when the sea is rougher. to Rough weather capabilities The lifting capacity also sets a J : pace ° maximum power input into the device, since if a wave is too fast or large, the ——.. barrel would not lift more than it can, : and forces are kept within the range vires and seafloor-based blocks. chosen when constructing the WaveReaper plant. reasonable. In the shoreline version, this | Rough waves are a problem for all number can give up to 500 kW of wave-energy constructions. However, energy, and even more in special the WaveReaper has a built-in safety locations. A plant that covers 100 feature in its construction that avoids metres of shoreline can give 3 MW per damage to the equipment: the barrels kilometre of shoreline. have a maximum lifting force, so they The barrels are positioned at two _ will sink under the surface if the force of metres' distance from each other and the waves is too great. This makes it possible for the WaveReaper to work in any weather. However, for the best cost-benefit ratio, the plant should be constructed to take advantage of medium-sized waves that are present most of the time. Blocks ~~ The location of choice is the main reasonable. In the shoreline version, this parameter for the size of the barrels: number can give up to 500 kW of smaller waves, then smaller barrels and energy, and even more in special vice versa. Wave heights that can be locations. A plant that covers 100 utilised can be two feet and upwards. metres of shoreline can give 3 MW per The number of barrels can be larger, kilometre of shoreline. but I think, for practical reasons, 100 on The barrels are positioned at two each plant would be good and _ metres' distance from each other and The pipe is mounted on the wire, and the Blocks block section is further lengthened out into the sea until the required distance from the shore has been reached. When service is required, the pipe is mounted off from the wire and the block section is hauled to the shoreline. No divers or () \V loading service personnel are needed. Round pipe is mounted around the wire. A half pipe is mounted around the top of the wire. Ps a Next half pipe is mounted the othe way to the wire. a Figure 3. Reverse half-pipe makes it possible to haul gear without divers. The pipe is mounted on the wire, and the block section is further engthened out into the sea until the required distance from the shore has been reached. When service is required, the pipe is mounted off from the wire and the block section is hauled to the shoreline. No divers or loading service personnel are needed. Round pipe is mounted around the wire. A half-pipe is mounted around the top of the wire. The next half-pipe is mounted the other way to the wire. Power output and cost With 10 barrels in each row and 10 rows, the plant would take up 20 x 20 metres of area, or 400 m’, and have 100 connected wires which transfer the mechanical energy to the generator. [See fig. 4.] This type of plant gives 100 to 300 kW every hour, which would generate profits of US$6,500 to $20,000 of revenue monthly. The cost of building the plant is estimated to be only $20,000. This means that the WaveReaper can pay for itself in a few months instead of years. I have chosen to use only cheap materials in this demonstration, because of the need to bring down production costs and make it possible to build this type of wave generation device anywhere in the world and with local materials, e.g., car parts, which don't 46 ¢ NEXUS Figure 2. Power-transmitting wires and seafloor-based blocks. A half pipe is mounted around the top of the wire. Next half pipe is mounted the othe way to the wire. www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2008