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Vortex Power

Bill M
ocean-vortex-200.jpg

A new way to harness energy from flowing water is being developed that does not require powerful currents.  Instead, small devices composed of cylinders and springs are placed in slower moving water, harnessing the power of small energy vortices that form because of their presence.  As flowing water interacts with the cleverly constructed devices, vortices form, channeling energy into the devices which can be converted to electricity.  When fish swim, they similarly harness the power of these micro-vortices.  Leonardo Da Vinci himself observed and noted the phenomenon 500 years ago.  The new technology promises to be cheaper and more efficient than current wind and solar alternatives, with the added bonus of being more wildlife-friendly than current hydroelectric technology.

 

Creative Commons Image : into the ocean by the trial on Flickr

 

Comments

hmmm, the fractal grid...

Submitted by vivifidal on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 13:17.
And little whorls have lesser whorls, And so on to viscosity.'' ---L. F. Richardson

Vortecular generators FTW!..unless we screw them up, too.

Submitted by ChibiOne on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 13:57.

I am very excited about this new technology.  There is potential there to really help us in these hard times.

My concern is its use in a consumerist sense.  If we put too many of these in a moving body of water, won't it eventually slow down the current?  That energy doesn't come from nowhere, we are taking it from the motion of the water.  

Nutrients and algae may form on them, depriving those things from areas that rely on the currents to feed them; and damaging ecosystems (although creating new ones surrounding the mechanisms themselves).  

Just goes to show, I feel, that no piece of technology is going to solve our problems if we don't start acting more responsibly about our own growth and lifestyle choices.  Otherwise, we are just running in front of a 900,000 ton freight train, laying tracks frantically to keep it from crashing on the rocky ground.  

 

"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

I don't wanna hang with the Big Dog....

Submitted by ChibiOne on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 18:56.

Yeah, just a matter of time before they have that puppy (pun intended) armored, armed, and loaded to bear with rockets, machine guns, and mind-control rays. =P  

Then they'll patrol the streets and 'keep the peace'.  ^_~

 

"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

Spiral geometry in nature

Submitted by tonydahtiger on Sun, 12/28/2008 - 19:46.
The energy connected with the spiral shape in nature has also been discussed in the work of Viktor Schauberger, "the water wizard" and Callum Coats as well.