SEADOG Makes Waves
Researchers validate potential of wave energy system
Following a three-month demonstration of Minnesotabased energy technology company Independent Natural Resources Inc.'s (INRI) SEADOG Pump system, researchers from the Texas A&M University at Galveston Marine Engineering Technology Department released a report validating the performance and output of the technology. The report, which focused on a SEADOG Pump installed off the Galveston, Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico, analyzed the pump's performance from July 2007 to November 2007, tracking all weather conditions from calm days to the Category 1 force of Hurricane Humberto. "Most of the wave energy conversion devices developed to date experience one of many potential problems due to factors such as initial cost, operating cost, long rate of return, installation, and operational and maintenance issues mostly due to the highly-complex nature of structural and anchoring demands for the units. However, when considering the SEADOG Pump, which was conceptualized and developed by INRI, most of the above mentioned potential problems are not present which can be credited to the simple design of the SEADOG Pump. The developer touts the device as easily fabricated, deployed and maintained. "Compared to other wave energy conversion devices developed to date, the SEADOG Pump has a good potential to become a functionally marketable machine in the near future," said Frank Warnakulasuriya, Ph.D., assistant department head, Marine Engineering Technology, Texas A&M University at Galveston. Dr. Warnakulasuriya also said in the report that the, "Overall effectiveness of the SEADOG Pump as a pump which converts ocean wave energy was around 22 percent and is a very promising value for a demonstration machine. The solid fact for this argument is that most of the highly-engineered and well-improved wave energy converters pretty much show similar values. The possibility of improving the SEADOG Pump to work at an overall effectiveness in the range of 45 to 55 percent is visible."
SEADOG
Generally speaking, wave energy is captured by engineered devices or components attached to stationary or floating structures that are set in motion by waves or swells on the surface of the ocean. Most wave energy technologies grow in cost because the specified equipment is sensitive to corrosive seawater and has intermittency issues similar to wind and solar energy. SEADOG Pump uses a simple pump design with few moving parts and no electronics. Multiple pumps are deployed in fields depending on how much power or water is desired. In addition, the SEADOG Pump moves large volumes of water to shore where it can be stored until needed for energy production or desalination. This ability to store energy removes the intermittency issues associated with other renewable energy technologies. "We're incredibly pleased with the report findings," said Mark A. Thomas, CEO, INRI. "The SEADOG Pump addresses these issues and has proven, as this study shows, that it's possible to extract this energy at a low cost, with the highest levels of efficiency and greater benefit to humankind." Most wave-energy technologies involve off-shore electrical generation requiring the transmission of power to shore-based electrical grids. The SEADOG Pump captures energy from ocean swells or waves to pump seawater to land-based or sea-based holding areas, where the water can be returned to the ocean through turbines, designed to produce inexpensive, renewable electricity. Adding the ability to store the water and use it when needed will allow the SEADOG Pump to be a primary source of power that can match supply with demand. Preliminary estimates suggest that a 1 sq. m. field of SEADOG Pumps could generate anywhere from 30 to more than 1,500 MW of electricity on average, depending on the wave regime.
www.inri.us
40 MTR
June 2008
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