SBIR Phase II: River Electrical Energy Devices

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目建议开发河流能源收割机，特别适合从未筑坝的湍急河流中收集能源，由于最先进的技术限制，目前尚未开发。成熟的可再生能源技术包括硅基太阳能电池板、大型风力涡轮机和高水头水电站。然而，消费者往往在地理上与这些资源相距甚远。绝大多数人居住在维持生命的水道附近。数百万人生活在世界偏远地区，与巨大的水动力资源并存，但目前很少或根本无法获得可靠的电力。该计划专门致力于解决这类服务不足的市场。最近，人们对从具有巨大动能的水流中收获越来越感兴趣，美国的一项资源评估研究将其描述为一种“巨大的”未开发的自然资源。但在现有技术的情况下，选址仍然是这种高能可再生资源扩张面临的最大挑战。该项目旨在开发专门适用于湍流和/或极低水头流动的收割机，从而扩大水能选址选择，并可能实现第二次水力发电繁荣。第二阶段的技术努力将探索通过动态的流固相互作用将流体动能转换为机械能。需要利用的现象的一个例子是在下雨和刮风的日子里观察到的电线的弹跳运动。只有在特定的天气条件下才能观察到重复运动，因为不稳定的动力学是流动类型和受影响表面的几何形状的函数。这项动议在大多数情况下都是不可取的，包括对输电线来说，但它也代表了一种将不良流动转化为能源的机会。第一阶段项目确定并展示了两个具体的适应结构战略，以加强所需的能源转换；还确定了其他战略，并将在第二阶段项目期间进行调查。这一第二阶段计划的目标是通过在现场建造和运行一个2千瓦的原型来证明所产生的技术的技术和商业可行性。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes the development of river energy harvesters uniquely suited to harvesting energy from undammed turbulent river flows, currently untapped due to state-of-the-art technology limitations. Mature renewable energy technologies include silicon based solar panels, large scale wind turbines, and high-head hydropower turbines. However, consumers are often geographically distant from these resources. The vast majority of people live adjacent to life-sustaining waterways. Millions live in remote parts of the world alongside vast hydrokinetic resources, but currently have little or no access to reliable electricity. This program specifically seeks to address such underserved markets. Recently, there has been growing interest in harvesting from flows with significant kinetic energy, which have been described in a US resource assessment study as a "gargantuan" untapped natural resource. But with existing technology, siting continues to be the single biggest challenge facing expansion of this high-energy renewable resource. This project aims to develop harvesters specifically suited to turbulent and/or very low head flows, thereby expanding hydro-energy siting options and potentially enabling a second hydro-power boom.The Phase II technical effort will explore the conversion of hydrokinetic energy to mechanical energy via a dynamic, fluid-solid interaction. An example of the phenomenon to be harnessed is the bouncing motion observed in power lines on rainy, windy days. The repeating motion is observed only during specific weather conditions because the unstable dynamics are a function of both the flow type, and the geometry of the affected surface. This motion is undesirable in most instances, including for power lines, but it also represents an energy conversion opportunity from ill-behaved flows. The Phase I project identified and demonstrated two specific adaptive structures strategies for enhancing the desired energy conversion; additional strategies were identified and will be investigated during a Phase II project. The goal of this Phase II program is to demonstrate technical and commercial feasibility of the resulting technology by building and operating a 2 kilowatt prototype in the field.