Alternative Energy Resources
The term ‘alternative energy resources’ refers to renewable energy sources apart from current sources such as fossil fuels. Wind mills, solar panels, geothermal plants and hydropower plants are the main ways in which we generate energy from these renewable resources. The latest news in the hydropower field involves generation of electricity through wave power. Wave stations though rare aren’t unheard of but here’s a new method devised to harness energy from waves.
A giant rubber snake, dubbed the ‘Anaconda,’ produces alternative energy resources when it is squeezed by the waves. This ‘Anaconda’ is predicted to generate more energy than existing wave energy methods and at a much lesser cost.
The concept grew in the minds of retired physicist Francis Farley and Rod Rainey of Atkins Global. They dreamt of sausage like structures which were flexible and filled with seawater. Just like a windsock is pushed by the wind this giant tube streams out in waves. Each wave squeezes the tube and creates bulging pressure that runs down the tube’s length. When the bulge reaches the end it spins the turbines and produces alternative energy resources.
How much alternative energy does it produce? A full-size tube should be able to generate 1 megawatt, which in layman’s term means it can provide electricity to about 2000 houses.
The environment in the seas and oceans can be very intimidating but the Anaconda’s are designed to settle in these conditions. The researchers say that these devices will work well even in the largest storms. The rubber structure also means less maintenance as compared to metal structures which are prone to corrosion from sea water.
Researchers hope to start testing a full-size Anaconda soon and hope to put this concept into commercial use within the next five years.
To see how this technology works, click this link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VamSAbwgJKk
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