Underwater Air Bag

The fully immersed flexible air bag inflated with compressed air and ballasted can be attached to any heaving or pitching wave energy converter. The motion excites a resonant oscillation of the ballast which alternately squeezes and expands the bag pumping air through a reversible flow turbine into and out of a second fixed volume. Apart from the turbine, there are no moving parts, no joints hinges pistons levers, nothing to lubricate or go wrong, no end stops. Inexpensive, excellent power capture,wide band response.
Sectors of Activity:
Ocean renewable energy
other
Other Sector of Activity:
Ocean wave energy
Funding other:
Grant to develop a demonstration model. Participation in intellectual property
Objective:
Electricity from sea waves in the gulf de Gascoigne, or isolated communities near the ocean.
Beneficiaries:
EDF, island communities
Main activities:
Invention of new types of wave energy converter, historical track record of new devices. Tests in wave tanks already achieved, reports available
Main deliverables:
Calculations, simulations, model construction, tests in wave tanks, manufacture of prototype
Partners needed:
Financial support and participation, manufacture and marketing.
Timetable:
June 2017 Demonstrate 1/20 scale model in wave tank December 2017 Demonstrate 1/4 scale model in sea, estuary or loch. 2018 - Full scale machine
Geographical target area:
Models and experiments can be realised in UK (partners already available) or in France. Deployment of wave energy converter on Atlantic coasts
Countries:
France
Ireland
United Kingdom
Budget: 2017, Jan - June:250,000 EUR 2017, July - December: 300,000 EUR 2018 - 500,000 EUR
Name of Organisation: Marine energy Devices
Address: 
8 Chemin de Saint Pierre
City: 
Le Bar-sur-Loup
Postal code: 
06620
Country: France
Contact person: 
Professor Francis Farley FRS
Position: 
Director
Email:
Phone: 
0493424512