HYDRODYNAMIC MODELLING AND FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A WAVE- POWERED PUMP

THIS PROPOSAL IS DIRECTED TOWARDS ESTABLISHING THE FEASIBILITY OF USING WAVE ENERGY TO PROVIDE HIGH-PRESSURE SEAWATER AT REMOTE COASTAL AND ISLAND LOCATIONS. THIS HAS POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL VALUE BECAUSE OF THE MANY POSSIBLE USESOF HIGH-PRESSURE SEAWATER: IT CAN BE CIRCULATED IN ONSHORE AQUACULTURE TANKS, PASSED THROUGH A REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANE TO PRODUCE FRESH WATER, OR PASSED THROUGH AN IMPULSE TURBINE TO GENERATE ELECTRIC POWER. THE ENTIRE PROJECT (PHASES I THROUGH III) IS FOCUSED ON THE SMALL-SCALE NEEDS OF RURAL AREAS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WHERE EVEN THE PROVISION OF A FEW THOUSAND LITERS OF FRESH WATER PER DAY OR A FEW KILOWATTS OF POWER WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE BASIC LIVING CONDITIONS AND FACILITATE ECONOMIC GROWTH. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SHORESIDE PROVISION OF ICE (REQUIRING BOTH FRESH WATER AND ELECTRICITY) WOULD ENHANCE THE CASH-EARNING POWER OF LOCAL FISHERIES. IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS CONCEPT, FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON THE HYDRODYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF THE WAVE ENERGY ABSORBER, WHICH IS AN INCLINED CYLINDRICAL PIPE, ENTIRELY SUBMERGED BENEATH THE SEA SURFACE, WITH ONE END RESTING ON THE SEAFLOOR. THE PIPE WOULD BE ANCHORED IN RELATIVELY SHALLOW WATER AND WOULD BE HELD LEANING AT AN ANGLE INTO THE INCIDENT WAVES BY A FIBER-REINFORCED ELASTOMERIC HOSE, WHICH ACTS AS BOTH A COMPLIANT MOORING AND A SIMPLE ONE-WAY PUMP.