I was watching a program on Discovery Science, about two people trying to create a electric generator using the wave current to power up their caravan for a wonderful picnic by the sea side.

They built a long cone and secured it at the bridge with cone’s bottom lowered into the sea. As the wave comes, it pushes the water into the cone up and down, thus, creating pressure which pushes the air outward via cone’s top opening and when the wave falls, it sucks the air in from the top of the cone and creates inward air flow.

They then created a fan blade which act like a turbine attached to a electric generator motor in hope that the air pressure can move the turbine and generate electricity to power up their caravan. However, due to the nature of the wave current which rise and fall, thus, the air flow also goes outwards and inwards according to the wave current. Because of that, it changes the rotation direction for the turbine which is inadequate to generate electricity.

They also mentioned it can only generate electricity if the fan rotates in one direction regardless the direction of the air flow which pushes out and sucks in. Therefore, they carry on which their research and findings to solve this issue. At this point of time, it was a commercial break for that program. This gives me the opportunity to think how to solve this.

Read the rest of this entry »