🚀 go-pugleaf

bo774@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Kelly Bert Manning)
wrote:


>George Slade (George_Slade@mindlink.bc.ca) writes:
>> 
>> two main questions I have.
>> 
>> 1.  Tides slow to 0 four times a day.  How will
>> any Electric Co.  make up for the loss power four
>> times a day.  (and not the same time every day.)
>> 
>Actually, isn't there typically 1 major tide each day, with a smaller
>one in 12 hours later, ie. major low tides during the day in the summer
>and at night during the winter?

>Aren't there also variations during the month, ie. at some times even
>the major tide of the day is relativly small?

>The density of water gives in a boost over wind for energy density, 
>but the higher velocity of wind power still puts it farther up the 
>energy density curve(proportional to cube of velocity). Air heads have
>got exactly nowhere at making a commercial go of wind power. Now we are
>supposed to believe that someone has found a way to make a turbine not
>only extract commercial power from slow moving tides, but found a way
>to keep an electrical generator operating for years with no/low
>maintenance while immersed in a corrosive marine environment.

The density of seawater is some 832 times the
density of air and the wind force equivilant of
only 5 knots of seawater velocity is a whopping
232 km.hr huricane wind speed.

Don't be too hard on the wind folks they've
struggled along with a game uphill battle to get
their cost curve from some 55 cents /kw hr and are
now down to a respectable 4 cents kw.  They're
building a 100MW installation near Minneapolis as
we speak.  

And as for crack about electrical equipment
immersed in seawater look closer at the website
and you'll see the only equipment exposed to the
seawater is the rotor and its an stainless alloy
with a 30 year zero fatigue design. 

There is a x-section of the Mindinaou tidal power
fence on the webpage I refered to.

>Sort of sounds like the bright guy who thought of solar power panels for
>marine weather bouys, but didn't think of seagulls using them for perches
>and leaving their reminders all over them. 

Not quite.

This one's got a fair engineering pedigree.  I've
built some of the most complex industrial
installation on the planet and the wizzard on the
rotor is Barry V. Davis. He designed the lift and
loads on the Avro Arrow and if you think we are
both from Saskatchewan when it comes to marine
fouling or corrossion he also was chief
hydrodynmicist on the Bra D'Or 400.

Darth Varder's ski boat.  151 ft. beam 225 tons,
25,000 hp.  Did sixty five knots in class 5 seas
twelve feet out the water.  

Looks like you got a little seagull doo doo on you
in your rush to be little some good engineering
work.

Both the Avro Arrow and the Bra D'Or 400 still
stand at the pinnical of engineering excellence
and I venture to say that someday the Davis Hydro
Turbine will be regarded as a contribution that
eclipses both.

Thanks though, for your interest in tidal power.

Martin Burger
Managing Director
Nova Energy Ltd.
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