- Jul 20, 2016
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[Thread closed as this has been promoted to the front page. Comments/replies can be made here: https://www.transients.info/2017/06/biomimicry-observing-nature/ — Laron]
It turns out that people are looking to nature for clues about how things work more efficiently. Yep, Mother Nature already created lots of wheels, if we take the time to observe.
Biomimicry, the imitation of natural structures or processes, has already led to a number of technological advancements, from aerodynamic vehicle and building design to sophisticated surface membranes. It’s a field which continues to grow and has much to offer the energy sector. For instance, solar technology owes a debt to leaf and plant systems, and researchers are still learning lessons from whales and hummingbirds on how drag affects wind turbine blades.
Someone noticed that humpback whales move through the water with ease because their flippers have scalloped edges (tubercles). Then they thought about the blades of wind turbines. Using this idea, wind turbines can be used in areas with less wind.
Scientists at West Chester University mimicked these tubercles on a number of fans and turbines, to demonstrate that a turbine with scalloped blades can produce the same about of energy at 10mph as a smooth one at 17mph.
Another group has redesigned wind turbines by looking to the humming bird. These turbines are smaller and "flap" their blades.
My favorite is the new hydro-power plant that uses materials that mimic the motion of seaweed.
The bioWAVE unit is submerged and fixed to the seafloor, and as the swell of the ocean moves around it the resultant force activates air-filled cylinders which pivot on an axis. These then push fluid through the O-Drive, BPS’s own power-conversion module, generating energy. The O-Drive is specifically designed to deal with the irregularity of hydropower. The energy is then fed through subsea cables to power homes and businesses in nearby towns.
bioWAVE is much lighter than conventional wave energy designs and as it is modular it is also cheaper and easier to install. Plus, it converts power on-board, unlike many alternatives.
In order to protect itself during periods of rough seas and storms bioWAVE also has a ’lay-down’ mode, where the large, air-filled cylinders lie flat against the seafloor to steady the unit .
http://www.power-technology.com/features/featurecould-biomimicry-revolutionise-renewable-energy-5796192/
It turns out that people are looking to nature for clues about how things work more efficiently. Yep, Mother Nature already created lots of wheels, if we take the time to observe.
Biomimicry, the imitation of natural structures or processes, has already led to a number of technological advancements, from aerodynamic vehicle and building design to sophisticated surface membranes. It’s a field which continues to grow and has much to offer the energy sector. For instance, solar technology owes a debt to leaf and plant systems, and researchers are still learning lessons from whales and hummingbirds on how drag affects wind turbine blades.
Someone noticed that humpback whales move through the water with ease because their flippers have scalloped edges (tubercles). Then they thought about the blades of wind turbines. Using this idea, wind turbines can be used in areas with less wind.
Scientists at West Chester University mimicked these tubercles on a number of fans and turbines, to demonstrate that a turbine with scalloped blades can produce the same about of energy at 10mph as a smooth one at 17mph.
Another group has redesigned wind turbines by looking to the humming bird. These turbines are smaller and "flap" their blades.
My favorite is the new hydro-power plant that uses materials that mimic the motion of seaweed.
The bioWAVE unit is submerged and fixed to the seafloor, and as the swell of the ocean moves around it the resultant force activates air-filled cylinders which pivot on an axis. These then push fluid through the O-Drive, BPS’s own power-conversion module, generating energy. The O-Drive is specifically designed to deal with the irregularity of hydropower. The energy is then fed through subsea cables to power homes and businesses in nearby towns.
bioWAVE is much lighter than conventional wave energy designs and as it is modular it is also cheaper and easier to install. Plus, it converts power on-board, unlike many alternatives.
In order to protect itself during periods of rough seas and storms bioWAVE also has a ’lay-down’ mode, where the large, air-filled cylinders lie flat against the seafloor to steady the unit .
http://www.power-technology.com/features/featurecould-biomimicry-revolutionise-renewable-energy-5796192/
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