Is this the answer to energy crisis?
A WESTCOUNTRY mechanic-turned inventor has successfully tested a wave energy device that could power homes across the world.
Dartmouth-based engineer Alvin Smith says investors in the Middle East have expressed "enormous interest" in his Searaser device, a pump-based system which stores energy from the sea in nearby reservoirs.
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The Searaser stores energy from the sea in disused reservoirs
The machine, which fell out of an idea to power cars with compressed air, works by harnessing the kind of power locked within waves that can lift a 500-tonne ship.
First, a floating piston pumps water on to the shore. The water is then released to a hydro-electric turbine, which creates the energy.
Mr Smith, 62, who ran a garage in Surrey for around 30 years before working as a builder in Dartmouth when he moved to the region 10 years ago, says what makes the device unique is that the power can be stored until it is needed. Patents have been filed for Searaser in 130 countries, and Mr Smith feels that, if 11,000 of them could be scattered around the UK's coastline, it would provide enough power for every home in the country.
A two-week trial has just been completed at Blackpool Sands in South Devon, which he says proved the concept.
Around £250,000 has been spent on bringing the Searaser to this stage, and Mr Smith says it would not have been possible without the financial assistance of three Devon businessmen: Nigel Hart, Geoff White and Steve Price. "Without their help, it would not have been able to go forward as quickly as it has," said Mr Smith, who added that the germs of the idea emerged 10 years ago.
He is now negotiating a contract to construct the first Searaser system in the Middle East. "We want it to go worldwide," he said. "The people who we are talking with are going to want to take it across the world. When you combine that with hydro-electric power, creating a constant, controllable power, you have something that could answer the world's, not just the UK's, energy problems."
He says there are redundant reservoirs across the UK, including the South West, that could be adapted to store the water to power the turbines.
Mr Smith said he has also developed a system involving floating water containers, which meant the devices could be planted many miles off the sea.
He said: "The potential is enormous. We have plenty of waves around the west coast of the UK and plenty of seawater. There is an abundance of energy there which we have got to use."
6 Comments
by josdave
Monday, January 23 2012, 9:13AM
“While the invention may not be new at least something is being done to bring forward the use of the power of the sea which is constant and far more reliable than wind or solar energy.”
by griffithsuk
Monday, January 23 2012, 8:49AM
“Using a float to generate electricity has already been invented! :(
htttp://ww.thescienceforum.com/new-hypotheses-ideas/24471-vertical-wave-electricity-generator-technology.html
Check out: htttp://ww.thescienceforum.com/mechanical-structural-chemical-engineering/26095-vertical-wave-generator-version-2-a.html
Sucking water in and out is a waste of energy, you just want to direct drive the dynamo generator from the movement of the float!
Using a float was invented back in august, hope theres no talk of patents?!
Its free technology for all to use!”
by griffithsuk
Monday, January 23 2012, 8:46AM
“Using a float to generate electricity has already been invented! :(
htttp://ww.thescienceforum.com/new-hypotheses-ideas/24471-vertical-wave-electricity-generator-technology.html
Check out: htttp://ww.thescienceforum.com/mechanical-structural-chemical-engineering/26095-vertical-wave-generator-version-2-a.html
Sucking water in and out is a waste of energy, you just want to direct drive the dynamo generator from the movement of the float!
Using a float was invented back in august, hope theres no talk of patents?!
Its free technology for all to use!”
by griffithsuk
Monday, January 23 2012, 8:45AM
“Using a float to generate electricity has already been invented! :(
null
Check out: null
Sucking water in and out is a waste of energy, you just want to direct drive the dynamo generator from the movement of the float!
Using a float was invented back in august, hope theres no talk of patents?!
Its free technology for all to use!”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 8:21AM
“:| This is really exciting I think:- "Pumping is made possible by the motion of waves lifting the device, Searaser, as it floats in the sea, and gravity bringing it down again in the wave troughs. A prototype has just completed tests in which it pumped water more than 160ft (50m) uphill through a pipe the diameter of a saucer. The full-size device is expected to pump water through a pipe the diameter of a dustbin lid up at least 650ft (200m) ¿ or easily enough to clear the top of Beachy Head, which is 530ft (160m) high."
"A series of reservoirs would be built ¿ and in some areas would be reopened ¿ at the top of coastal cliffs and hills to store water until it was needed to generate electricity."
"Alvin Smith, the engineer who developed Searaser, envisages alternative uses such as pumping desalinated water inland for irrigation in dry countries." . . TIMESonline”
by kim, hion,joon, seoul,korea
Monday, April 13 2009, 6:45PM
“Mr. alvin Smith !
congraturation !
Great thanks for 2nd test was successfully completed.
I love Searaser and your patient and your supporters.”