Wave Power

This is a really cool form of alternative renewable energy with very specific hydraulic applications. Wave power refers to the energy of ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work including generating electricity.

One of the popular devices that uses wave power is a divice called an attentuator which is a long, multisegment, floating structure oriented parallel to the direction of the waves. The fluctuating wave heights along the length of the divide causes flexing where the segments connect and this action is connected to hydraulic pumps or other converters to capture and convert the energy to electricity.

A point absorber is a floating structure with components that move relative to each other due to wave action. It is a floating buoy inside a fixed cylinder. The relative motion of the waves and the buoy are is used to drive electromechanical or hydraulic energy converters.

Wave power is not currently employed widely but has great potential for power generation. Some commercial wave farms have been developed in Europe and one is planned for the coast of California. It does offer manufacturers and distributors of fluid power components an interesting new market opportunity.

...like all forms of renewable energies, it seems like this one also is being accepted slowly, but you have to start somewhere.

Are there any potential major ecological or aesthetical concerns about the installation, operation and maintenance of these systems?

An interesting link to a small company that developed a tecnology
that uses sea wave as an alternative clean energy source to produce electricity.
http://www.matimop.org.il/newrdinf/company/c3219.htm

Cleveland would be a great location for the development of wind power for the power grid. We have plenty of wind and the technology to make it work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg1JmIRBorw

So come on Cleveland, get with it. The future is bright, and windy.

Wind turbine technology truly offers opportunities as a growth market for hydraulics. In Cleveland, we have what looks like an experimental wind turbine by the excellent Cleveland Science Center where the wind blows free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvhuE7jDC0o

Wouldn't it be great if wind turbines as a source for electricity caught on in Cleveland. We already have the wind here on the shores of Lake Erie. In fact, our wind turbine is located on one of the windiest spots in America.

With Cleveland being a hot spot already for fluid power, it would be a natural for the development of wind technology and application.

Come on Cleveland. The future is bright ... and windy!

How about T. Boone Pickens announcing that he is getting into the wind game?

I call on many fluid power manufacturers and I can tell you that wind power has become a very important target market for many of them. We will feature this technology in the November issue of H&P.