Wave/Tidal Energy Demonstration Exhibit
This exhibit allows visitor to generate waves in a glass tank with water, which causes pressure difference inside a sealed chamber, which can be exploited to generated useful electrical energy!

Background

The objective to build this exhibit was to demonstrate how wave energy can be harnessed to generate electricity, how exactly wave/tidal energy can be translated into pressure difference, which can be utilized to generate power.


Finished Exhibit being tested.
This exhibit demonstrates wave/tidal energy harnessing technique.

Partition between wave chamber and pressure chamber.
Surface noise in wave chamber isolated and only up and down movement
of water in pressure chamber.

Partition between pressure and wave chambers soften effect
of surface wave noise and only energy is transferred into pressure chamber.

Linear bearing block with a pump action mechanism with a handle.

Round disc plate below produces waves
in water due to pumping action!

This project was developed for an NGO which is into building Scientific Exhibitions, Museums and upgrade Science Demonstration infrastructure in schools called Deenabandhu. As part of an Energy themed Science Museum they were setting up this exhibit was developed by Ideas Unlimited, Mysuru.

Deenabandhu is a charitable Non-Profit Organization located in Chamarajnagar. Deenabandhu works towards the education and rehabilitation of orphan, destitute and estranged children. The trust is also into Science, innovation and teaching Science to school children and other activities.

Deenabandhu Trust, Chamarajanagar, Karnataka

The exhibit consists of a handle using which a metal plate can be moved up and down inside a water tank (similar to fish tank). The pumping action generates waves in the tank. A transparent barrier towards the end separates the wave generation portion from the pressure difference generation tank.

When wave is generated, the surface abberations are halted by this transparent wall, while energy is transferred through the bottom opening to the pressure difference chamber. As waves rise up and down, in this chamber the water moves up and down without the surface noise. Since the top of this chamber is sealed, and only a small tube where enery can be harvsted using a turbine is the only outlet, the up and down movement of water can actually rotate a turbine which can generate electricity.

In this exhibit, we had used a ping pong ball which would be pushed up and down the tube due to pressure difference, thus explaining the concept.
ಸಮುದ್ರದ ಅಲೆಗಳಿಂದ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಉತ್ಪತ್ತಿ ಮಾಡುವ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ
Sea/Ocean Wave Energy Demonstration Exhibit
explained in Kannada

Sea/Ocean Wave Energy Demonstration Exhibit
explained in English

How it was built?

Click on left/right buttons to scroll through the pictures and description to see how it was built!