The folly of trying to utilise wind to generate electricity has brought to light the need for a reliable renewable, low investment energy supply.
17 Years ago a system that could supply all the electrical energy for the entire U.K., not when the weather or moon dictates but on demand, was devised. At the time it was investigated by consultants employed by the Dept. of Energy and dismissed as uneconomic.
Using the same principle the system has been greatly simplified and the costs reduced by utilising waste material, rather than the stainless steel specified by the consultants.
No vast civil engineering construction is required. It can be working on a small scale within a few months. Once proved it could eventually be expanded sufficiently to provide all UK's electrical needs when wanted in appropriate quantity.
The energy force is the tide, a predictable reliable force that is dictated by the movement of the sun and moon. In the U.K. we have some of the highest tides in the world and are thus perfectly positioned to make use of them. The normally proposed, barrage offers energy as dictated by the tidal flows and involves vast expenditure before it comes into operation. It would be an all or nothing scheme, both in construction and in the power output, being when the moon dictates not when needed.
This proposed scheme harvests the energy daily putting it into an energy bank from where it is drawn off as needed.
Tyres are not discarded nowadays because they have leaks but merely because they have lost their grip – the tread is worn, they still have the ability to hold air under pressure. There are even now many millions of discarded tyres that present a problem regarding their disposal.
If perhaps 30 tyres of the same size are laid on top of each other to form a cylinder, a wheel is put at each end and locked to a pole through the middle, the whole cylinder can be inflated to form a buoy. We thus have a cheap robust buoy that is not subject to attack from sea water.
If this buoy is allowed to float on tidal water at low tide and is anchored to the sea bed; as the tide rises it will have a strong upward pull. If at high tide the buoy is allowed to rise it can be used to pull a similar but slightly smaller buoy down below the water. On each tide the smaller buoy can be pulled further down. The energy thus stored can be obtained by allowing the smaller buoy to rise whilst driving an electrical generator when wanted.
In its usable state the same principle would operate with many tyre buoys locked together to form huge buoys.
Each generator would accept the energy from perhaps 100 or more huge buoys in sequence.
Having investigated this possibility for the past 17 years I believe that this could well be the answer to our present renewable energy problem.
It is somewhat more complex than briefly explained here but the initial start can be made now. The cost is fractional compared to any other renewable power system capable of providing energy when wanted, that can be expanded as needed.
The parts required to capture and store the energy are as follows:-
Secure sea anchors.
Redundant Tyres.
Strong ropes, chain or wires .
Pulleys.
Control gear.
Generators.
The main construction work of constructing the buoys can be done anywhere utilising a waste product. As no special skill is needed, it seems appropriate that this could utilise the time of prisoners to advantage, thus solving another problem and giving them the ability to do something of benefit to the community.
It is calculated that if this scheme was used in the Bristol Channel over an area of 15 square miles the resulting electrical energy produced in the year would be more than that provided by Sizewell B nuclear power station
The Bristol Channel alone is about 1,000 square miles.
Having devised the system and made several models to prove the theory and iron out numerous problems, I am frustrated that the scheme is just waiting for someone to put it to use.
I offer this proposition as a discussion as to the feasibility of ever getting it off the ground.
Renewable energy when wanted
Re: Renewable energy when wanted
