Swimming or kite-surfing at sea I can't help notice the power of the waves.
Along the beach are a series of groynes to stop the sand drifting. Sometimes the waves catch the posts of these groynes and send a geyser of water into the air.
I'm wondering how a simple device clamped onto the groynes might be able to harness this power.
The groynes consist of sturdy vertical posts about 1 foot square in profile, sunk deep into the ground, to which a 4inch thick wooden wall is afixed.
A limpet device seems like the simplest method.
The can-do attitude of kiteman in his blog has spurred me on to plan a simple test, as have some of the great comments and feedback to his idea.
Starting very simply, I'm wondering would a simple box do the trick? If so what would the ideal parameters be? height of front and back of the box, depth of box?
Or would the box need a horizontal run-in flap (fixed, or moving? angle? length? shape?)
Construction: likely a ply box frame, with vertical plastic pipe
Installation: heavy-duty clamps to secure the box at the required height
Testing: probably in light wave conditions (say 30cm wave height)
Measurement: a simple whistle at the air outlet, the sound volume giving an approximate measure of the air flow (or water spray coming through!)
Later enhancements
- shape and size adjustments
- one-way air inlet valve (or wells tubine) or dual turbine as per kiteman's blog
- float valve to stop water coming up pipe
Any suggestions welcome!
Thanks!
Edit 10 July 2019:
Following kiteman's example, i guess the inlet needs to be a funnel shape horizontally:
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