Imagine harnessing the energy in a river. Now imagine this: it's been going on for a few weeks. On Monday, The New York Times ran this piece, which includes video, about the electricity-generating turbines that Verdant Power installed in the East River, not far from Roosevelt Island.
Just one problem is keeping the turbines from operating: the river's current is much stronger than expected, and the turbines are falling apart.
We're optimistic about the potential for technology like this, but a bit perplexed by the quote from Trey Taylor, the company's founder, who is reported to have said, "the only way for us to learn is to get the turbines into the water and start breaking them." While we're big fans of rapid prototyping, we're hoping he was quoted incorrectly—or perhaps he "misspoke"—but it occurs to us that perhaps a few engineers with experience designing, say, ship propellers could help the company make stronger turbines.
When Verdant gets all the kinks worked out, we think this will be a promising source of renewable power.
AT readers, if you've shopped at the Gristedes supermarket mentioned in the article, we'd especially like to know what they're doing to tell their customers about this innovative source of electricity.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
johnathanb—
thanks for pointing out this article, as i recall hearing about Verdant Power's efforts to drop energy-generating turbines in the waterways surrounding New York.
However as a longtime boater i was compelled to point out your cheeky response regarding Trey Taylor's comments about the turbines' blades being sheared off by the river's strong currents.
"Perhaps a few engineers with experience designing...ship propellers could help the company make stronger turbines."
A boat's prop and these turbine blades is a poorly educated comparison. In short, propellers are generally made of NiBrAl, which is a combination of nickel, bronze, and aluminum, stainless steel, or other types of metal and are solely driven, in larger vessels, at cruise speeds of 1750 rpm, in one direction (except when in reverse). They are treated with all types of material to keep the corrosive saltwater environment from all but rotting them away.
The turbine's blades, which move at approximately 32 rpm, are at the mercy of the tides—that change direction twice each day—and in the East River can run 5 to 6 knots. Put a ship's prop, anything for that matter, in that same situation and it'll be reduced to dust.
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