Clean Energy From Nuclear Fuel Rods and Oil Rigs [WTF?! FTW!]

February 20th, 2009 by Matthew Phelan

Few energy technologies fit CleanTechnica’s “Technology Inspired By Nature” tag-line as thoroughly as the University of Michigan’s VIVACE Converter—which as we’ve already mentioned derives many of its innovations from imitating how fish create and exploit turbulent currents.

As adorable and eco-friendly as that sounds, it’s also reassuring for investors and geeks to know that VIVACE has additional foundation in over a century of really hardcore (and phenomenally mind-numbing) mechanical and structural engineering research (i.e. Fluid Dynamics). VIVACE is basically taking countless studies on suppressing “vortex-induced vibrations (VIV)”—which can damage everything from the metal cables supporting oil rigs to the nuclear fuel rods placed in a coolant flow—and instead uses them to encourage vibrations and generate energy.

I took a very long look at the research over at SolveClimate.com and interviewed VIVACE inventor Dr. Michael Bernitsas, who conceived of the idea while working with oil companies to suppress VIV on offshore oil rigs and submerged pipelines. The data comparing VIVACE to conventional power sources has to be seen to be believed.

Photo Credit: Scott Galvin









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