Structural engineers know that a little bit of wind can have dramatic repercussions on large buildings and bridges. One well-known effect known as ‘wake galloping’ causes cables on suspension bridges to oscillate up and down. This phenomenon is observable even at low wind conditions and is the result of one cylindrical cable distorting the path of the wind and causing it to ‘lift’ another cable behind it. The tug of war between the lifting action of the wind and the downwards force of the cable’s weight creates a distinctive ‘gallop.’
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A team of scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology is hoping to capitalize on wake galloping by using it to generate power. The idea is to build devices that are susceptible to the effect in a controlled way. They've created an oscillating cylinder that is attached to a magnet to create current as it moves up and down.
According to New Scientist, a device 85 by 5 centimeters was tested and “at wind speeds between 2.5 to 4.5 meters per second, when traditional wind turbines are inefficient, the system generated nearly half a watt of electrical power.”
Unless large surfaces are covered with these devices it will be difficult to generate a large amount of usable electricity but the team is working on determining the optimal size of the device that will maximize energy output. Hyung-Jo Jung, one of the scientists working on the project stresses that there are some very promising applications of this technology including powering sensors that are used to monitor the structural health of buildings. Instead of having to connect to power grids or to use battery-based systems, the sensors could be fully powered by low intensity winds.
Tags: Alternative Power Sources, Buildings and Structures, Energy Efficiency, Green Tech, Renewable Energy
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