Category:Wave Stead

A wave stead is a structure resting on the salters duck wave power unit. http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/salters-duck-2.jpg

From http://science.howstuffworks.com/salters-duck1.htm

The salters duck is normally tethered to the sea bed below it but by inverting the structure and putting two or three on a row, 1/2 wave length apart, we create a structure.

Schematic of duck and deck sea stead. http://www.seasteading.org/files/u8/duck_and_deck_stead.jpg

The ducks are on truck-like-axles. Free to rotate. The egg cross-section of the duck converts wave action into rotation that are easily handled by axles. Retarding that rotation converts the wave energy into power and creates a wave damped area behind the duck. Most of this energy would be used keeping the sea stead on station. This assumes no anchoring but I think anchoring will be possible in deep water: 5 km.

This allows a break wall that is also sea stead and factory space. The wave breaking function is directional so a ring of wave steads is needed where wave trains come from various directions. . The ring of these would shelter the interior of the ring. Costs could be saved by making some ducks with minimal decks; open and empty decks. Wave steads would damp waves more effectively than most systems at only a small margin of extra cost. The axle bearings etc can be seawater lubricated if the right plastics are used. There is also a system of sea water hydraulics available that would be cheap if mass produced. http://www.seasteading.org/files/u8/deck_and_duck_003.jpg

This graphic image was done in Second Life.

Most of the wave forces are turned into tolerable vertical forces averaged over the base area of the duck units. There are some similarities to the automotive industry on terms of loads and ware. This safety and operator error risk is tolerable. Ideally the superstructure above the ducks would be buoyant in case the duck water log or break loose. Its rare to see the wheels broken off a truck or tractor even after a catastrophic accident. This is the level of accident tolerances needed.

The wave steads would be tow-able but are relatively high drag. Towing in them in the direction of the long axis or the duck will be possible if the side structures are more cage work than depicted.

Behind the wave stead array the waves are damped to 10% amplitude and energy. In this calm area we could add a wide variety of installations. Including floating farms. http://vacoyecology.com/Bubble_ponds_fluke_boats.html Fish farms, floating algae oil production tubes and buoyant solar arrays.

For more on bouyant solar See http://www.sunengy.com/images/LiquidSolarArrayDraft4US.pdf and http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9954667-54.html and http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/floating-solar-island-concept/

Wesley Bruce.