On the leading edge of the humpback whale’s pectoral fins there are outgrowths helping it maneuver during hunting. Scientists paid attention to this principle and placed similar “outgrowths” on the leading edge of the impeller blades of the hydraulic turbine. This allowed them to increase the power plant’s capacity by 20%. In addition to electricity generation, the plant allows accumulation of the thermal energy losses arising from power regulation for their further use in heating and hot water supply.
“The application of nature-like technologies in the energy sector is an important step towards creating greener and more efficient energy installations. These technologies borrow ideas from nature to adapt and optimize mechanisms to improve their performance. National Research University MPEI is actively working on such projects, and our scientists are constantly looking for the ways to improve energy equipment. This will not only raise the energy generation efficiency but also reduce a negative environmental impact”, – MPEI quotes Rector Nikolai Rogalev.
Biomimicry is a field of engineering which draws nature-inspired ideas to find technical solutions – it is gaining more and more popularity among hydropower equipment suppliers. For example, BladeRunner Energy has created a small hydropower plant whose rotor looks like fish: with a small head, an expanding body and a puffy tail. A steel cable attaches the rotor to the floating platform housing a static generator, power electronics and a storage battery. The hydropower plant uses the energy of natural flow of water for electricity generation and does not require construction of a dam.
The need to supply isolated settlements is also driving the developments suitable for usage in stagnant bodies of water. In particular, VerdErg has created a mini-hydropower plant resembling a Venturi tube used to measure velocity of gases and liquids. such a design with an inlet cone having a turbine installed in it, a narrowed middle in which the water flow accelerates and an expanding diffuser in which the water flow slows down – provides high pressure in the tube and allows electricity generation from a relatively small water volume.
