Kinocil is a pioneering wave energy converter that utilizes Pascal's principle and the self-leveling effect of interconnected fluid-filled cylinders to harness the kinetic energy of ocean waves. Our design bypasses the need for complex and expensive mooring systems or permanent structures, significantly reducing costs and environmental impact. The device captures energy through dynamic linear motion generated by the movement of fluid within the cylinders. This motion is then converted into electricity using highly efficient Wells turbines. As a scalable and modular solution, Kinocil offers a sustainable and cost-effective approach to renewable energy, with successful prototype tests showcasing its potential for real-world applications and scalability.
Overview
Why Wave Energy?
Oceans have the capacity to power the entire world sustainably. Among various renewable energy sources, wave energy remains largely untapped, despite its estimated theoretical potential of 41,300 MW in India alone. The primary challenge has been creating effective relative motion between the energy extraction mechanism and ocean waves in open water.
Existing Approaches and Gaps
Wave energy has been studied for centuries, but its vast potential remains underutilized due to the lack of efficient and practical wave energy conversion systems. Existing technologies include:
- Point Absorber: Limited by variations in wave heights and directions, making consistent energy conversion challenging.
- Attenuator: Involves high costs and complex mooring requirements, which restrict widespread adoption.
- Oscillating Water Column (OWC): Faces low efficiency and structural challenges in harsh marine environments.
- Overtopping Device: Requires large, costly structures that are difficult to maintain.
- Oscillating Wave Surge Converter: Struggles with mechanical complexity and durability issues in rough sea conditions. These challenges inspire our mission to transform wave energy into a viable and efficient source of power.
Our Solution
Kinocil addresses these challenges by eliminating the need for permanent structures or mooring, thereby reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. Leveraging Pascal's principle and the self-leveling effect of water, our interconnected fluid-filled cylinders capture the kinetic energy of ocean waves. This energy is then converted into electricity via Wells turbines, which efficiently translate the dynamic linear motion of the fluid within the tanks into usable power.
Design Process
Our initial goal was to develop a concept that didn’t rely on permanent structures for energy extraction. Drawing inspiration from ancient water leveling devices, we created a prototype using plastic bottles connected by tubes. This early test was promising but revealed that the water flow rate between tanks was too slow. Our calculations showed that using tanks and tubes of the same diameter improved water movement, leading us to construct a new prototype that performed more effectively. We then enhanced the design with floats to serve as a power take-off mechanism, but efficiency remained suboptimal. Further testing in a dry environment showed an efficiency of over 65%, outperforming many existing wave energy systems. In collaboration with industry leaders like Mocean, we identified the Wells turbine as a highly efficient solution for power conversion. We are currently testing the Wells turbine in a mini tank to validate its efficiency before scaling up.
What Sets Us Apart
Traditional wave energy converters typically require costly permanent structures or mooring systems. Our design, however, harnesses the relative motion between fluid-filled tanks floating on ocean waves, eliminating the need for such infrastructure and reducing costs significantly. Additionally, our power take-off system is a major differentiator. Unlike other platforms, such as Pelamis, that rely on inefficient hydraulic systems, Kinocil supports a variety of power take-off mechanisms, including the highly efficient Wells turbines. This innovative approach combines cost-effective design with maximum energy conversion efficiency, making Kinocil a scalable and environmentally friendly solution for ocean wave energy.
Our Achievements
Our Partner
Future Plan
Our immediate goal is to test our prototype with the Wells turbine in a wave flume tank and produce a comprehensive validation report. Following this, we plan to build a 100-watt prototype for further testing in real ocean conditions. Within the next three years, we aim to scale up to a 10 kW system capable of powering five homes, advancing Kinocil towards broader commercial viability.