PLIANT ENERGY SYSTEMS INC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 14c

Description

The opportunity being addressed is harnessing the kinetic energy flowing through streams and rivers to power a pump using a highly novel mechanical approach that has not been attempted before. The first product envisaged is a simple pump which draws both water and energy from a flowing water source to irrigate crops. If the irrigation pump is successful the overall concept will be proven, and a range of other applications should be achievable. For example, a low‐volume/high pressure version for desalination, and an electricity generator in which a fluid is recirculated through a compact, on‐board turbine. Potential benefits include using water power instead of CO2 and pollution‐emitting power sources for irrigation and other pumping needs, especially in off‐grid areas where diesel or gasoline‐powered pumps are currently used. If the pump can be fabricated at a low enough cost, the global social and economic impact could be substantial in developing regions of the world, and the market potential huge. The TWH Pump is a low‐tech, high concept mechanism that requires no special materials or processes to fabricate. The TWH Pump’s pumping action is achieved via long undulating fins coupled to bellows or pistons. Water flowing over the fins’ pre‐strained sinusoidal deformations induces differential water pressures. The differential water pressures cause the deformations to travel in the direction of water flow, sequentially expanding and contracting the bellows. The fins are able to exert surprisingly high torques due to their peculiar pre‐strained undulating shape, as recently demonstrated by company’s Velox swimming robot. Phase I will involve numerical modeling of components and system, component sourcing, and a small amount of custom fabrication. Bench testing and iterative design improvements will precede tow‐ testing of a scaled prototype to measure pump volume and pressures achieved, and overall system behavior and performance in a flow environment. If successful, the very high novelty of the mechanical approach will likely inspire others to explore unfamiliar solutions that can be applied to the field of mechanical engineering.