BUILDING THE FRAMEWORK FOR HURRICANE CHASER---A CONCEPTUAL WIND-ENERGY HARVESTING VEHICLE Talking and Walking Sustainability Conference, NZSSES 2007 By Dr. Donald D. Liou University of North Carolina at Charlotte U. S. A.
2004, A Year of Record Hurricanes • 27 named hurricanes, including Katrina, Rita and Wilma • Katrina killed more than 1, 000 people, and left New Orleans in ruin (the most costliest in US) • Wind of Wilma reached 185 miles per hour (87 m/s) at sea, and 120 miles (54 m/s) per hour at land • A continuation of hurricane baby-boom since 1995 (at least 9 out of 12 past seasons) • An indication of the grim possibility that global warming is making the storms stronger
A Satellite Image of Katrina Near Miami Florida
Common Characteristics of Hurricanes • Like smoke up in a chimney, send moist air from warm ocean (80 F or 29 C) toward frigid upper atmosphere (50, 000 ft or 15, 000 m or more) • Wide span (650 miles or 1, 040 km across) • Slow moving (Eye speed=15 -20 mph or 7 -9 m/s) • Long duration (up to 1 week) • Fuelled by warm water supply • Packed with power (Average=1. 5 trillion watts, half of world’s electricity generating capacity) • Die after landfall
Wind Energy As A Renewable Energy Source in USA
Factors in Favor of Developing Hurricane Chasers • Meteorological hurricane scales are well-defined (Saffir-Simpson Scales 1 -5), which provide good reference points • Improvements in forecast of hurricanes (23 mph or 10 m/s error in wind-speed, 70 miles or 112 km in 1 -day forecast of storm position) • Re-emergence of utility-scale wind-power industry in US • Offshore wind-power farm projects in Europe • Bush administration is in need of a domestic agenda
Some Data from Offshore Wind Farms • Europe lead the world in development • Mainly in Baltic and North Sea • London Array in Thames Estuary to have 1, 000 WM, using 3 MW turbines • Cost in 2006 was $3, 000 per MW • Issues include cost of offshore installation, availability and volatility in material prices, capricious offshore environment
A Possible Hurricane Chaser Configuration?
Concept of a Hurricane Chaser • Similar to commercial fishing or whaling ships • Design for long voyage (30 days) in rough ocean (18 ft or 5. 5 m storm surge) and strong wind (155 mph or 70 m/s) • Capable of carrying and operating large rotor (128 -157 ft long), high tower (400 -500 ft tall), utility-scale (1. 5 megawatt) machines • Can follow hurricanes like a 15 th-century armada followed trade winds
Full Pressure-efficiency Chart of Air Compressor
Partial Pressure-Efficiency Chart of Air Compressor
Average Eye Speed of Katrina
Framework for the Conceptual Wind-energy Harvester • • • An un-orthodox design paradigm Re-configuring existing wind turbines Define basic vehicular configuration Define performance specifications Translating meteorological data to navigation guides • Searching for suitable materials • Develop power storage and distribution systems
Conclusions • • Hurricane chaser concept introduced Factors for development favorable The political timing for development fair Open up a new technological front for competition • Potential for a new industry to emerge • Any questions?
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