Capturing Extreme Volume/Force from Low Speed Water Flows
Para-Anchors
Para-anchors are heavy duty, marine grade parachutes capable of maximum traction when in water. Mariners around the world use them for sport, vessel control, and emergency situations. They are commonly used to slow, stabilize and steer vessels from sailboats to large ships, however, deploying a Para-anchor into a passing flow can create immense potential energy for conversion into kinetic energy.
Don Wilden, president of Para-Tech Sea Anchor reports that a 9-foot sea anchor is capable of generating approximately 2000 lbs. of drag when towed at just 2.3 mph!
Fiorentino Para-Anchor, leading manufacturer of Para-anchors in the US reports similar tow test data. Lead engineer Zack Smith, deigns heavy duty applications for NASA, SpaceX and the Coast Guard. He has also documented of the energy Para-anchors can harness and provides probono support for our project!
Our 44 inch prototype collector generates 47 lbs. of pull force from water flows of approximately 1.018 f/s.
Our paper published by Dr. Valsecchi in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics shows how kilowatts of power are possible from low speed water flows using Para-anchor technology.
Our technology can convert low speed flows into high torque rotation! Horsepower! We are now working with Zack Smith, to fine tune our prototype water pistons.
To see more sea anchor drag test data please visit http://para-anchor.com/reports/report152.pdf
Photo courtesy of Fiorentino