Milestones
Milestones in the evolution of the VIVACE converter from invention to Oscylator-4. In the third column R indicates major reaserch, D indicates development success.
| # | Date | Milestone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 2005-2006 | Invention; patent application; introduction at the OMAE-2006 Conference | |
| 02 | 2006-2007 | R | Proof of concept and MRELab tests in Low Turbulence Free Surface Water (LTFSW) Channel |
| 03 | 2006-2009 | Systematic tests in MRELab on one cylinder Flow Induced Vibrations (FIV). Back-to-back VIV and galloping enable open-ended, high-response oscillations | |
| 04 | 2008-2009 | Towing tank tests, University of Michigan: large cylinders in critical and post-critical flows | |
| 05 | 2009-2011 | R | Map of Passive Turbulence Control to FIM. Enabled selective triggering of FIM and early onset of galloping, right after VIV, resulting in open-ended high-amplitude response |
| 06 | Aug 2010 | D | First field-tests - two horizontal cylinders in tandem in the St. Clair River |
| 07 | 2009-2015 | 1st and 2nd generation of virtual oscillator | |
| 08 | 2011 | Galloping response with more than 4-diameter amplitude with vertical cylinders in towing tank | |
| 09 | 2010-2012 | Holistic approach to studying multi-body synergistic FIV in the MRELab | |
| 10 | 2009-2013 | Developed dedicated CFD codes, verified and validated, to complement experimental research particularly in flow-visualization and interaction between shear layers, vortices, and bodies | |
| 11 | Sep 2012 | 2nd field-test - one vertical cylinder in the St. Clair River | |
| 12 | Dec 2012 | 3rd field test - canals in The Netherlands with shorter cylinders in non-uniform flow | |
| 13 | Jan 2013 | 4th field test in canals in The Netherlands with shorter cylinders in non-uniform flow | |
| 14 | 2012-2013 | Rebuilt LTFSW Channel with deeper test section allowing up to 5 diameters amplitude | |
| 15 | 2015 | Improved laser visualization with high-speed camera with video post-processing. | |
| 16 | 2015 | R | Proved that two cylinders in synergistic FIV produce 2.7-7.5 times the power of a single isolated cylinder |
| 17 | Jun-Sep 2016 | D | Oscylator-4 tested for three months in the St. Clair River. Four vertical cylinders in galloping. Proven good durability: TRL6 to TRL7 |
| 18 | 2016 | R | Three-cylinder synergy proving that three cylinders in synergistic FIV produce 3.4-over 5 times the power of a single isolated cylinder |
| 19 | 2015-2017 | R | Achieved fluid-structure-space interaction to make VIVACE a real 3-D converter of high power-to-volume ratio |
| 20 | Immediate Future | In this project, redesign Oscylator-4 as Oscylator-4B for quick-deployment/retrieval, low-cost maintenance, durability, reconciliation of power and efficiency optima. | |
| 21 | Next step | VHE is in search of industrial partner for more efficient commercialization |