Diffusing a Super Cyclone by- degrading it to a normal oceanic depression! Like “Taming a wild elephant”
Challenge Statement
How to diffuse Super cyclone by degrading it to a normal oceanic
depression in a cost effective and sustainable way while producing cleaner Wind
Energy in India?
Super cyclone and its horrific impacts are well known especially
for those residing in coastal areas of India. Now a days, the Met department is
somewhat accurately able to monitor and forecast the cyclones using satellite
data and advanced technologies. Its formation, movements and timing etc. are
closely being tracked, but the focus is somehow to manage the cyclone and its
impacts after it makes a landfall. There is no step that has been taken in the
direction to reduce the intensity before it becomes a super cyclone. Can we
somehow diffuse the cyclone by reducing its intensity or change its direction
such that the life and financial damage is minimized, or can it be broken down
into multiple smaller parts so that the intensity is reduced. Longer, the cyclone
remains above sea it captures more moisture and its intensity increases. Can
somehow it be pushed towards the nearest land area by changing its direction so
that it loses its power, or can its kinetic power be preserved or transformed
for normal human usage. Unfortunately, no such major scientific breakthrough
has been achieved so far in this direction.
You may please read my previous blog on Super cyclone to
know more about the challenge and why the issue is still not solved by clicking
below link:
Metaphor - Like "Taming a wild elephant"
Especially wind elephants may become aggressive when
sick, injured, or harassed. Once they are aggressive they make major
destruction. There are several practices by which a wild elephant can be tamed
for domestication. Though its difficult but once you tame this mammoth it
becomes extremely beneficial and useful for several purposes.
Like wild elephant, a super cyclone or hurricane should also be
controlled and used a means to make useful and profitable business models.
Brainstorming and Idea formation
With some web surfing and brain storming with friends, colleagues,
classmates and family members, selected ideas were plotted in the below 2X2
chart. Among these possible solutions the Windmill farms in
the ocean deep water is chosen for further experimentation.
Solution
- Windmill farms in the ocean deep water.
Story Board Picture (Before and After)
Looks-like Prototype
Picture - Prototype -1
In picture offshore deep water conventional windmills.
Picture -2
One Day Experiment
(a) What will you do?
- Connect with the Japanese company who claims to develop the breakthrough windmill technology which can withstand and diffuse the
hurricanes (Website
- https://challenergy.com/en/products.html | (contact@challenergy.com|)
to get the product specification, quote, success stories and demo. More details on this article -
- Lab demo, similar to this one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhKrGF3foaM&feature=youtu.be
- Cross verify with scientists and industry experts to confirm the feasibility.
- Connect with Indian wind turbine manufacturer association (IWTMA) to check the technological superiority over the conventional windmills and find out possible advancement of technology in Indian context from scalability and sustainability perspective.
(b) What hypothesis will it test?
Some of the leap of faith assumptions that I would like to
test are:
- The advanced windmills will withstand the wind speed of 500 km/h (super cyclone - 250 km/h)
- The advanced windmills will reduce more than 50% of the power of the cyclone by converting kinetic energy to electric energy.
- We will be able to procure windmills (from the Japanese manufacturer) or manufacture in-house the advanced windmills which will not only produce more energy but also would reduce the impact of cyclones or hurricanes.
- 500 windmills should be sufficient to safe guard the Indian east coast
- In India, 5 State govt, central govt and private players will agree to on board in a PPP model.
Out of these I will focus on the top two hypotheses for the "one-day experiment".
(c) Cost of experiment?
For validating the success stories, need to reach out the
company its successful customers, scientist, expert etc. No initial expenses
required.
(d) How will you measure the success?
I think this would be the most challenging part as how one
can prove after the cyclone, the impact has really reduced or not due to the turbines. During the one day experiment, specifically need
to check how this is measured in Japan currently.
- What are the Lab KPIs used to measure ?
- No industry standards are currently available to measure the success of the windmill turbines towards reducing the cyclones. However there are evidences of its success, so together with Met department the industry standards need to be formulated.
Thanks for Reading, please provide your valuable feedback to improve.
Sambit has focused on a very grave issue, which is handled in a much better way by developed countries such as Japan. While, the solution looks feasible and practical, especially considering the fact that a country such as India does not have any ways and means to control cyclone/ hurricane/ Typhoons. I do understand that the speed, agility and strength of a Cyclone varies significantly and could be devastating, but this idea/ technology could provide a fair solution if not cure it 100%. The good part is that developed world has worked upon this issue and tried to counter with a combined efforts of technology and human intelligence. The one day test seems a bit tricky as this idea needs a much deeper testing capabilities. I agree that we could explore technology to understand it impact. The idea could have focused more on a prototype in terms of implementation, challenges etc. as this is definitely a big infra project, which needs to be evaluated from all the perspective (economic and non-economic). Overall, a good idea and series of thoughts to substantiate its implementation. Good work Sambit!
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