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PRIMRE/Databases/Projects Database/Devices/InCurrent Turbines Vortex Power Drives
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InCurrent Turbines Vortex Power Drives
The Vortex Power Drives worldwide patented design builds on the innovation and initiative of the Wright brothers by bringing biomimicry to the oceans. Over hundreds of millions of years fish have utilized vortex formation and shedding to extract energy from the oceans in the form of movement. The Vortex Power Drive extracts energy from moving water the same way fish swim, by using Mother Nature's design we can cost effectively extract energy from all ocean currents, even those previously thought to be uneconomical. The Vortex Power Drive is designed to extract energy from moving fluids like ocean currents and rivers. The Drive acts similar to swimming fish and extracts the energy in an oscillating fashion like the piston of an engine. The Drive is mounted on a center shaft allowing free 360 degree rotation in response to changes in flow orientation. They are mounted one on top of another using the entire water column, with each Drive adding its extraction energy to the group. The entire group of Drives has only three moving parts and are connected to the support superstructure using marine grade bearings designed for 20+ year maintenance cycles.
Device Status
Is the device actively being developed or is available for purchase (active)? Or has development or support ended (inactive)?
Inactive
Technology Type
Power Take-Off
Mechanism that converts the motion of the prime mover into a useful form of energy such as electricity, learn more
Direct Drive Generator
Surface ExpressionFalse
Estimated TRL
Estimated Technology Readiness Level scale from 1 to 9 with 9 being the most mature technology
TRL Last updated: 26 October 2022
3
Energy Resource
- Ocean Current
Water Column Position
Surface
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Submerged - Mid
Entire Water Column
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Submerged - Bottom
Last Modified
13 June 2025
Citation Formats
“InCurrent Turbines Vortex Power Drives.” Marine Energy Projects Database: Devices, PRIMRE, United States Department of Energy, https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Devices/InCurrent_Turbines_Vortex_Power_Drives. Accessed <day> <monthRoman> <year>.
Marine Energy Projects Database: Devices. <year>. "InCurrent Turbines Vortex Power Drives." Accessed <monthRoman> <day>, <year>. https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Devices/InCurrent_Turbines_Vortex_Power_Drives.
