SUBSEA TECHNOLOGY
The WITT could transform how
we power subsea equipment
SMARTSUBSEA POWER T
Martin Wickett explains how his firm’s novel energy harvesting solution could have a huge impact on subsea operations
he WITT (Whatever Input to Torsion Transfer) energy device converts chaotic motion in six degrees of freedom to a single
unidirectional output, which can be coupled to a generator to provide electrical power. Te WITT system is described as follows:
“Contained within a sealed unit, a
WITT uses two pendulums connected to a flywheel to generate electricity. Movement causes the pendulums to swing, they are attached to a shaft that then turns a flywheel in one direction. Te flywheel is connected to a generator, which produces electricity. Te unit harvests chaotic motion, fast, slow or erratic, turning it into useable power. Te company claims that no other device captures energy from all six degrees of motion. Where most energy harvesting devices are point absorbers, taking up-and-down or side-to-side motion and turning it into useable power, the WITT takes all motion.” (WITT, 2018) Although the WITT device can have multiple uses, such as harvesting human or animal motion. However, the subsea
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application that WITT is focused on now is small-scale power generation for subsea electronics, particularly where the replacement of battery packs is an expensive offshore activity requiring remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and their supporting ships and crew. WITT and Solis Marine recently
Real-world tank testing recently took place at Solent University
worked together on an Innovate UK award. Te fruits of this collaboration can be seen in a WITT system that is approximately 250mm and is capable of generating 5W. It requires movement to generate power. Te ideal operating point is an amplitude of up to 100mm with a frequency of 2Hz. Larger systems will require lower frequency, but amplitude would be larger. Te power output and target frequency is tunable within the device by changing the internal pendulum mass distribution. To achieve these target operating conditions for the WITT generator, vortex induced vibration (VIV) was chosen to drive the system. Te design philosophy was to develop something simple and scalable, that could be deployed cost effectively. A patent has been filed and is now pending. WITT
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