Stephen Salter
Encyclopedia
Stephen Hugh Salter is Emeritus Professor of Engineering Design at the University of Edinburgh
and inventor of the eponymous Salter duck wave energy
device. Salter is also a proponent of geoengineering
and is responsible for creating the concept of the mechanical enhancement of clouds to achieve cloud reflectivity enhancement
.
The wide tank at the University of Edinburgh — a novel design and invention by Stephen Salter, built in 1977 — was the world's first multi-directional wave tank
equipped with absorbing wavemakers. Feedback
control system
s on the wavemaking flaps were used for the absorption of reflected waves
, propagating along the water surface of the tank interior towards the 89 flaps.
Stephen Salter is a Specialist Advisor at wave energy company Aquamarine Power
advising on the development of the Oyster wave energy converter
.
Salter was appointed MBE
in the 2004 Birthday Honours
for services to engineering.
was begun in the 1970s by Stephen Salter, in response to the Oil Crisis
. His 1974 invention
became known as Salter's Duck or Nodding Duck, although it was officially referred to as the Edinburgh Duck. In small scale controlled tests, the Duck's curved cam-like body can stop 90% of wave motion and can convert 90% of that to electricity. According to sworn testimony before the House of Parliament, The UK Wave Energy programme was shut down on 19 March 1982, in a closed meeting. An analysis of Salter's Duck resulted in a miscalculation of the estimated cost of energy production by a factor of 10, an error which was only recently identified. Some wave power advocates believe that this error, combined with a general lack of enthusiasm for renewable energy in the 1980s (after oil prices fell), hindered the advancement of wave power technology.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and inventor of the eponymous Salter duck wave energy
Wave power
Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work — for example, electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water...
device. Salter is also a proponent of geoengineering
Geoengineering
The concept of Geoengineering refers to the deliberate large-scale engineering and manipulation of the planetary environment to combat or counteract anthropogenic changes in atmospheric chemistry The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in 2007 that geoengineering options, such...
and is responsible for creating the concept of the mechanical enhancement of clouds to achieve cloud reflectivity enhancement
Cloud reflectivity enhancement
Cloud reflectivity enhancement is also known as 'marine cloud brightening' or 'cloud whitening' on low cloud. An opposite scheme exists to reduce the reflectivity of higher, colder cirrus clouds. It is a geoengineering technique that works by solar radiation management. By modifying the...
.
The wide tank at the University of Edinburgh — a novel design and invention by Stephen Salter, built in 1977 — was the world's first multi-directional wave tank
Wave tank
A wave tank is a laboratory setup for observing the behavior of surface waves. The typical wave tank is a deep and narrow, transparent-sided box filled with liquid, usually water, leaving open or air-filled space on top. At one end of the tank an actuator generates waves; the other end usually...
equipped with absorbing wavemakers. Feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
control system
Control system
A control system is a device, or set of devices to manage, command, direct or regulate the behavior of other devices or system.There are two common classes of control systems, with many variations and combinations: logic or sequential controls, and feedback or linear controls...
s on the wavemaking flaps were used for the absorption of reflected waves
Reflection (physics)
Reflection is the change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two differentmedia so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it originated. Common examples include the reflection of light, sound and water waves...
, propagating along the water surface of the tank interior towards the 89 flaps.
Stephen Salter is a Specialist Advisor at wave energy company Aquamarine Power
Aquamarine Power
Aquamarine Power is a wave energy company, which was founded in 2005 to commercialise a wave energy device concept known as the Oyster wave energy converter. The company's head offices are based in Edinburgh...
advising on the development of the Oyster wave energy converter
Oyster wave energy converter
The Oyster is a hydro-electric wave energy device that uses the motion of ocean waves to generate electricity. It is made up of a Power Connector Frame , which is bolted to the seabed, and a Power Capture Unit . The PCU is a hinged buoyant flap that moves back and forth with movement of the waves...
.
Salter was appointed MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 2004 Birthday Honours
2004 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2004 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 12 June 2004 to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2004.The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged firstly by the country whose ministers advised the Queen on the...
for services to engineering.
Salter's Duck
While historic references to the power of waves do exist, the modern scientific pursuit of wave energyWave power
Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work — for example, electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water...
was begun in the 1970s by Stephen Salter, in response to the Oil Crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
. His 1974 invention
1974 in science
The year 1974 in science and technology involved some significant events, listed below.-Astronomy and space exploration:* February 8 - After 84 days in space, the last crew of the temporary American space station Skylab return to Earth....
became known as Salter's Duck or Nodding Duck, although it was officially referred to as the Edinburgh Duck. In small scale controlled tests, the Duck's curved cam-like body can stop 90% of wave motion and can convert 90% of that to electricity. According to sworn testimony before the House of Parliament, The UK Wave Energy programme was shut down on 19 March 1982, in a closed meeting. An analysis of Salter's Duck resulted in a miscalculation of the estimated cost of energy production by a factor of 10, an error which was only recently identified. Some wave power advocates believe that this error, combined with a general lack of enthusiasm for renewable energy in the 1980s (after oil prices fell), hindered the advancement of wave power technology.