nymphaea by zichao chen from singapore

My project, Nymphaea, examines the possibilities where energy harvesting, high-density living and fish farming could co-exist to form synergistic relationships between them. A new lifestyle is proposed in the future where we all live underwater!

Nymphaea would be largely depend on energy harvested from water currents which range from speeds of 1.74m/s to 3.1m/s on average1. VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibrations Aquatic Clean Energy) 2 is a machine that effectively convert slow moving water currents with speed as low as 0.51m/s into energy. Currently, most aquatic turbines require wave speed of at least 2.57m/s to operate. Professor Michael Bernitsas, from University of Michigan, revealed that a one and a half square kilometer field of these cylinders, combined with water current at 1.54m/s could yield enough energy to serve 100,000 homes.

In the master plan, a series of walls are built to create channels of varying widths for the water currents to flow through. Based on the idea of how the Venturi effect worked, the water currents would increase in velocity upon flowing through a constricted section, thus increasing the efficiency of the VIVACE devices. Effectively, the distribution of Nymphaea units corresponds with areas having faster current speeds. Development can grow in a similar manner, having areas of higher density concentrated nearer to the constricted channels and gradually spreading outwards.