Laminar Scientific LLC

Laminar Scientific LLC is a US-based startup company that strives to design and develop efficient and low-cost wave energy and marine transport technologies. Our five pending patents are currently undergoing prototyping and testing for efficiency and viability, and our initial tests have shown increased efficiency compared to existing mechanisms. Laminar is currently seeking partnerships and investors.

The unique challenge of oceanic wave motion lies in its multi-directionality, unlike other energy sources such as wind that flows in a general direction for a more sustained period of time. Furthermore, existing methods of energy extraction and storage are designed for a unidirectional input motion. For instance, energy storage methods such as flywheels can only accept unidirectional motion, and batteries can only be charged with DC current; electric generators do not produce efficient electrical energy when bi-directional motion is inputted, especially with a fluctuating frequency. As such, many prior wave energy methods only utilize motion in a preferred direction, and block motion in the undesired direction from being transmitted to the energy extraction/storage methods, which results in wasted energy production potential. On the other hand, one of our most prominent inventions: the alternating to direct motion converter (ADMC) with weight based collapsible teeth, seeks to solve the multi-directionality issue by converting bi-directional motion to unidirectional motion without motion blockage.

Laminar’s ADMC mechanism is expected to be more efficient and cheaper to build than similar existing methods. Laminar's systems generally consist of two main components: the wave interface and the alternating to direct motion converter. The wave interface converts multidirectional, sporadic oceanic motion to bidirectional motion, which is subsequently converted into unidirectional motion through the ADMC, which may then be used to generate or store energy through a mechanism of the user’s choice. Our marine transport systems also use the ADMC to attain usable motion for electrical energy conversion from the vertical components of wave motion while shielding passengers from turbulence. Current bench tests show proof of concept and increased efficiency compared to existing mechanical solutions, and Laminar will soon be proceeding with testing in a state-of-the-art towing tank.