Additionally, as the hulls wrap around the end of the central island, they create another beginner wave. As seen in the image above, the primary wave reforms into an open face wave before breaking again along both sides of the pool. In addition to the primary waves on the linear channels, which will generally target intermediate and advanced surfers, smaller secondary waves will be simultaneously generated for beginners at the end pools. That could be a good mix between the shorter Wavegarden Cove waves (like URBNSURF and The Wave in Bristol) and the leg burners produced by KWSC. However, Webber Wave Pools says that the main wave provides roughly 20-second rides. The length of ride on the main is directly correlated to the length of the pool, so it will vary based on the installation.
WEBBER POOL FULL
It will be interesting to see their first full scale installation, no doubt. Webber Wave Pools has a patent on their method for creating kelvin wave, and they’ve successfully defended it against the Kelly Slater Wave Co.
Kelvin waves tend to produce rounder barrels. In the images below, you can see drawings that Greg Webber did to compare the shape of a kelvin wave (left) to a soliton (right). The soliton based wave pools seem to create a conical tube which means that it is hard to ride deep, whereas the kelvin waves seen in the river tests run by Greg and his team appear more cylindrical even without a reverse current. Similarly, increasing hull speed, trim angle and draft, while creating a current that flows toward the barrel will cause the barrel to open up wide and deeper. For example, slowing a hull down or decreasing its angle and draft will result in a smaller wave. The shape of the primary wave is variable based on the operators control over the hull speed, angle, depth and current. Webber’s field testing of waves at 1 meter and statements from the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania support this claim. However, Greg Webber is confident that the technology can produce waves 2 meters (6.5 feet) high on the face of the wave and we’ve seen other similar technologies from KSWC and Wavegarden do the same. Without a full scale prototype, it’s difficult to be sure how large the wave will be at Webber Wave Pool installations. The patent for the current control system was recently granted at the PCT stage, which then gives Webber another 19 years of IP protection on this patent. The same water jets can also be used to create currents that change the shape of the waves. To counter this, Webber Wave Pools has a patented method for countering the current with water jets. Generating waves in any closed body of water creates currents that can lead to unwanted turbulence and water movements that adversely affect wave shape or increase pool settling time. In theory it would possible to create an infinite number of wave breaking patterns which then would solve one of the apparent shortcomings of existing wave pool technologies where the waves are almost identical from one to the next. Adjustments to these three factors result in immediate changes to the wave size and shape as the hulls moves around the island.
WEBBER POOL SOFTWARE
The software used by the operator provides real-time control over the hull trim angle, draft, and speed of each carriage. The carriages can run around the island in either directions and the hull angles can be reversed allowing the wave pool to create rights or lefts. Each carriage is propelled by its own electric motors which turns monorail wheels that drive the carriage along the track. Each hull is attached to a carriage that is suspended underneath a steal rail track that runs around the island. Depending on the size of the wave pool, up to 4 hulls are driven around the central island. The overall shape of the pool is a looped system comprised of two semi-circular ends joined by two linear gradients separated by an elongated island. Whether this factor is critical or not, is yet to be seen at full scale but field testing in rivers at 1m do seem to indicate a more open tube on kelvin waves. It’s somewhat similar to Wavegarden Lagoon and KWSC technology, but both of those systems create a soliton wave which has no trough in front of the wave. Webber Wave Pool technology creates a kelvin wave, which tends to have a trough preceding the crest. The swells then travel towards the shallower linear gradient where they break in the same way as do waves along a point break. Webber Wave Pool technology creates waves by moving boat-like hulls through the water which displace water and create swells like a boat wake.
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