Tidal Energy

Energy from the moon

Tides generated by the combination of the moon and suns gravitational forces Greatest affect in spring when moon and sun combine forces Bays and inlets amplify the height of the tide In order to be practical for energy production, the height difference needs to be at least 5 meters Only 40 sites around the world of this magnitude Overall potential of 3000 gigawatts from movement of tides

How it works
First generation, barrage-style tidal power plants Works by building Barrage to contain water after high tide, then water has to pass through a turbine to return to low tide Sites in France (La Rance), Canada (Annapolis), and Russia Future sites possibly on Severn River in England, San Francisco bay, Passamaquoddy

Second-generation tidal power plants

Barrage not need, limiting total costs Two types- vertical axis and horizontal axis Davis Hydro turbine.. Successfully tested in St. Lawrence Seaway Harness the energy of tidal streams More efficient because they allow for energy production on both the ebbing and surging tides One site has potential to equal the generating power of 3 nuclear power plants

disadvantages
Presently costly
Expensive to build and maintain A 1085MW facility could cost as much as 1.2 billion dollars to construct and run

Connection to the grid Technology is not fully developed Barrage style only produces energy for about 10 hours out of the day Barrage style has environmental affects
Such as fish and plant migration Silt deposits Local tides change- affects still under study

Advantages
No pollution Renewable resource More efficient than wind because of the density of water Predictable source of energy vs. wind and solar Second generation has very few disadvantages
Does not affect wildlife Does not affect silt deposits Less costly both in building and maintenance

Wave Power

Wave Facts

Waves are caused by a number of forces, i.e. wind, gravitational pull from the sun and moon, changes in atmospheric pressure, earthquakes etc. Waves created by wind are the most common waves. Unequal heating of the Earths surface generates wind, and wind blowing over water generates waves. This energy transfer results in a concentration of the energy involved: the initial solar power level of about 1 kW/m2 is concentrated to an average wave power level of 70kW/m of crest length. This figure rises to an average of 170 kW/m of crest length during the winter, and to more than 1 MW/m during storms. Wave energy performance measures are characterized by diffuse energy, enormous forces during storms, and variation over wide range in wave size, length, period, and direction. Wave energy is an irregular and oscillating low-frequency energy source that must be converted to a 60-Hertz frequency before it can be added to the electric utility grid.

World Wave Power Resources

World Energy Council 2001 Survey stated the "potential exploitable wave energy" resources worldwide to be 2 TW. For European waters the resource was estimated to be able to cover more than 50% of the total power consumption. The wave market is estimated at $32 billion in the United Kingdom and $800 billion worldwide. The United States has exhibited weak effort compared to overseas projects in Norway, Denmark, Japan and the United Kingdom. As of 1995, 685 kilowatts (kW) of grid-connected wave generating capacity was operating worldwide. This capacity comes from eight demonstration plants ranging in size from 350 kW to 20 kW.

Wave Power Designs

Although many wave energy devices have been invented, only a small proportion have been tested and evaluated. Only a few of these have been tested at sea, in ocean waves, rather than in artificial wave tanks. Large scale offshore devices and small scale shoreline devices have been ocean tested. The total power of waves breaking on the world's coastlines is estimated at 2 to 3 million megawatts. In favorable locations, wave energy density can average 65 megawatts per mile of coastline.

Oscillating Water Columns (OWC) These devices generate electricity from the wave-driven rise and fall of water in a cylindrical shaft. The rising and falling water column drives air into and out of the top of the shaft, powering an air-driven turbine. Floats or Pitching Devices These devices generate electricity from the bobbing or pitching action of a floating object. The object can be mounted to a floating raft or to a device fixed on the ocean floor. Wave Surge or Focusing Devices These shoreline devices, also called "tapered channel" systems, rely on a shore-mounted structure to channel and concentrate the waves, driving them into an elevated reservoir. These focusing surge devices are sizable barriers that channel large waves to increase wave height for redirection into elevated reservoirs.

Oscillating Water Columns

The Nearshore OWC rests directly on the seabed and is designed to operate in the near-shore environment in a nominal mean water depth of 15m. Nearshore OWC units also act like artificial reefs, improving environments for fishing while calming the water for a harbor. Since 1965, Japan has installed hundreds of OWC-powered navigational buoys and is currently operating two small demonstration OWC power plants. China constructed a 3 kW OWC and India has a 150 kW OWC caisson breakwater device.

Floating Devices

The Salter Duck, Clam, Archimedes wave swing, and other floating wave energy devices generate electricity through the harmonic motion of the floating part of the device. In these systems, the devices rise and fall according to the motion of the wave and electricity is generated through their motion. The Salter Duck is able to produce energy very efficiently,.

Tapered Channel Wave Power

. The kinetic energy of the moving wave is converted into potential energy as the water is stored in the reservoir. The water then passes through hydroelectric turbines on the way back to sea level thus generating electricity.

Turbine Overview
Gearbox Increase rotational speed of shaft from turbine 80-95% efficient Powertrain or Drivetrain

Generator and Power Conditioning Generate electricity Condition electricity for grid interconnection Turns at high RPM 95-98% efficient

Rotor Extracts power from flow Turns at low RPM Efficiency varies with flow velocity (45% max)

Foundation Secure turbine to seabed Resist drag on support structure and thrust on rotor

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Marine Current Turbines (MCT)

Power train Horizontal axis (2 bladed) Planetary gearbox Induction generator Rated from 1.2 2.5 MW Monopile drilled or driven into seabed Two turbines per pile

Foundation

Maintenance

Lifting mechanism pulls turbine out of water for servicing

Development

Large Scale
(18 m diameter)

3 years of testing prototype in UK 1.5 MW demonstration planned for installation in 2006/2007 Conceptual fully submerged units
002,09-07-06,SNOPUD.ppt

philosophy with an emphasis on a bulletproof design

Lunar Energy
Power train Horizontal axis (ducted) Hydraulic gearbox Induction generator Rated at 2 MW Gravity foundation using concrete and aggregate

Foundation

Maintenance

Heavy-lift crane barge recovers cassette with all moving parts

Large Scale
(21 m diameter inlet) Development Tank testing Nearing end of design for first large scale unit
001,09-07-06,SNOPUD.ppt

Environmental Issues
Death of or injury to fish and marine mammals

Fluidic impact of energy extraction

Local environmental degradation

Ecological implications of fluidic impacts

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