Tidal

TIDAL POWER
What is tidal power? Tide is periodic rise and fall of the water level of the sea. Tides
occur due to the attraction of seawater by the moon. These tides can be used to
produce electrical power which is known as tidal power.
• Tides have a wave form, but differ from other waves because they are caused
by the interactions between the ocean, Sun and Moon.
• Crest of the wave form is high tide and trough is low tide.
• The vertical difference between high tide and low tide is the tidal range.
• Tidal period is the time between consecutive high or low tides and varies between
12 hrs 25 min to 24 hrs 50 min.
When the water is above the mean sea
level, it is called high tide and when the
level is below the mean level, it is called
low tide. A dam is constructed in such a
away that a basin gets separated from
the sea and a difference in the water
level is obtained between the basin and
sea. The constructed basin is filled
during high tide and emptied during low
tide passing through sluices and turbine
respectively. The Potential energy of
the water stored in the basin is used to
drive the turbine which in turn
generates electricity as it is directly
coupled to an alternator.
Factors affecting the suitability of the site for tidal power plant
1. The power produced by a tidal plant depends mainly on the range of tide and
tidal flow during a tidal cycle which can be stored.
2. The minimum average tide range required for economical power production is
more.
3. The site should be such that with a minimum cost of barrage it should be possible
to create maximum storage volume. In addition to this, the site selected should be
well protected from waves action.
4. The site should not create interruption to the shipping traffic running through the
estuary other wise the cost of the plant will increase as locks are to be provided.
5. Silt index of the water of the estuary should be as small as possible to avoid the
siltation troubles.
Classification of tidal Power Plants
The tidal power plants are generally classified on the basis of the number of basins
used for the power generation. They are further subdivided as one-way or two-way
system as per the cycle of operation for power generation.
The classification is represented with the help of a line diagram as given below
Single basin-One-way cycle
This is the simplest form of tidal power plant. In this system, a basin is allowed to get
filled during flood tide and during the ebb tide. The water flows from the basin to the sea
passing through the turbine and generates power. The power is available for a short
duration during ebb tide.
Single-basin two-way cycle
In this arrangement power is generated both during flood tide as well as ebb tide also. The
power generation is also intermittent but generation period is increased compared with
one-way cycle. However the peak power obtained is less than the one-way cycle.
The main difficulty with this
arrangement, the same turbine must
be used as Prime mover as ebb and
tide flows pass through the turbine
in opposite directions. Variable pitch
turbine and dual rotation generator
are used for such schemes.
Single-basin two-way cycle with pump storage
In this system, power is generated both during flood and ebb tides. Complex machines
capable of generation Power and Pumping the water in either directions are used. A part of
the energy produced is used for introducing the difference in the water levels between the
basin and the sea at any time of the tide and this is done by pumping water into the basin
up or down. The period of power production with this system is much longer than the other
two described earlier.
Double basin type
In this arrangement, the turbine is set up between the two basins .one basin is
intermittently filled by the flood tide and other is intermittently drained by the ebb tide.
Therefore a small capacity but continuos power is made available with this system as
shown in Fig. The main disadvantage of this system is that 50% of the Potential energy is
sacrificed in introducing the variation in the water levels of the two basins.
Double basin with Pumping
In this case, off peak power from the base load plant in a interconnected transmission
system is used either to pump the water up the high basin. Net energy gain is possible
with such a system if the pumping head is lower than the basin-to-basin turbine
generating head.
Advantages and disadvantages of Tidal Power Plants
Advantages
1. Exploitation of tidal energy will in no case make demand for large area of valuable land
because they are on bays.
2. It is free from pollution as it does not use any fuel.
3. It is much superior to hydro-power plant as it is totally independent of rain which
always fluctuates year to year. Therefore, there is certainty of power supply a the tide
cycle is very definite.
4. As in every form of water power, this will also not produce any unhealthy waste like
gases, ash, atomic refuse which entails heavy removal costs.
5. Tidal Power is superior to conventional hydro power as the hydro plants are know for
their large seasonal and yearly fluctuations in the output of energy because they are
entirely dependent upon the nature’s cycle of rainfall, which is not the case with tidal as
monthly certain power is assured. The tides are totally independent on nature’s cycle of
rainfall.
Disadvantages
1. These Power plants can be developed only if natural sites are available.
2. As the sites are available on the bay which will be always far away from the load centers.
The power generated must be transported to long distances. This increases the
transportation cost.
3. The supply of power is not continuous as it depends upon the timing of tides. Therefore
some arrangements (double basin or double basin with pump storage) must be made to
supply the continuous power. This also further increases the capital cost of the plant.
4. The capital cost of the plant (Rs.5000/kw) is considerably large compared with
conventional-power plants (hydro, thermal)
5. Sedimentation and siltration of the basins are some of the added problems with tidal
power plants.
6. The navigation is obstructed.
Components of a tidal power station:
(i) Power House

(ii) The Dam or Barrage
(iii) Sluice ways from basin to sea and vice versa
POWER HOUSE:
Large size turbines are needed to because of small head available. Hence power house will
also be large structure. The types of turbines used are
(i)Bulb type:
In systems with a bulb turbine, water flows around the turbine, making access for
maintenance difficult, as the water must be prevented from flowing past the turbine.
(ii) Rim type:
Rim turbines reduce these problems as the generator is mounted in the barrage, at right
angles to the turbine blades. Unfortunately, it is difficult to regulate the performance of
these turbines and it is unsuitable for use in pumping.
(iii)Tubular type:
Tubular turbines have been proposed for use some UK projects. In this configuration, the
blades are connected to a long shaft and orientated at an angle so that the generator is
sitting on top of the barrage.
DAM ( Barrage):
The barrages store water behind them. The barrages should provide channels for the
turbines, gates and locks. The tidal power barrages should be of shorter length. The
length should be less than resonant length of tidal waves. The tidal barrages require sites
where a sufficiently high tidal range is available. The barrages require flat bottom.
Gates and Locks
Tidal power basins have to be filled and emptied. Gates are opened regularly and
frequently but heads very in height and on the side where they occur, which is not the
case with conventional river projects. The gates must be opened and closed rapidly and
this operation should use a minimum of power. Leakage, is tolerable for gates and
barrages. Since we are dealing with seawater, corrosion problems are actuate, they have
been very successfully solved by the catholic protection and where not possible by paint.
Gate structures can be floated as modular units into place.
The sluice ways are used either to fill the basin during the high tide or empty the basin
during the low tide, as per operational requirement. These are gate controlled devices.
Estimation of tidal power:
Single basin system:

Tidal

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TIDAL POWER

(i) Power House

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