Ocean Energy:

Tidal Energy, Wave Energy and Ocean Thermal Energy

 Ocean Energy
The ocean can produce two types of energy: thermal energy from the sun's heat,
and mechanical energy from the tides and waves.

❑ Tidal energy: Tidal power is a form of hydropower that converts the energy
of tides into useful forms of power, mainly, electricity.

❑ Wave Energy : Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves,
and the capture of that energy to do useful work – for example, electricity
generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water (into reservoirs).

❑ Ocean Thermal Energy: Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth's surface,
making them the world's largest solar collectors. The sun's heat warms the
surface water a lot more than the deep ocean water, and this temperature
difference creates thermal energy.
 Tidal energy

• Tidal energy exploits the natural rise and fall of coastal tidal

waters

• Caused principally by the interaction of the gravitational fields

of the sun and the moon.

• Tidal power generators derive their energy from movement

of the tides.
Origin of Tidal Energy • Tidal power utilizes the twice-daily variation in sea level

Tides caused primarily by the gravitational effect of the Moon

and, to a lesser extent the Sun on the world's oceans.
The Earth's rotation is also a factor in the production of
tides.

• The interaction of the Moon and the Earth results in the

oceans bulging out towards the Moon (Lunar Tide). The
sun’s gravitational field pulls as well (Solar Tide)

• As the Sun and Moon are not in fixed positions in the

celestial sphere, but change position with respect to
each other, their influence on the tidal range
(difference between low and high tide) is also effected.

• If the Moon and the Sun are in the same plane as the
Earth, the tidal range is the superposition of the range
due to the lunar and solar tides. This results in the
maximum tidal range (spring tides). If they are at right
angles to each other, lower tidal differences are
experienced resulting in neap tides.
 Tides
Tidal Energy Conversion Schemes:
i. Single basin: single effect
ii. Single basin: double effect
iii. Two Basin: linked Basin
iv. Two Basin: paired Basin
v. Tidal flow (or tidal current) schemes
 Single basin: single effect

✓Power is generated either during filling

or emptying the basin.
✓Ebb generation cycle:
-Sluice way is opened to fill the basin
during high tide.
-Once filled, the impounded water is held
till the receding cycle creates a suitable
head
-Water is allowed to flow through the
turbine coupled to the generator till the
rising tide reduces the head to the
minimum operating point.
 Single basin: single effect

✓Flood generation cycle:

-The sequences are altered to generate
power during filling operation of the
basin.
✓Ebb generation is the more productive .
✓Increased output can also be obtained
by pumping during high tide.
 Single Basin: Double Effect

❑ Power is generated on both flood and ebb.

❑ Two-way (reversible) hydraulic turbines are used.
❑ The routine is as follows:
1. Inward sluicing to fill the basin
2. Holding period
3. Ebb generation
4. Outward sluicing to empty the basin
5. Holding period
6. Flooding generation
Two Basin: Linked Basin
• Consists of two basins, one topped up at high tide, and the other emptied at
low tide.

• A permanent head is created between the two basins.

• Water flows through a turbine from the high basin to low basin.

Two Basin: Paired Basin

• Consists of two single-basin schemes.

• One generates on flood and the other on the ebb cycle

Tidal Current Schemes

• Strong tidal currents ( about 5 m/s) are found in shallow seas

• Devices for tidal flow power is similar to that used in river flow power systems
• Total identified potential of Tidal Energy is about 9000 MW in West Coast
Gulf of Khambhat (also known as the Gulf of Cambay (7000 MW), Gulf of
Kutch (1200 MW) and in East Coast the Ganges Delta in the Sunderbans in
West Bengal for small scale tidal power development estimates the
potential in this region to be about 100 MW.

• In 2010 Kalpasar Tidal Power Project at The Gulf of Khambhat was

identified as a promising site for tidal power generation by UNDP Expert.

• In Jan 2011, the state of Gujarat announced plans to install Asia’s first
commercial-scale tidal current power plant; the state government
approved the construction of a 50 MW project in the Gulf of Kutch.
Wave Energy
 Wave Energy
Where does wave energy originate?
– Differential warming of the earth causes pressure
differences in the atmosphere, which generate
winds
– As winds move across the surface of open bodies of
water, they transfer some of their energy to the
water and create waves
 Wave Energy
• The energy flux in waves is more than that available from solar, wind and

other renewable sources

• Power in the waves is directly proportional to the square of its amplitude

and to the period of motion.

• Energy stored is dissipated through friction at shore and turbulence at

rates depending on characteristics of wave and water depth.

• Large waves in deep sea lose energy quite slowly

 Wave Energy Technologies
• Energy in the waves is harnessed basically in the form of mechanical energy using
wave energy converters (Wave devices or wave machines).

• Fluctuating mechanical energy obtained is modified/smoothed out to drive a

generator.

• Wave energy conversion devices are designed for optimal operation at a particular
depth range

▪ One wave energy conversion systems:

✓ Oscillating Water Column

✓ Heaving Float Type

 Oscillating Water Column

▪ An Oscillating Water Column (OWC)

consists of a partially submerged
structure that opens to the ocean below
the water surface. This structure is
called a wave collector.

▪ This design creates a water column in

the central chamber of the collector,
with a volume of air trapped above it.
Oscillating Water Column

• As a wave enters the collector,

the surface of the water column
rises and compresses the volume
of air above it.

• The compressed air is forced into

an aperture at the top of the
chamber, moving past a turbine.

• As the wave retreats, the air is

drawn back through the turbine
due to the reduced pressure in
the chamber.

• The turning of the turbine drives

a generator, producing electricity.
 Heaving Float Type

A float (buoy) placed on the surface of water heaves up and down

with waves.

The resulting vertical motion is used to operate the piston of an

pump through linkage.

The pump may be anchored or moored to sea bed.

Pressured water is used to generate electricity through a turbine

coupled to a generator.
Heaving Float Type
Heaving Float Type
Heaving Float Type
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY
 Ocean Thermal Energy
Exists in the form of temperature difference between the warm surface water and
the colder deep water.

A minimum temperature difference of 20°C is required for practical energy

conversion.

A heat engine generates power utilizing a well-established thermodynamic

principle
 OTEC (open cycle)
• Known as Claude Cycle

• Working fluid is the seawater.

• Warm seawater is brought into a partial

vacuum.

• In the vacuum, the warm seawater boils

and the steam drives a turbine.

• The steam enters a condenser, where it

is cooled by cold seawater brought up
form below and it condenses back into
liquid and is discharged into the ocean.
 OTEC (Closed Cycle)
• Known as Anderson Cycle
• Heat from warm seawater
causes a fluid like ammonia,
freon or propane to be
evaporated in an evaporator

• Expanding vapor rotates a

turbine connected to an
electric generator.

• Cold seawater is brought up

and cools the ammonia vapor
in a condenser. This liquid
returns to the evaporator and
the process repeats.