Tidal Power

Lucas O’Neil
Elec 395
May 30, 2006
 Introduction
• Alternative Energy Sources/Renewable Energy
• Overview of Tidal Generation
-Tides
-Basic methods of generating electricity from
tides
-Geography
-Pros/Cons
-Environmental concerns
• Different types of tidal generators
-Tidal fence
-Tidal lagoons
-Tidal turbines
• Conclusions
• References
 Alternative Energy Sources
• Use of any given energy source in human society
encounters limits to expansion. At the beginning
of the 21st century some issues have achieved
global dimension. Principal fossil energy sources,
such as oil and natural gas are approaching
exhaustion that may occur within the span of a
generation
• Cl o s el y l i n ked t o e n e rg y d e v e l o p m e n t a re
concerns about the environmental effects of fossil
fuel energy use, such as global warming, and
h e a l t h i s s u e s d u e t o a i r p o l l u t i o n . E n e rg y
development issues are part of the much debated
sustainable development problem.
 Alternative Energy Sources
• Need to move away from fossil fuels
• Need safe and clean energy sources
that don’t create significant amounts
of waste.
 Renewable Energy

• Renewable energy sources capture their

energy from existing flows of energy, from on-
going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind,
flowing water (hydropower), biological processes,
and geothermal heat flows.
• Renewable energy is from an energy resource
that is replaced rapidly by a natural process such
as power generated from the sun or from the wind.

Wind
Solar
Hydroelectric

And....
 Tidal Power
• Tidal power generators derive their energy from movement
of the tides.

• Obviously requires large bodies of water nearby.

• Has potential for generation of very large amounts of

electricity, or can be used in smaller scale.

• Tidal power is not a new concept and has been used since
at least the 11th Century in Britain and France for the
milling of grains.
•
• There are a number of places around the world that have
adopted pilot projects for different types of tidal generators
Tides

• Tidal power utilizes the

twice-daily variation in sea
level 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)
 Tides
• As the Sun and Moon are not in fixed positions in the
celestial sphere, they 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.
 How do tides changing =
Electricity?
• As usual, the electricity is provided by spinning turbines.

• Two types of tidal energy can be extracted: kinetic energy of

currents between ebbing and surging tides and potential
energy from the difference in height (or head) between high
and low tides.

• The potential energy contained in a volume of water is

E = xMg
where x is the height of the tide, M is the mass of water and g
is the acceleration due to gravity.

• Therefore, a tidal energy generator must be placed in a

location with very high-amplitude tides. Suitable locations are
found in the former USSR, USA, Canada, Australia, Korea, the
UK and other countries
• The generation of electricity from tides is very similar to
hydroelectric generation, except that water is able to flow in
both directions and this must be taken into account in the
development of the generators.

• The simplest generating system for tidal plants, known as

an ebb generating system, involves a dam, known as a
barrage across an estuary.

• Sluice gates on the barrage allow the tidal basin to

fill on the incoming high tides and to exit through
the turbine system on the outgoing tide (known as
the ebb tide).

• Alternatively, flood-generating systems, which generate

power from the incoming tide are possible, but are less
favored than ebb generating systems.
 Ebb Generation
• The basin is filled through the
sluices and freewheeling
turbines until high tide. Then
the sluice gates and turbine
gates are closed.

• They are kept closed until the Estuary

sea level falls to create
sufficient head across the
barrage and the turbines
generate until the head is
again low. Then the sluices are
opened, turbines disconnected
and the basin is filled again.

• The cycle repeats itself.

• Ebb generation (also known as

outflow generation) takes its
name because generation
occurs as the tide ebbs. Ebb generating system with a bulb
turbine
 Flood Generation Mode
• The sluices and turbine gates are kept closed during the
flood tide to allow the water level to build up outside the
barrage.
• As with ebb generation, once a sufficient head has been
established the turbine gates are opened and water can
flow into the basin, generating electricity.
• This approach is generally viewed as less favorable than
the ebb method, as keeping a tidal basin at low tide for
extended periods could have detrimental effects on the
environment and on shipping.
• In addition, the energy produced would be less, as the
surface area of a basin would be larger at high tide than at
low tide, which would result in rapid reductions in the head
during the early stages in the generating cycle.
 Two-Way Generation
• It is possible, in principle, to generate electricity
during both ebb and flood currents.
• Computer models do not indicate that there
would be a major increase in the energy
production.
• In addition, there would be additional expenses
associated in having a requirement for either two-
way turbines or a double set to handle the two-
way flow.
• Advantages include, however, a reduced period
with no generation and the peak power would be
lower, allowing a reduction in the cost of the
generators
 Double-Basin Systems
• All single-basin systems suffer from the disadvantage that
they only deliver energy during part of the tidal cycle and
cannot adjust their delivery period to match the
requirements of consumers.
• Double-basin systems have been proposed to allow an
element of storage and to give time control over power
output levels.
• The main basin would behave essentially like an ebb
generation single-basin system.
• A proportion of the electricity generated during the ebb
phase would be used to pump water to and from the second
basin to ensure that there would always be a generation
capability.
 Some Turbine Types
•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.
•Rim turbines reduce these problems
Bulb Rim is mounted in the
as the generator
Type Type angles to the
barrage, at right
turbine blades. Unfortunately, it is
difficult to regulate the performance
of these turbines and it is unsuitable
for use in pumping.
•Tubular turbines have been
proposed for use some UK projects.
In this configuration, the blades are
Tubular Type connected to a long shaft and
orientated at an angle so that the
generator is sitting on top of the
barrage.
 Environmental/Ecological
•
Concerns
Tidal power generation can
offer significant
advantages, including
improved transportation
due to the development of
traffic or rail bridges across
estuaries and reduced
greenhouse gas emissions
by utilizing tidal power in
place of fossil fuels.
La Rance, France
• H o w e v e r t h e re a re a l s o (240MW)
some significant
e n v i r o n m e n t a l
disadvantages which make
tidal power, particularly
barrage systems less
attractive than other forms
of renewable energy.
 Tidal Changes

• The construction of a tidal barrage in an estuary will change

the tidal level in the basin.
• This change is difficult to predict, and can result in a
lowering or raising of the tidal level.
• T h i s c h a n g e w i l l a l s o h a v e a m a r ke d e f f e c t o n t h e
sedimentation and purity of the water within the basin.
• In addition, navigation and recreation can be affected as a
result of a sea depth change due to increased
sedimentation within the basin.
• A raising of the tidal level could result in the flooding of the
shoreline, which could have an effect on the local marine
food chain.
 Ecological Changes

• Potentially the largest disadvantage of tidal power is the

effect a tidal station has on the plants and animals which
live within the estuary.
• As very few tidal barrages have been built, very little is
understood about the full impact of tidal power systems on
the local environment. What has been concluded is that the
effect due to a tidal barrage is highly dependent upon the
local geography and marine ecosystem.
• Wales have been caught in tidal generators.
• Fish may move through sluices safely, but when these are
closed, fish will seek out turbines and attempt to swim
through them. Also, some fish will be unable to escape the
water speed near a turbine and will be sucked through.
 Conclusions
• Tidal power is a renewable, potentially zero emission
(during operation) energy source.

• Tides have the advantage of being completely predictable,

unlike solar and wind power.

• Different types of Tidal Generators suit different areas and

energy needs.

• There are environmental concerns that need to be

addressed when developing this technology further.