Energy from Oceans

Akepati S. Reddy Thapar University Patiala (Punjab) 147004 INDIA

Tidal Energy
Potential:- 22,000 TWh/year of energy is dissipated by tides of this 200 TWh/year is economically recoverable Following sites represent 50% of the total potential: Bay of Fundy (Canada) The seven Estuary (UK) Gulf of St. Malo (France) South east coast of china Russian coasts bordering the White Sea and of Okhots India has two sites Gulf of Kachch, Gujarat (0.6 to 3.0 TWh potential) Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay), Gujarat (10 to 15 TWh potential) Planning to have 2MW plant in the Sunderbans of West Bengal As on 1998 total power produced from tidal source is 0.6 TWh/year, and important plants are A 240 MW plant on the Rance river in France A 20 MW plant at Annapolis in Canada Tidal range decides the tidal power potential

Bay of Fundy, US-Canada boarder is most favourable site (30,000 MW)

1. Siberia 2. Inchon, Korea 3. Hangchow, China 4. Hall's Point, Australia 5. New Zealand 6. Anchorage, Alaska 7. Panama 8. Chile 9. Punta Loyola, Argentina 10. Brazil

11. Bay of Fundy (30,000 MW potential) 12. Frobisher Bay, Canada 13. Wales, UK 14. Antwerp, Belgium 15. LeHavre, France 16. Guinea 17. Gujarat, India (1000 MW capacity) 18. Burma 19. Semzha River, Russia 20. Colorado River, Mexico 21. Madagascar

Tidal Energy (contd..)

Barrage technology
Stretch over delta, estuary, beach or any place affected by tides Involves creation of a barrage, during high tide water flows behind the barrage through a turbine, and during low tide water flows back through turbine 320 MW capacity plant on the river Rance, St. Malo, France has 750 meters long barrage can impound upto 13 meter high tide Problems with barrage technology Navigation blockade Impedance to fish migration and fish kills by turbines Changes in the location and nature of inter-tidal zone Changes in the tidal regime Main obstacle for exploiting tidal power is economics head available is highly variable and average head available is 70% of the maximum installed capacity is underutilized (by 0.23 to 0.37)

Tidal Energy (contd..)

Off-shore impoundment technology
Involves Off-shore impoundment (two way dam) beyond low tide line Conventional low head hydroelectric generation equipment and control systems Power generated is related to the square of tidal range and to the area of the impoundment Maximum output during extreme high tide and extreme low tide (Constant rating is also possible) Cost for a 100 MW plant Capital cost: $1200 1500/kW Operational cost: $0.005/kWh Green power and entitled for subsidies and tax exemptions Fines for unmet green house gases emission prescriptions and taxes related to climate change are avoided

Tidal Power (contd..)

Wave Energy
Tertiary form of solar energy - solar radiation responsible for winds and winds for waves Waves store energy both as potential energy and as kinetic energy Wave energy potential is estimated at 2 TW (WEC) Some of the technologies for exploiting wave energy Tapered channel technology Pivoting flap technology Heaving Buoys technology Oscillating water column technology

Tapered channel technology

Funneling the incoming waves into a shore line (slightly elevated) reservoir Using the entrapped water for running the turbine In Java there is 250 kW plant

Pivoting flap technology

Steel flap is made to swing back and forth by the waves Moving flap powers a hydraulic pump Pumped water is used to run the turbine There are plans to install 300 kW plants

Wave Energy (contd..)

Heaving Buoys technology
Includes a specially reinforced elastomeric hose extending between a float and a damper fixed to the bottom Wave action alternatively reduces and increases the internal volume of the hose One-way valves to allow sea water to come in and go out Water coming in and getting out runs the turbine

Oscillating Water Column Technology

Wave energy devices used here includes two basic elements: Collector to capture wave energy Turbo generator to transform wave power into electricity Annual and seasonal information on waves is required (available for Europe) Can be incorporated in the walls of breakwater, coastal defense, land reclamation and harbors Wind turbines can be integrated A 150 kW prototype unit by IITM on the breakwater of Vizhinjam fisheries harbor (in 1991) Planning for a 55MW plant at Thangassery on the west coast of India

Relative Global Wave Energy Density

Oscillating Water Column Technology

Coastal Protection Breakwater

Ocean Thermal Energy (Deep Ocean Water Applications)

Thermal difference (>20C) between surface water and deep water (1000 m) of tropical and subtropical oceans Warm water of the surface for boiling the boiler fluid to generate steam and the steam to run the turbine Cold deep ocean water for cooling/condensing the lean steam coming out from turbine Base load and environmentally benign power plants power source available all through with slight seasonal variations Deep ocean water applications aquaculture nutrient rich pathogen free water potable water - demineralization of ocean water air conditioning and refrigeration with cold deep sea water On large scale can prove net CO2 absorbing The plant can be land based, floating or grazing type Longer cold water pipe means greater frictional losses and greater warming water before reaching the condenser Floating plants require bringing the generated power to shore

Status of OTEC
In 1929, George Claude created the first unit on the Cuba coast European union is planning for 5-10 MW demonstration plant Taiwan is being extensively evaluated for ocean thermal power No technological or economical problems establishing confidence in funding agencies needed Demonstration plant By 2010 about 1000 plants may be installed (50% of these <10MW and 10% may be above 100MW capacity) OTEC demand in the Asia-Pacific region may be 20 GW by 2020 and 100GW by 2050

India
Conceptual studies on OTEC plants initiated in 1980 for Kavaratti (Lakshadweep islands), for Andaman-Nicobar islands and for off the coast at Kula Sekhara Patnam, Tamil Nadu IIT, Madras, in 1984, at the request of Non-conventional energy sources ministry, prepared preliminary design for 1MW plant NIOT signed MoU with Saga University, Japan for the development of a OTEC plant near the port of Tuticorin (TN) Global tenders were placed in 1998 for a demonstration plant NIOT plans are to build 10-25MW capacity shore-mounted power plants and to scale them up to 1 to 100 MW range

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (Source: Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica)

Marine Current Energy Resources

These are mostly driven by tides and to a lesser extent by thermal and density effects Strength of the current vary with proximity of moon and sun relative to earth 68% of the force is contributed by moon and 32% by sun Largest marine currents occur at new moon and full moon and lowest during the first and third quarters of the moon Strength may also depend on position of the location on earth; shape of the coast line; and bathymetry (shape of the sea bed) Current strength in most of the cases directly related to the tidal range of the location At certain locations water flows continuously in one direction and strength of water current is largely independent of the moons phase the current is dependent on the large thermal movements The Gulf stream 80 million m3/sec. Flow Strait of Gibraltar upper layers of water moving towards mediterranian and deeper layers in the opposite direction Narrow straits, between islands and around head lands ; and entrances to lochs, bays and large harbours have high marine current flows Sites with high tidal range and shallow water depth are suitable for power generation locations with >2.0m/sec. Velocities are considered appropriate UK, Ireland, Italy, Philippines, Japan and parts of USA are considered to have very good sites

Marine current energy technology

Uses completely submerged turbines, similar tp wind turbines but smaller in size, comprising of rotor blades and generators Uses kinetic energy of moving ocean water (whose density is 835 times to that of wind) The technology is in the early stage of development only prototypes and demonstration units have been tested Two types either horizontal axis type or verticle axis type turbines Horizontal axis turbines may use concentrators or shrouds and vertical axis turbines may use tidal fences

Comparison of marine current energy with other energy resources