Hydrokinetic Technology

Moiz Rauf

Definition
Hydrokinetic energy captures the kinetic energy, or energy of motion, of a body of water There are several devices that can accomplish this

Oscillating Water Column

Changing water level inside collector acts as piston Drives air trapped in the device above water and into turbine

Point Absorber
Utilizes vertical motion of waves to act as a pump Pressurizes seawater or internal fluid, which drives a turbine Many variations

Attenuator
Long, jointed floating structure that is aligned parallel to wave direction Relative motion at segments pressurizes a piston Drives fluid through a motor, turning a generator

Overtopping Device
Floating reservoir that creates a head of water higher than the level of the surrounding surface Generates pressure necessary to turn a hydro-turbine as the water flows to bottom of device and back into sea

Rotating Devices
Tidal steam, ocean current, etc. turns rotor, creating rotational energy Converted to electricity by a generator Similar to wind turbine

Location, location, location:

Much of hydrokinetic wave potential is found along our Pacific Coast, near big cities and towns The wave and tidal stream resources indicated to the left store the greatest electricity generation potential