Ocean Wave Energy

Mayank Goyal
 Introduction
• Waves in ocean are caused by the transfer of
wind energy to the water surface in the ocean.
• Wave energy (or wave power) is the transport
and capture of energy by ocean surface waves.
The energy captured is then used for all different
kinds of useful work, including electricity
generation, water desalination, and pumping of
water. Wave energy is also a type of renewable
energy and is the largest estimated global
resource form of ocean energy.
 Mechanism of wave motion
• A progressive wave has a free surface and is
acted upon by gravity and is shown in figure
below:
• The wave motion may be expressed
mathematically by the following general
travelling wave equation:

where y = displacement above mean sea level, m

a = amplitude, m
λ = wavelength, m
T = time period, seconds
t = time, seconds
• Wave equation can also be written as:

where k = 2π/λ (wave number)

and ω = 2π/T (angular frequency, rad/sec)
• As the wave moves in linear direction (along x –
axis), every particle of water at the surface
undergoes a circular motion of radius a and
angular speed ω (fig. 1).
• The radius of the circular motion of the water
particle will continue to decrease with depth and
become zero at the sea bed (fig. 2). Thus, while
the wave propagates in x – direction, there is no
net flow of water.
 Fig. 1

Fig. 2

The wavelength of travelling wave is given as:

and
 Power from Wave Energy
• A wave posses potential energy and kinetic energy. The
total energy of a wave is the sum of its potential energy and
kinetic energy.
1. Potential energy:
• Consider the unit width of wave front perpendicular to the direction of
motion of wave as shown in fig. vertical displacement of water particles at
any instant (say t = 0) is h = a sin (kx). Element of water mass (ρ.dx.dz) at
distance x and height z , has moved from –z to + z and thus has potential
energy of

• The total potential energy in one wavelength per unit width of wave front
is
• Potential energy per unit length and per unit width of wave
front (i.e., per unit surface area) is given by

• In a harmonic motion, average kinetic energy and potential

energy contributions are equal. Thus, kinetic energy per unit
area is

• Total energy per unit surface area is

• The power carried forward per unit width of wave front:

• Where u = v/2 is called the group velocity of deep water

waves, i.e. the velocity at which the energy in the group of
waves is carried forward.
• Here v is wave velocity or phase velocity.
 Numerical Example 1
• A 2m wave has a 6s period and occurs at the
surface of water 100m deep. Find the energy
and power densities of the wave. Take water
density – 1025 kg/m3.
 Numerical Example 2
• A deep ocean wave of 2 m peak to peak appears at period
of 8 s. Find the wavelength, phase velocity and power
associated with the wave. At this power rate, what is
average annual wave energy in MWh/m?
 Wave Energy Technology
• Energy in the waves is harnessed basically in the
form of mechanical energy using wave energy
converters, also known as wave devices or wave
machines.
• Depending on the actuating motion used in
capturing the wave power, these devices are
classified as
– Heaving float type
– Pitching type
– Heaving and pitching float type
– Oscillating water column type
– Surge devices
Heaving Float Type Wave Devices
• A float (buoy) placed on the surface of water
heaves up and down with waves due to rise and
fall of the water level. The resulting vertical
motion is used to operate the piston of an air
pump through linkage. Several float-operated air
pumps are used to store energy in a compressed
air storage. The compressed air is used to
generate electricity through an air turbine
coupled to a generator.
• In another method, a hydraulic pump is operated
by the motion of a buoy to raise water to an
onshore water reservoir and passed through a
turbine-generator set to generate electricity.
Pitching Type Wave Devices
• In these devices, wave strikes horizontally on a
floating piece or flap causing it to deflect.
• In one method, several cam-shaped floating
pieces (nodding ducks) are hinged to a common
flexible linkage to form a nodding duck assembly.
It is then connected to a ratchet and wheel
mechanism to convert the motion of all the ducks
to a common shaft. Power collected by the ducks
is used to drive the generator through linkages
and gears.
• In another method, a pendulum flap is hinged
over the opening of a terminating rectangular
box. The action of waves causes it to swing back
and forth. This motion is then used to power a
hydraulic pump and generator.
Heaving and Pitching Float Type Wave Devices
• A system consisting of three pontoons, which
move relative to each other in the wave. A
damper plate is attached to the central pontoon
to ensure that it stays still. Energy is extracted by
hydraulic pumps attached to hinges. Electricity is
generated by hydraulic turbine and generator.
• In dolphin, both rolling and heaving is done. The
two motions are converted to unidirectional
motion by a ratchet-wheel arrangement and used
to operate floating and stationary generators
respectively.
• In third design, a large float is used to produce
differential motion between two extreme sides of
float. The motion can be used to operate
hydraulic pumps.
Oscillating Water – Column Type Wave Devices
The Oscillating Water
Column, (OWC) is a
popular shoreline wave
energy device normally
positioned onto or near
to rocks or cliffs which
are next to a deep sea
bottom. They consist of
a partly submerged
hollow chamber fixed
directly at the shoreline
which converts wave
energy into air pressure.
• As the incident waves outside enter and exit the chamber,
changes in wave movement on the opening cause the
water level within the enclosure to oscillate up and down
acting like a giant piston on the air above the surface of the
water, pushing it back and forth. This air is compressed and
decompressed by this movement every cycle. The air is
channeled through a wind turbine generator to produce
electricity.
• The type of wind turbine generator used in an oscillating
water column design is the key element to its conversion
efficiency. The air inside the chamber is constantly
reversing direction with every up-and-down movement of
the sea water producing a sucking and blowing effect
through the turbine. If a conventional turbine was used to
drive the attached generator, this too would be constantly
changing direction in unison with the air flow. To overcome
this problem the type of wind turbine used in oscillating
water column schemes is called a Wells Turbine.
Surge Devices
When a wave is constricted,
a surge is produced raising
its amplitude. Such a
device is known as
tapered channel device
(TAPCHAN). The wave
height gets amplified until
the water spill over the
walls to reservoir, which
provides a stable water
supply to a low head
turbine.
 Advantages of Wave Energy
• It is a free and renewable energy source.
• Wave-power devices do not require large land
masses.
• It is relatively pollution free.
• After removal of power, the waves are in placid
(calm) state.
• A string of devices have to be used wherever
there is large wave activity. In addition to
producing electricity, the system protects coast
lines from the destructive action of large waves,
minimize erosion and help create artificial harbor.
 Disadvantages of Wave Energy
• Waves lack dependability.
• There is relative scarcity of accessible sites of
large wave activity.
• The conversion devices are relatively complicated
in construction.
• The devices have to withstand the enormous
power of stormy seas.
• There are unfavorable economic factors such as
large capital investment and costs of repair,
replacement and maintenance.
• Problems of biological growth of marine
organisms are relatively un-known.
 Potential Sites in India
• The potential along the 6000 Km of coast is about
40,000 MW. In India the research and development
activity for exploring wave energy started at the Ocean
Engineering Centre, Indian Institute of Technology,
Madras in 1982. Primary estimates indicate that the
annual wave energy potential along the Indian coast is
between 5 MW to 15 MW per meter, thus a theoretical
potential for a coast line of nearly 6000 KW works out
to 40000-60000 MW approximately.
• Wave energy projects in India
– Status – Prototype
– Location - Thiruruvananthpuram, Vizhinjam Fisheries
Harbor
– Installed Capacity - 150 Kw Plant
Thank You