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Chapter Summary 363

Environmental Effects of Wave Power Islay island, off the coast of

Wave energy systems have not undergone extensive environmental studies, but several Scotland is the site of one of the issues have been
world's first oscillating water
identified that may require further study, especially in environmentally sensitive areas. Thesecolumn generators, which was issues include
navigation hazard for small boats and shipping, as well as access to fishing grounds. completed in the year 2000. Environmental
disturbances to fish, marine life, and certain species of birds (such as the marbled murrelet,The generator can generate 500 which dives for
food) need to be assessed. There may also be a positive effect on birds by providing shelter kilowatts of power using two wind and resting places.
A very large floating system may affect migrating species like whales and may dis rupt theirturbines located at the top of an feeding patterns.
Shorelines and sediment deposition can be altered when energy is taken from waves.inclined concrete column. An Pollution is
possible if hydraulic fluid escapes; this scenario was made more real by a test wave power inlet allows seawater to enter and buoy that
sank in 2012 off the Oregon coast. Recreational sites could also be disturbed. leave the chamber, which
creates a strong air flow at the top
for the turbines. The power is
SECTION 11.5 CHECKUP distributed to 400 homes in the
area and has
1. How does the measurement of water wave height differ from a facility to recharge a local electric
measuring sine waves? has in overnight hours.
2. With reference to wave energy, what is an attenuator?
3. What are the major differences between the OPT point
absorber system and the WEST system?
4. How does an oscillating water column convert wave motion
to electrical energy?

CHAPTER SUMMARY '

 Energy from falling water can be captured from  An impulse turbine is a rotary
hydroelectric dams, moving water in a stream, wave energy, and engine that changes the direction of a high-
tidal energy. velocity fluid, thus converting kinetic energy into
 The amount of gravitational potential energy can be mechanical rotating energy.
calculated from the formula Wp E = mgh. A reaction turbine is a rotary engine that develops torque by
 The amount of electrical power that can be produced reacting to the pressure of a fluid moving through the turbine,
by flowing water in a stream can be found if the volume of flowing thus primarily converting potential energy into
water is known. mechanical rotating energy.
 Hydroelectric dams provide almost one-fifth of the The tides in the oceans cause the level of the water to rise and
world's electricity. fall. The tides are caused by gravitational interaction
between the earth and the moon and the earth's orbital
 Hydroelectric power is the cheapest electrical
motion..
power.
When the sun, moon, and earth all align, they exert an excep-
 A conventional hydroelectric dam has spillways, a
tionally strong gravitational force, which causes very high and
penstock with a control gate, a turbine, and a generator.
very low tides called spring tides.
 Hydroelectric dams provide electrical power and also
provide flood control for rivers. A tidal stream generator (TSG) uses a water turbine to turn a
generator and produce electrical power when a stream of water
 A run-of-the-river dam does not need a large reservoir
caused by tides or a river flow past it.
like a conventional dam, so it is considered more environmentally
friendly. A tidal barrage power system consists of a large dam that
stretches completely across an estuary, harbor, or river that
 A pumped storage system can provide peaking
connects to an ocean that has a tide.
power.
 A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy The top of a wave is called the crest, and the bottom of
from a moving fluid and converts it to useful work. the wave is called the trough. The vertical distance between
the crest and the trough is called the wave height. The
wavelength is measured from the crest of one wave to the crest
of the next wave.

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Wave energy converters can be classified as point absorbers, attenuators, or
terminating devices.