UNDERWATER WINDMILL

B. TECH SEMINAR

Submitted to Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati in Partial Fulfilment of the
Requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY in
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

By
KIRAN ANIL TELANG
(ID 20002003)

Guide
DR. A. M. MAHALLE

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
AMRAVATI 444 604
JANUARY 2023

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 GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, AMRAVATI 444 604
(AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Seminar entitled, “UNDERWATER WINDMILL, which is being
submitted herewith for the award of B.Tech is the result of the work completed by KIRAN
ANIL TELANG under my supervision and guidance within the four walls of the institute.

(Dr. A. M. Mahalle) Examiner

Guide

(. R. S. Dalu) (Dr . A. M. Mahalle)

HOD Principal

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 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project/dissertation entitled, “UNDERWATER WINDMILL” was

carried out and written by me under the guidance of Dr. A. M. MAHALLE, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, Govt. College of Engineering, Amravati.

Place: KIRAN ANIL TELANG

Date: (ID 20002003)

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 CONTENTS
SR.NO TITLE PAGE NO

i Certificate 2

ii Declaration 3

iii Abstract 5

1 Introduction 5

2 History 6

3 Main parts of underwater 6

windmill

4 Types of underwater 7
windmill

5 Principle of operation 8

6 Advantages 8

7 Disadvantages 8

8 Conclusion 9

9 References 9

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 Abstract
Windmills are usually used to extract power from wind energy. Underwater windmills
are used to extract energy from the water flow of oceans. Underwater windmills can
also be called as Tidal stream turbines. They use kinetic energy of the moving water as
wind blades use moving air. The principal of an underwater windmill is same as the
windmill. A set of blades creating electrical energy converted from mechanical energy
moved with the help of flowing water. Tides are used to throw water against slanting
blades and make them spin. Ocean has different currents at different depths. Protection
of sea life is also important. Windmills can be put in the river superior ocean currents.
It is coated with Teflon or other slippery material.

1. Introduction:

1.1. An Underwater windmill is a device that extracts power from the tides. Renewable
energy technologies are becoming an increasingly favourable alternative to
conventional energy sources to reduce fossil fuel related issues. Tidal energy offers a
vast and reliable energy source. This technology is similar to wind energy technology,
with the rotor blades driven not by wind power but by tidal currents. The gravitational
pull of moon produces a swift tidal current, which spins the long blades of the turbine.
Which in turn produces electricity via different parts of underwater windmill.

Fig: Turbine placed under the sea.

Reference: https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/dn12519-
1_250.jpg?width=249

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2. History
2.1. Windmills represent one of the key pieces of technology that enabled our ancestors to
transform the power of the wind into a physical force that can be used for countless
things, from most traditional jobs such as grinding grains and moving water, to the
many more industrial and agricultural needs. Before introduction of steam engines and
electricity, the only source of power that humankind had the ability to control was
wind. Wind powered not only our sailing ships, but also hundreds of thousands of
windmills that were and still are used all around the world. [a]

Fig: Underwater windmill turbines

Reference:https://technologythatwork.blogspot.com/2012/05/tidal-power-another-
awesome-resource.html

3. Main parts of underwater windmill

3.1 Turbine
3.2 Gearbox
3.3 Generator
3.4 Cables
3.5 Support

a. Generator
i. The generator is driven by the high-speed shaft. Copper windings turn
through a magnetic field in the generator to produce electricity. Some
generators are driven by gearboxes and others are direct-drives where
the rotor attaches directly to the generator. [b]

b. Yaw system
i. The yaw drive rotates the nacelle on turbines to keep them facing the
wind when wind direction changes. The yaw motors power the yaw
drive to make this happen. [b]

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 c. Pitch System
i. The pitch system adjusts the angle of the wind turbine's blades with
respect to the wind, controlling the rotor speed. By adjusting the angle
of a turbine's blades, the pitch system controls how much energy the
blades can extract. The pitch system can also "feather" the blades,
adjusting their angle so they do not produce force that would cause the
rotor to spin. Feathering the blades slows the turbine's rotor to prevent
damage to the machine when wind speeds are too high for safe
operation. [b]

d. Gearbox
i. The drivetrain is comprised of the rotor, main bearing, main shaft,
gearbox, and generator. The drivetrain converts the low-speed, high-
torque rotation of the turbine's rotor into electrical energy. [b]

4. Types of underwater windmill

4.1 Vertical axis mill
4.1.1. In vertical axis turbine, the rotor shaft is perpendicular to the direction of flow
of water. The vertical axis design allows for algae flow in all direction, so energy
cab be easily extracted using ellipse of the complete algae flow as well as both
internal and external direction. [e]

Fig: Vertical Axis Windmill

Ref: Marine Tidal Current Electric Power Generation Technology: State of the Art and Current
Status S.E. Ben Elghali, Student Member, IEEE, M.E.H. Benbouzid, Senior Member, IEEE,
and J.F. Charpentier, Member, IEEE

4.2 Horizontal axis mill

4.2.1 In the horizontal axis underwater windmill, the rotor is parallel to the direction
of the flow of water. [e]

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Fig: Horizontal Axis Windmill
Ref: : Marine Tidal Current Electric Power Generation Technology: State of the Art and
Current Status S.E. Ben Elghali, Student Member, IEEE, M.E.H. Benbouzid, Senior Member,
IEEE, and J.F. Charpentier, Member, IEEE

5 Principle of operation
5.1 Underwater turbines rely on tides to push water against angled blades, causing them to
spin. These turbines can be placed in natural bodies of water, such as harbours and
lagoons that naturally feature fast-moving flows of water. As the blades spin, a gearbox
turns an induction generator, which produces an electric current. Tidal power typically
uses underwater spinning blades to turn a generator, similar to how a wind turbine
works. Because water is far denser than air, spinning blades can potentially be more
productive than off-shore wind turbines for the same amount of space.

6 Advantages

i. Tidal energy is completely renewable.

ii. Tidal energy produces no emissions.
iii. Hidden beneath the water.
iv. Have lesser impact on the environment
v. Low running cost
vi. Long lifetime with little maintenance
vii. Reduce the dependence upon fossil fuels [c]

7 Disadvantages
i. The initial cost is too high
ii. Very difficult to install
iii. The blade must be coated to avoid corrosion
iv. Damage habitat up to 500m away
v. Maintenance is difficult [c]

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8 Conclusion
8.1 We believe that the intense and predictable marine current resource offers the
possibility of clean energy at a cost that will ultimately be competitive not only with
the other renewable, but in the long run we believe we can compete head on with
most forms of fossil fuelled power generation at present day costs.

9 References

a. History of Windmills - Ancient Windmills

b. How a Wind Turbine Works - Text Version | Department of Energy
c. Underwater Windmill : Types, 3Working, Advantages & Disadvantages
(elprocus.com)
d. Marine Tidal Current Electric Power Generation Technology: State of the Art and
Current Status S.E. Ben Elghali, Student Member, IEEE, M.E.H. Benbouzid, Senior
Member, IEEE, and J.F. Charpentier, Member, IEEE
e. A Review Paper on Underwater Windmill:3rd International Conference on Emerging
Trends in Multi-Disciplinary Research “ETMDR-2022” Jan. 20-22, 2022 At: Jaipur