VII - Tidal Power

Source: UK Department of Energy and Climate Change

  
Chapter 7: Tidal Power
Learning Objectives
• Tidal energy fundamentals
• Tidal energy resources and technologies (Tital
barrage)
• Tidal energy theory
• Tidal stream energy (tidal currents)
• Tidal stream energy conversion systems (Tidal
turbines)
•Environmental issues related to tidal power plants
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/1008112.article?cmpid=TE01P&cmptype=newsletter&cmp
date=040411&email=true 
 Moon
Tidal Energy?
is the most predictable form
 Tidal
of the various renewable energy
sources
Tidal Energy is a renewable energy
source based on lunar gravitation
rather than solar radiation
The tidal power is generated by the
gravitational pull of the Moon on
water

Moon

Earth

Relative rotation of the earth

and the Moon 
Tidal Energy
• Tidal energy is the energy dissipated by tidal movements, which derives
directly from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun and the
centrifugal forces created by the rotation of the earth–moon system
• It is the slight imbalances between the gravitational forces and the
forces required to maintain the rotation of the Moon and Earth around
each other that give rise to the tides

The effect of the moon on tidal range 

Tidal Energy
• A tide is the regular rise and fall of the surface of the ocean due to the
gravitational force of the sun and moon on the earth and the centrifugal
force produced by the rotation of the earth and moon about each other
• The gravitational force of the moon, due to it being closer to the earth, is
2.2 times larger than the gravitational force of the sun
• Tides vary in size between spring tides and neap tides

Free Flow Turbines 

Tidal Energy
• Tidal energy has been exploited on a significant scale since
the construction of La Rance tidal barrage in France in 1967
• A tidal barrage utilises the potential energy of the tide and
has proven to be very successful, despite opposition from
environmental groups
• Kinetic energy can also be harnessed from tidal currents to
generate electricity and involves the use of a tidal current
turbines
• This is the more desired method of capturing the energy in
the tides
• However, tidal current turbine technology is currently not
economically viable on a large scale, as it is still in an early
stage of development


Tidal Energy
Spring tides
The gravitational attraction of
the Moon causes the oceans to
bulge out in the direction of the
Moon
 Due to these gravitational
forces the water level follows a
periodic high and low tide
Neap tides
The height of the tide produced
at a given location is the result of:
the changing positions of the
Moon and Sun relative to the
Earth coupled
 with the effects of Earth
rotation and the local shape of Influence of the sun and the moon
on the tidal range
the sea floor
http://www.pol.ac.uk/home/insight/tidefaq.html 
Big tides (Spring tides) occur when the Earth, the
Sun, and the Moon are in line (the imbalances
reinforce each other)

Small tides (Neap

tides) occur when the
gravitational forces of
the Moon and the Sun
are perpendicular to
one another

Tidal Energy
 Ocean levels fluctuate daily as the
Sun, Moon and Earth interact
The ocean is constantly moving from
high tide to low tide
 Each day, there are two high tides
and two low tides
The difference in sea level between
high and low tides represents the tidal
range
 When the sea is rising, it is called
flood tide and, when falling, it is called
ebb tide
The tidal energy generators use this
phenomenon to produce energy
The higher the height of the tide the
more promising it is to harness tidal
energy 
Tidal power
The moon revolves in an elliptical orbit around the earth
every 29.54 days (Lunar cycle)
Spring tides have roughly twice the amplitude of neap tides
There is about 12 hours and 25 minutes between
successive high tides (Lunar day ~25h)

Spring and Neap Tides


Tidal power
•Tidal-power projects are very expensive, since massive structures must be built
in a difficult saltwater environment
•The relatively low head of water above the turbines restricts the capacity of
individual generators to about 25-50 MW
• Many machines are needed to produce a significant block of power
       

                 
                
    
    
 The average incoming power of lunar tidal waves crossing the two red
lines around Britain has been measured to be 250 GW (~100
kWh/day/person)

Energy generated per year (kWh/year)

( )=
Installedcapacity (kW) x 8760 hours/year

The average electricity consumption per person in UK ~ 13 kWh/day

* CSP reaches the upper part of this range when systems are combined with natural gas co-firing
** This range is derived from experimental wave installations
Sources: EERE, GEA, NREL, Idaho National Lab, EPRI, Ocean Power Delivery LTD, Simmons Energy Monthly
http://www.ceere.org/rerl/about_wind/

Worldwide Advanced Water Power Commercial and Pilot
Plants in Operation
 UK Government invests over £50 Million in marine renewables (Marine
Renewables Deployment Fund) to support the UK tidal power industry
 In 2008, the U.S. Government appropriated about $10 Million for water power
research and development


Worldwide Advanced Water Power
Commercial and Pilot Plants in Operation

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)


UK Potential Tidal Current Energy Sites
 UK has one of the best resource for tidal stream power in Northern Europe
 Estimates of harvestable tidal stream power range from 2 to 3GW, they could
provide up to 7.5% of the UK electricity total requirement (UK electricity
consumption in 2007: 345.8 billion kWh)
Irish Sea


Global Tidal Energy Resources

Atlantis resources corporation

• Watercovers about 70% of world’s surface

• Global ocean resources potential: 2000 to
4000 TWh per year 11 m tidal range in
western Australia

Promising Tidal Energy Sites
Country Location TWh/yr Load
Factor, %
Canada Cobequid 14 30
Cumberland 3.4 28
USA Turnagain Arm 16.6 29
Knik Arm 7.4 29
Argentina San Jose Gulf 9.4 21
Golfo Nuevo 16.8 29
Russia Penzhinsk 190 25
India Gulf of Khambat 15 24
Gulf of Kutch 1.6 22
Korea Cheonsu 1.2
Australia Walcott Inlet 5.4 22
UK Severn 17 23
Mersey 1.4 23

Benefits of Tidal Power
 It’s predictable, unlike wind and wave
Freely available and no fuel is needed
 Large amounts can be harvested but only in certain
locations
 It’s clean
During operation it produces no greenhouse gases or
other waste
Little/no visual impact on environment
Tidal current turbine


Tidal Energy Technologies
 Tidal energy can be exploited in two ways:
Tidal Barrages make use of the potential energy in the height
difference between high and low tides (the tidal range)
This method suffer from very high civil infrastructure costs, a
worldwide shortage of viable sites, and environmental issues
Tidal stream systems make use of the kinetic energy of water
currents (found in channels and around some parts of coastlines) to
power turbines
This method has lower cost and lower ecological impact
compared to barrages

Tidal barrage Tidal stream 

Tidal Barrage (First generation)
 The tidal barrage works by building a wall (dam) across an
estuary or basin
 Tidal barrages are much like hydroelectric dams:
When the tide comes ashore, it is trapped in a reservoir
When the tide drops, Water is released from the reservoir and
turbine/generator rotates to create electricity

Electricity generation from tidal power 

Tidal Barrage Energy Calculations
 The total mass of water in the tidal basin above the low water level is:

m = ρAR
where R is the tidal range, A the area of tidal basin, m mass of water
 The height of the centre of gravity is (1/2)R, so the potential energy or
the average work done in raising the water is:

1  1
E = mg  R  = ρgAR 2
2  2
Hence, the average power output is :
2
ρgAR
Pave = Tidal barrage
2T
where T is the time interval between tides (the tide period=4.5x104 s), g =
9.81 m/s2 the gravitational constant, and ρ =1025 kg/m3 the density of
seawater 
Tidal Barrage
 Power can be generated from a barrage in three different
ways:
 Ebb tide generation: when water level is falling. Two
burst of power every 24.8 hours cycle
 Flood tide generation: when water level is rising. Two
burst of power every 24.8 hours cycle
 cogeneration: The bulb turbines allow generation at
both flood and ebb tides. Four burst of power every 24.8
hours cycle

Methods of electricity generation from tidal power 

Tidal Barrage
 The method of operation that results in the lowest unit cost
of energy is ebb generation with
 The option of using the turbine as pump at high tide to rise
the level of water further in the basin

Basic operation of
a tidal barrage
showing changes in
water levels
with additional
pumping at high tide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSBA
CzRE3Gw&feature=related

Different modes of operation of a tidal barrage


Tidal Barrage Turbines
 A number of configurations are possible for turbine/generator
systems:
 Bulb system: the turbine and generator are sealed in a bulb-
shaped enclosure mounted in the flow
 Generator maintenance requires cutting the flow off

Bulb turbine used at La Rance tidal plant

Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 

Tidal Barrage Turbines
 Starflo or rim generators: the generator is mounted radially
around the rim,
 thus eliminating the need to cut off water during
maintenance of the generator

Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 

Tidal Barrage Turbines
Tubular turbine configuration: the runner is set at an angle so
that a long tubular shaft can take power to an external generator
 The system produces a better matching of output and speed
which leads to a more efficient system

Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 

La Rance Tidal Power Barrage
Rance River estuary, Brittany (France)
 Largest in world (powers 240,000 homes)
 Completed in 1966
 2410 MW bulb turbines (240 MW)
 5.4 meter diameter
 Capacity factor of ~40%
 Maximum annual energy: 2.1 TWh
 Realized annual energy: 840 GWh Bulb turbine
 Electric cost: 3.7¢/kWh

Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004) 

La Rance River, Saint Malo


Tidal Barrage Environmental Impact
Changes in estuary dynamic and ecosystems
Less variation in tidal range
Fewer mud flats
 Less turbidity – clearer water
More light, more life (increase phytoplankton
productivity)
 Accumulation of silt
Concentration of pollution in silt
 Affect fish migration and other wild-life
Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud
flats so that they can feed

Advantages of Tidal Barrages
 High predictability
Tides predicted years in advance, unlike wind
and solar
 Similar to low-head dams
Mature technology
 Protection against floods
 Benefits for transportation (bridge)
 Tidal power is non-polluting and reliable energy
source
Tidal power plants are 80% effective in turning
water's potential energy into useable electricity

Disadvantages of Tidal Barrages
Although tides are predictable, tidal power is an
intermittent resource, as the waters experience limited
tides per day
A barrage across an estuary is very expensive to build,
and affects a very wide area
Constructing barrages affects the local ecosystem,
including patterns of fish migration
There are a few suitable sites for tidal barrages
worldwide
Tidal energy farms may disrupt the natural balance of
marine sediments: Tidal power plant causes silt
accumulation behind barrage
Accumulation of pollutants in mud

Example 1
The tidal range of the Rance scheme is 8.45 m and its basin
area is 22 km2. If the mean power output is 75 MW, what
proportion of the maximum power capacity does this
represent
Solution:
The maximum power generated by a tidal barrage scheme is
ρg 2 2
Pmax = AR = 0.22 AR
T
2
Pmax = 0.22 x 22 x10 x (8.45) = 345.6 MW
6

The actual power realized is 75 MW, the proportion (capacity

factor) Actual power 75
= = 21.7%
Maximum power 345.6 
Tidal Stream Turbine (second generation)
Large underwater turbines are placed in areas with high tidal
movements, and are designed to capture the kinetic motion of ocean tides
 The turbine spins as the water flows through it, which in turn rotates an
electricity-producing generator
Tidal stream generators are immature technologies
Tidal stream power industry is still in the early stages of development
but is progressing rapidly

Tidal Turbine Farm 

Tidal Current Speed
• Averaged current speed in Shinnecock Inlet - New
York
• The tide currents are semidiurnal (T = 12.42 hr)


Tidal Stream Turbines
Marine currents = High energy intensity
• Tidal current turbines are smaller than wind turbines for the
same power


Tidal Stream Turbines
 750 kW – 1.5 MW
 15 – 20 m rotor diameter
 10 – 20 RPM
 Deployed in multi-unit farms or
arrays
 Like a wind farm, but
 Seawater 832 x denser than air
 Smaller rotors
 More closely spaced
The instantaneous kinetic power
generated by a water turbine is

1 3
P = c p ρAV
2 Seagen twin turbines

Where cp is the power coefficient of the water turbine (maximum value

equal to 0.593 according to Betz law)

Tidal Stream Turbines
• The Effect of Velocity Shear
 Because kinetic power varies with the cube of current velocity,
relatively small velocity changes result in large power changes

1 3
P = c p ρ AV
2


Tidal Stream Energy
•The velocity profile of the tidal stream is assumed
to correlate with the one-seventh power law (open
terrain)
1
 z α
V ( z ) = 0.85V peak  
 0.32h 

Where α is usually equal to

7, a number that depends
on the roughness of the sea
bed Tidal stream farm

and Vpeak is the surface velocity, z the vertical depth,

V(z) velocity as function of depth and h is the water
depth 
Tidal Stream Turbines
 Kinetic Energy Conversion Methods

Horizontal axis turbine Vertical axis turbine

 Lift-based kinetic energy 1

converters or “underwater windmills”
P = η s ρAV 3
2

The lift and drag forces on an individual airfoil section can be
simply described in terms of lift (CL) and drag (CD)
coefficients as
1 1
L f = C L (α ) ρ (cR )V ; D f = C D (α ) ρ (cR )V
2 2

2 2

The pressure difference (Bernoulli

effect) between the top and bottom
surface of the airfoil creates a
resultant lift force

Relationship between lift and drag coefficients and the angle of attack

Tidal Stream Power
 Principal components of a horizontal axis marine current turbine

1
P= ρ a AV 3 .(C pη mechη elec ) [W ]
2


Example 2
An tidal Doppler current meter mounted on the sea surface of
a potential tidal stream farm site show an maximum tidal
current speed of 2.6 m/s with a sea-bed friction coefficient
of α=1/7 and depth of 135 m. A tidal stream analyst
believes that an average current speed of 1.9 m/s will be
sufficient to make the site commercially viable.
(i) At what depth will this current speed be obtained?
(ii) Estimate the tidal current specific power density (W/m2) in
the tidal stream at the average speed of 1.9 m/s. Assume
an sea-water density of 1025 kg/m3
Solution
(i) At the average speed of 1.9 m/s the depth would be
7
 V (z )  7

z = 0.32h  = 0.32 x135 1.9  = 15 m

 0.85V   0.85 x 2.6 
 peak 

(ii) The power (W) in the tidal currents at the average speed
of 1.9 m/s is given by:

1
P = ρAV (W )
3

2
And the specific power density (W/m2) in the tidal currents at
the average speed of 1.9 m/s is given by:

P 1 1 kW
  = ρV = X 1025 X 1.9 = 3.5 2
3 3

 A 2 2 m

44
Tidal Stream Turbines tested in UK

1 MW

Energy capture is proportional to swept area

 At least 300 m2 rotor area needed for economic
viability (>1 MW)

Tidal Stream Turbines
 Rotors and nacelles raised above sea level for
maintenance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrhfFLNah24&feature=related

SeaGen Prototype

2 x 600 kW - rotors:
16m diameter


Oscillating Tidal Stream Generator
•Stingray transforms the kinetic energy of moving water, captured by a set
of large hydroplanes, into electricity
• The hydroplane has its attack angle relative to the approaching water
stream varied by a simple mechanism
• This causes the supporting arm to oscillate which in turn forces
hydraulic cylinders to extend and retract
• This produces high pressure oil which is used to drive a generator

Oscillates up and down

 150 kW prototype operational (2002)
 Plans for 3 – 5 MW prototypes

Stingray - Tidal Stream Generator Source: Frazer-Nash Consultancy Limited 

Example 3 - Tidal Energy for a sea water desalination process
Shortage of drinking water will be the biggest problem of the
world in this century due to unsustainable consumption rates
and population growth
A twin-tidal turbine generator has to develop 16800 kWh per
day to produce distillate water for irrigation (production of ~
25 m3 of fresh water per day). The desalination plant operates
an electric sea-water evaporator. The daily mean sea-water
speed at the site is 2.2 m/s. Design the rotor for the twin -
tidal generator. Taking water density ρ =1025 kg/m3 and the
design power coefficient 0.4 and the combined drive train and
generator efficiency 0.88 (overall system efficiency as 0.35).
Solution:
16.8 MWh energy is to be developed in a day:


 2
1 1 πD 3
P = ρAV .(C pη mechη elec ) = ρ
3
V .η s
2 2 4
0.5 0.5
 8P   4 Et 
D= 3  = 3 
 ρπV .η s   ρπV .η s 24 
0.5
 4 x16800x10 
3
D= 3  = 15.3 m
1025xπx (2.2 ) x0.35x 24 


Example 4
Consider the design of a three-bladed tidal turbine using a
350-kW DC generator. The goal is to deliver 80.4 MWh in a
29.54-days month (Lunar cycle). Assuming standard sea-
water density of 1025 kg/m3
1) What capacity factor would be needed for the machine?
2) If the rotor diameter is 20 m, the average water speed is
1.7 m/s, what is the average power in the tidal currents
(kW)?
3) How fast would the tidal current have to speed to cause
the turbine to put out its full 350 kW if the machine is 30%
efficient (overall) at that point?
4) If the tip-speed ratio (TSR) is assumed to be 8, what gear
ratio would be needed to match the rotor speed to the
generator if the generator needs to turn at 900 rpm to
deliver its rated 350 kW?

1) The capacity factor is an indicator of how much energy a
particular wind turbine makes in a particular place, for a 30-
day month, it is given by:

Actual energy delivered (kWh / month )

CF =
PR (kW )x 30 x 24 (h / month )

Where, PR, the wind turbine power rating equal to 350 kW,
thus

80400 (kWh / month )

CF = = 0.324 or 32.4%
350 (kW )x 29.54x 24 (h / month )

2) The average tidal power is calculated from:

1 1 π 2
P = ρAV = x1025x (20 ) x1.7 3 = 791 kW
3

2 2 4 
3) The tidal current velocity that causes the turbine to put out
its full 350 kW with an overall machine efficiency of 30% is
determined from:
1 1 π 2
PR = ρAV η s = x1025x (20 ) xV 3 x0.3 = 350 kW
3

2 2 4
Thus,
350
V =3 = 1.9 m / s
48.3
4) Using the equation of the tip-speed ratio, the rpm does the
rotor turn when operate with a TSR of 8 . The tip speed ratio
(TSR) is defined as:

NπD Where, D is the rotor diameter and N

TSR = the rotational speed (rpm) of the
V rotor.

Hence,
s m
8x 60 x1.9
TSRx 60xV min s rev
rpm = = = 14.5
πD m min
20π
rev
If the generator needs to spin at 1800 rpm, then the
gear box in the nacelle must increase the rotor shaft
speed by a factor of

Generator rpm 900

Gear ratio = = = 62
Rotor rpm 14.5


Example 5 – The Blue Energy company wants to start
marketing tidal turbines. Their plans call for a turbine that
produces 580 kW in a 2.25 m/s mean tidal free streams at a cold
estuary site (5C) with an average seawater density of 1028
kg/m3. They have decided on a 22 m in diameter and three
bladed tidal turbine. The rotor is to have its peak power
coefficient at a tip speed ratio of 7 in a 2.25 m/s tidal currents.
The airfoil to be used has a lift coefficient of a 0.8 and a
minimum drag coefficient at a blade mean Reynolds number of
2.5x107 (or an angle of attack of 7 degrees). Take the kinematic
viscosity of seawater ν=1.25x10-6 m2/s
1) You, as the new blade designer, are to come up with the blade shape as a
starting point for the blade design. Find the chord length and the lift force
2) Determine the rotor CP for an axial flow factor equal to a=0.095. How much
power is delivered by the rotor
3) Estimate the annual energy production (kWh/year) when the tidal turbine is
running at rated power
4) Estimate the number of hours per year that the tidal current speed is equal to
2.25 m/s in that estuary and if the probability density function of occurrence of
tidal streams at 2.25 m/s is equal to 0.11

Solution:
1) The blade mean Reynolds number is given by

cVθ 7
Re blade = = 2.5x10
ν
Where Vθ and ν are the blade rotational velocity and
kinematic viscosity respectively. The blade rotational velocity
is evaluated from the definition of the TSR, given by:

Vθ
TSR = hence Vθ = TSR.V = 7 x 2.25 = 15.75 m / s
V
Thus, the Chord length c is equal:
−6
7 ν 1.25x10
7
c = 2.5x10 = 2.5x10 ≅2 m
Vθ 15.75

The lift forces on an individual airfoil section can be simply
described in terms of a lift coefficient (CL) as

1
L f = C L ρ (cR )V 2

2
Where (cR) is the area perpendicular to flow, V the velocity of
the free stream and R the blade radius. Thus,

1 0.8  22 
L f = C L ρ (cR )V =
2
1028 2x 2.25 = 45.8 kN
2

2 2  2 
2) The rotor efficiency is also called the power coefficient of
the rotor Cp given by
2 2
C p = 4a(1 − a ) = 4 X 0.095(1 − 0.095)
C p = 0.31

The power delivered by the rotor is
2
1 1 π 22
P = ρAV 3 .C p = 1028 2.253 x 0.31 = 689.9 kW
2 2 4
3) In a year with 8760 h, the annual energy production
(kWh/year) when the tidal turbine is running at rated power is,

h
E (kWh / yr ) = PR x8760 = 580x8760 = 5080.8 MWh
yr
4) The estimate of the hours the tidal currents flow at 2.25 m/s
is
Hours @ 2.25 m/s = 8760 h/yr x 0.11 = 963.6 h/yr


Advantages of Tidal Turbines
No Visual Impact
Mainly, if not totally submerged
Low Noise Pollution
Sound levels transmitted are very low
High Predictability
Tides predicted years in advance, unlike wind
High Power Density
Much smaller turbines than wind turbines for
the same power


Disadvantages of Tidal Turbines
High maintenance costs
High power distribution costs
Somewhat limited upside capacity
Intermittent power generation

