Tidal Energy

Tidal Energy
 Tidal power or tidal energy is a form of hydropower
that converts the energy obtained from tides into
useful forms of power, mainly electricity.
 Tidal power is taken from the Earth's oceanic tides.
Tidal forces are periodic variations in gravitational
attraction exerted by the sun and moon. These forces
create corresponding motions or currents in the
world's oceans.
 Due to the strong attraction to the oceans, a bulge in
the water level is created, causing a temporary
increase in sea level. When the sea level is raised,
water from the middle of the ocean is forced to move
toward the shorelines, creating a tide. This
occurrence takes place in an unfailing manner, due to
the consistent pattern of the moon’s orbit around the
earth.
 The difference between the high and low tides is
called tidal range. One way we harness tidal energy
is by using a barrage.
 Tidal Barrage
 Tidal barrages make use of the potential energy in the difference in
height between high and low tides. When using tidal barrages to
generate power, the potential energy from a tide is seized through
strategic placement of specialized dams.
 When the sea level rises and the tide begins to come in, the temporary
increase in tidal power is channeled into a large basin behind the dam,
holding a large amount of potential energy.
 With the receding tide, this energy is then converted into mechanical
energy as the water is released through large turbines that create
electrical power through the use of generators.
 Barrages are essentially dams across the full width of a tidal estuary
(the wide part of a river where it nears the sea).
• A barrage is a dam that blocks
receding waters at low tide in an
estuary.
• The barrage or dam utilizes the tidal
range to generate power. Tidal barrage
power systems are a type of
hydroelectric power (water turns
turbines to create electricity)
•Basically, a small dam with larger gates is made across the
mouth of the estuary and low head turbines are used for
generation of electrical power.
•At the time of the tide, the gates are opened to trap some
amount of water in the estuary behind the dam. The incoming
water passes through a water turbine to produce electricity.
Once the ocean is at low tide, the sluice gates are opened and water spins
the turbines as the water recedes (exits the estuary).
 Draw backs of Tidal power
Generation
 There is only a handful of locations in the
world that this tidal difference occurs.
 Tidal barrages require a minimum 16 foot tidal
difference between low tide and high tide to
work
 Tidal barrages can disrupt estuarine
ecosystems.
 Tidal barrages only generate energy when the
tide is flowing in or out (10 hours a day).