Ocean energy

Oceans are huge reservoirs of various non-conventional energy sources. However a small fraction can be recovered economically. There are various energy sources in ocean likeOcean thermal energy, ocean wave energy, ocean tidal energy etc. Ocean thermal energy conversion(OTEC) Ocean thermal energy conversion plants convert thermal energy from ocean water to electrical power(energy). Principle of OTEC The ocean water gets heated up naturally due to solar radiation. The temperatures of water near surface is higher than that of deep water. Significant amount of heat can be extracted from ocean water by ocean thermal gradient. By the principle of thermodynamics, a heat engine can be operated between two teperatures T1 and T2 . In the case of OTEC: Source temperature(T1): Temperatures of warm surface water of ocean Sink temperature(T2): Temperatures of cold deep water of ocean Maximal theoretical efficiency of a heat engine operating between source temperature (T1) and sink temperature(T2) is called Carnot efficiency(c) and is given by
T1 T2 T1 It is desirable to have large temperature difference to have large temperature difference (T1-T2) so as to have higher efficiency.

c =

The average surface water temperature(T1) for tropical ocean water are in the range of 240 C to 270 C. Deep water temperatures (T2) are lower than surface water temperature with a temperature difference of about 40C to 60C per km depth. Temperature difference of about 200C can be obtained from ocean thermal gradient. Assuming the temperature difference of OTEC as 200C,
T 20 = = 0.0667 = 6.67 % T1 27 + 273 The actual efficiency of a practical OTEC plant is less than 2 per cent.

c =

Two types of OTEC system under active consideration are

1. Open cycle(Claude cycle, steam cycle) 2. Closed cycle(Anderson cycle, vapour cycle) In open cycle, the warm ocean water is converted into steam in an evaporator. The steam drives steam-turbine generator to deliver electrical energy In closed cycle, the ocean thermal energy is given to liquid working fluid(Ammonia, butane or Freon). Vapour of the working fluid drives vapour turbine generators to deliver electrical energy.

Open cycle(Claude cycle, steam cycle)

OTEC based on open cycle was first built in Cuba during 1929 by French engineer George Claude. Schematic of an open cycle OTEC power plant is shown in figure below. Warm water from ocean surface (1) at about 260c is admitted into the evaporator(2). The evaporator is maintained at vaccum pressure (very low pressure) by means of vaccum pump. At low vaccum pressures, the boiling point of water reduces and more steam is generated. The saturated steam generated in evaporator(2) is admitted into a special steam turbine. Remaining water from evaporator is discharged into the sea at(4). Steam turbine converts thermal energy into mechanical energy as the steam expands in turbine. Exhaust steam from turbine is condensed in direct contact condenser. Cold water from deep ocean is admitted into the condenser at (6) The condensation of steam(5) is by mixing with cold water(6). Cold water from deep sea is at low temperature(150C). The condenser discharges the condensate into the ocean at 7. Due to very low differences in source and sink temperatures, efficiency is very low.

Limitations of open cycle OTEC system Very large flow of ocean water in terms of mass and volume. Turbine operates at very low steam pressure Turbine is physically large Cost of plant is high Cost of electrical energy from open cycle OTEC is very high. Hence such plants are not economically viable at present. Plant is subjected ocean storms, high waves, etc. The plant is subjected to extremely severe stresses. Corrosion of metal parts due to saline water. Erosion of metal parts due to particles in flowing water. Salt gets deposited in pipes equipment. Maintenance is difficult Construction of floating power plants is difficult Power transfer from off-shore OTEC plant to land based load centre is difficult and costly. Plant size is limited to about 100 MW due to large size of components. Closed cycle OTEC (Anderson cycle, Vapour cycle)
In a closed cycle OTEC plant working fluid of low boiling point circulates in a closed cycle comprising heat exchanger, vapour turbine, surface condenser and liquid vapour pressuriser. Warm surface ocean water delivers heat to the working fluid in the heat exchanger. Cold deep ocean water extracts heat from the spent vapours in the condenser.

Working fluids used in closed cycle OTEC can be

Ammonia Freon Butane

Figure below represents the schematic of a closed cycle OTEC plant. Warm water from Ocean(1) is pumped into the heat exchanger(2) and is discharged into the ocean(3). The working fluid extracts heat from the warm ocean water and is vapourised. The vapours having thermal energy are expanded in the vapour turbine(4). The thermal energy is converted to mechanical energy by turbine. The turbine drives electrical generator rotor(5). The generator produces electrical energy. The spent vapours are condensed in condenser which utilizes cold water from deep sea as a coolant. Liquefied working fluid is passed through pressuriser (9) into the heat exchanger(2). The working fluids is circulated again and again through the closed cycle.

Tides-periodic rise and fall of water level of sea

Tides are produced mainly by the gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun on the surface water of earth(ocean). About 70 percent of tide producing force is due to the moon and 30 percent due to the sun. Surface water is pulled away from the earth on the side facing moon and diametrically opposite side (due to dynamic balancing-centrifugal force). Thus high tides occur in these two areas with low tides at intermediate points. As the earth rotates, the position of the given area relative to the moon changes and also do the tides. There are thus a periodic succession of high and low tides

Semi-diurnal tides, Spring tides and Neap tides

Two tidal cycles occur(two high tides and two low tides) occur during a lunar day of 24 hours and 50 minutes(lunar day is apparent time of revolution of the moon about the earth). These are called semi-diurnal tides.

The rise and fall of the water level follows a sinusoidal curve, shown with points A,C indicating high tide points and B indicating low-tide points. The average time for the water level to fall from A to B and then rise to C is approximately 12 hrs 25 minutes. In a lunar day of 25 hrs 50 minutes there are two high tides and low tides.

Tidal range
The difference between high and low water levels is called the range of tide. The tidal range R is defined as

Tidal range (R ) = water elevation at high tide-water elevation at low tide Tidal range varies during the 29.5 day lunar month. Because of the changing position of the moon and the Sun relative to earth, the range varies continuously. There are some characteristics features of this variation.
At times near full moon and new moon, sun, moon and earth are approximately in a line, the gravitational force of Sun and moon enhance each other. The the tidal range is

exceptionally large. The high tides are higher than higher and low tides are lower than the average. These high tides are called spring tides.

On the other hand near the first and third quarters of the moon, sun and moon are right angles with respect to earth. The tidal range is exceptionally small. The high tides are lower and low tides are higher than the average. These low tides are called neap tides. Hence the tidal range is not constant. It varies during 29.5 day lunar month, being maximum at the time of new and full moons, called spring tides and minimum at the time of the first and third quarter moons called the neap tides.

Tidal ranges vary from one earth location to another. They are influenced by such conditions as the profile of the local shore line and water depth. When these are favourable, a resonance like effect causes very large tidal ranges. Ranges have to be very large to justify the huge costs of building dams and associated hydroelectric power plants. Such tides occur only in few locations in the world.

Principle of tidal power generation The main feature of the tidal cycle is the difference in water surface elevations at the high tide and low tide. This differential head could be utilized in operating a hydraulic turbine. The tidal energy could be converted into electrical energy by means of an attached generator. Potential energy due to difference height converted into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy.
Water at the time of high tide is at a high level and can be let into a basin to be stored at a high level and can be let into a basin to be stored at a high level there. The same water can be let back into the sea during the low tide through the turbines, thus producing power. Since the basin water level is high and the sea water is low, there is a differential head comparable to the tidal range. That can be utilized for running of the turbines. The three components of a tidal power plant are The power house The dam or barrage to form pool or basin The sluice-ways from the basins to the sea and vice-versa The sluice-ways are either used to fill the basin during the high tide or empty the basin during the low tide, as per operational requirements. These are gate controlled devices.

Advantages and limitations of tidal power generation Advantages 1. The biggest advantage of the tidal power is besides being inexhaustible, it is completely independent of the precipitation(rain) and its uncertainity. 2. Tidal power generation is free from pollution, as it does not use any fuel and also does not produce any unhealthy waste like gases, ash, atomic refuse 3. These power plants do not demand large area of valuable land because thy are on the bays(sea shore)

4. Peak power demand can be effectively met when it works in combination with thermal or hydroelectric system. Limitations 1. The fundamental drawback to all methods of generating tidal power is the variability in output caused by the variations in the tidal range. 2. The tidal ranges is highly variable and thus the turbines have to work on a wide range of head variation. This affects the efficiency of the plant. 3. The tidal range is limited to a few meters 4. Sea water is corrosive and it was feared that the machinery may get corroded. 5. Construction in sea is difficult

Ocean waves
The periodic, to and fro, up and down motion of water in large lakes, seas and oceans is called ocean waves. Ocean waves possess potential energy and kinetic energy. The ocean waves originate in different parts of the ocean surface due to the surface winds. The waves travel in the direction of the wind to the shore. The waves may be due to the local winds or the planetary winds. The height of the waves depends upon the wind velocities, depth of the ocean, contour of the shore etc. Waves have typical range as follows: --wave height 0.2 to 4m --Wave period 4s to 12 s Ocean and sea waves are caused indirectly by solar energy like the wind and OTEC. Wave energy derives from wind energy, which in turn derives from solar energy. As stated earlier, the wind energy is caused by the uneven solar heating and subsequent cooling of the earths crust and the rotation of the earth. Wave energy at its most active, however, can be much more concentrated than the solar energy. Devices that convert energy from waves can therefore produce much higher power densities that solar devices.

Energy and power from waves For simplifying the analysis an ocean wave is assumed to be a sinusoidal progressive (traveling) wave having certain frequency(f), wave length(), period(T), amplitude(a), velocity(v) etc.

The wave may be expressed by the following relation involving some parameters
y = a sin( 2 x 2 t ) , where y is the height above its mean level in m. T

Potential energy
Potential energy arises from the elevation of water above mean level The potential energy density per unit area is
PE 1 = ga 2 A 4

Kinetic energy Due to movement of water The kinetic energy density per unit area
KE 1 = g a 2 A 4

Total energy and power density

E 1 = ga 2 A 2 P 1 = ga 2 f A 2
Where f is the frequency.(Power P=energy x frequency).

Wave-energy conversion devices

Wave energy conversion by floats

Wave power is primarily horizontal, but the motion of the water is primarily vertical. Mechanical power is obtained by floats making use of the motion of water. The float is driven up and down by the water within relatively stationary guides. This reciprocating motion is converted to mechanical and then electrical power is generated. A system based on this principle is shown in figure, in which a square float moves up and down with the water. It is guided by four vertical manifolds that are part of a platform. There are four large under water floatation tanks which stabilize the platform. A piston which is attached to float as shown in figure moves up and down inside a cylinder. The piston and cylinder arrangement is used as a reciprocating compressor. The downward motion of the piston draws air into the cylinder via an inlet check valve. This air is compressed by upward motion of the piston and supplied to the four under water floatation tanks, thorugh an outlet check valve via the four manifolds. An air turbine is run by the compressed air which is stored in the buoyancystorage tanks, which in turn drives an electrical generator, producing electricity which is then transmitted to the shore via an under water cable. High level Reservoir wave machine

This device uses a magnification piston. The pressurized water is elevated to a natural reservoir above the wave generator. The water in the reservoir is made to flow through a turbine coupled to an electric generator, and then back to sea level. The Dolphin-Type Wave-power Machine

The system consists of following major components: 1. a dolphin 2. a float 3. a connecting rod 4. two electric generators This device uses the float which has two motions. The first is a rolling motion about its own fulcrum with the connecting rod. Revolving movements are caused between the float and the connecting rod. The other is a nearly vertical or heaving motion about the connecting rod fulcrum. It causes relative revolving movements between the connecting rod and the stationary dolphin. In both the cases, the movements are amplified and converted by gears into continuous rotary motions that drive the two electrical generators.

Advantages and disadvantages of wave energy

Advantages 1. The wave energy has the advantage over wind or solar that the energy has been naturally concentrated by accumulation overtime and space and transported from the point at which it was originally present in the winds. 2. It is free and renewable energy source. 3. Wave power devices do not use up large land masses unlike solar or wind 4. These devices are relatively pollution free and because they remove energy from the waves, leave the water in a relatively placid(calm) state in their wakes. Disadvantages 1. The major disadvantage of wave energy as compared to wind is that the energy is available on the ocean. The extraction equipment must be operated in marine environment with all that implies in terms of maintenance, construction cost, life time and reliability. The energy may have to be transported a greater distance to shore. Wave energy converters must be capable of withstanding very severe peak stresses in storms There is relatively scarcity of accessible sites of large wave activity. Wave energy conversion devices that have been proposed are relatively complicated.

2. 3. 4. 5.