Tidal Power

1
Introduction
Tides are generated through a combination of forces
exerted by the gravitational pull of the sun and the
moon and the rotation of the earth
The relative motion of the three bodies produces
different tidal cycles which affect the range of the
tides
The tide moves a huge amount of water twice each
day, and harnessing it could provide a great deal of
energy
Although the energy supply is reliable and plentiful,
converting it into useful electrical power is not easy
Tides Governed by Earth-Moon-Sun
Tidal changes in sea level
occur as Earth rotates
beneath bulges in ocean
envelope, which are
produced by solar and
lunar gravitational forces
and centrifugal forces
MOONS ORBIT
North Pole
Earth rotates counter-clockwise
Resource Variable
but Predictable
Greatest range occurs
when sun and moon
pull in same direction
(spring tide)
Weakest when
sun and
moon in
opposition
(neap tide)
Energy can be extracted from tides by creating a
reservoir or basin behind a barrage and then
passing tidal waters through turbines in the
barrage to generate electricity
Tidal energy is extremely site specific
Requires mean tidal differences greater than 4
meters
Also favorable topographical conditions, such as
estuaries or certain types of bays required in order
to bring down costs of dams etc.
Since India is surrounded by sea on three sides, it has
potential to harness tidal energy
Potential sites for tidal power development have
already been located. The most attractive locations are
the Gulf of Khambhat (formerly known as Gulf of
Cambay) and the Gulf of Kachchh on the west coast
where the maximum tidal range is 11 m and 8 m
The Ganges Delta in the Sunderbans in West Bengal
also has good locations for small scale tidal power
development. The maximum tidal range in
Sunderbans is approximately 5 m
The identified economic tidal power potential in India
is of the order of 8000-9000 MW with about 7000 MW
in the Gulf of Cambay about 1200 MW in the Gulf of
Kachchh and less than 100 MW in Sundarbans
The techno-economic feasibility report is now being
examined.
How it works ?
These work rather like a hydro-
electric scheme, except that the
dam is much bigger
A huge dam (called a "barrage")
is built across a river estuary.
When the tide goes in and out,
the water flows through
tunnels in the dam
The ebb and flow of the tides
can be used to turn a turbine
Large lock gates, like the ones
used on canals, allow ships to
pass


Barrage Tidal Power: Rance Power Station
The largest tidal power
station in the world is in
the Rance estuary in
northern France
It was built in 1966
Located on Rance River,
France, It has
24 Turbines
Capacity of 240MW
Annual output of
600GWh
Supplies 0.012% of
Frances power supply
250MW barrage in La Rance, France
Dam constructed across
estuary requiring long
construction time and large
financial commitment
Power produced by
impounding tidal waters
behind dam
Drastically alters circulation
of estuary in addition to
attendant problems with
conventional hydroelectric
Low-cost power production
at very large scale
A major drawback of tidal power stations is that they
can only generate when the tide is flowing in or out -
in other words, only for 10 hours each day
However, tides are totally predictable, so we can plan
to have other power stations generating at those times
when the tidal station is out of action
Another option is to use offshore turbines, rather like
an underwater wind farm.
This has the advantage of being much cheaper to
build, and does not have the environmental problems
that a tidal barrage would bring.
Instead of damming
estuaries the tidal
currents are harnessed
using wind like turbines
The "Swan-turbines"
design is different to
other devices in a
number of ways
The most significant is
that it is direct drive,
where the blades are
connected directly to the
electrical generator
without a gearbox
between
Tidal Hydrokinetic Turbines
Superficial resemblance to
wind turbines

Power proportional to
velocity cubed

Key operational
differences
Higher fluid density
Lower fluid speed
Higher torque
Helical Turbine
designed for hydroelectric applications in free-flowing
water
operates in ocean, tidal, and river currents
does not require expensive dams that can harm the
environment
self-starting with flow as low as 0.6 m/s
smooth-running
rotates in same direction regardless of the direction of
flow, making it ideal for tidal applications
(a) 6-blade
helical turbine
(b) Pulley and
belt
(c) alternator
The Tide-Energy project near the
mouth of the Amazon:
a simple generating package
Advantages
Once built, tidal power is free
It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste
It needs no fuel
It improves electricity reliably
Not expensive to maintain.
Tides are totally predictable
Disadvantages
A barrage across an estuary is very expensive to
build, and affects a very wide area
The environment is changed for many miles
upstream and downstream
Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud
flats so that they can feed. Fish can't migrate,
unless "fish ladders" are installed
Only provides power for around 10 hours each
day, when the tide is actually moving in or out
There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages