A SMART WAY TO EXTRACT TIDAL ENERGY

K. Hari Kishore.

08MP1A0229

Abstract—Man in his lifetime, uses energy in

one form or the other. In fact whatever happens

in nature, results, out of the conversion of

energy in one form or the other? The blowing of

the wind, the formation of the clouds and the

flow of water are a few examples that stand

testimony to this fact. The extensive usage of

energy has resulted in an energy crisis, and there

is a need to develop methods of optimal

utilization, which will not only ease the crisis but

also preserve the environment.

This paper attempts to show how energy can

be tapped from tides in ocean or sea by using

simple equipment where almost everyone can

handle it. More the tides more will be the energy

generated. There is possibility of tapping the

energy and generating power by making a simple

turbine subjected to air which is caused by the

motion of tides. The generated power can be

used for the lamps near the coastal areas and

this will be a great boon for the rural villages

nearer to sea or ocean too.

My paper explains clearly, the working

principle of the designed system and its

advantages. Design of each component has been

carried out using standard procedures, and the

components have been fabricated and assembled.

The utilization of energy is an indication of the

growth of a nation. One might conclude that to

be materially rich and prosperous, a human

being needs to consume more and more energy.

V.Chaitanya Prasad, (M-tech).

Assoc.Prof. EEE Dept.

INTRODUCTION

This paper attempts to show how energy can be

tapped from tides in ocean or sea by using simple

equipment where almost everybody can handle.

More the tides more will be the electrical energy

generated.

A large amount of kinetic energy is wasted in

sea or ocean every time a tide passes on it. There

is great possibility of tapping this energy and

generating power by making a simple turbine

subjected to air which is caused by the motion of

tides.

The generated power can be used for the lamps

near the coastal areas and this will be a great boon

for the villages and even towns near sea or an

ocean.

SCOPE OF THE PAPER

The utilization of energy is an indication of the

growth of a nation. For example, the per capital

energy consumption in USA is 9000 KWh (Kilo

Watt hour) per year, whereas the consumption in

India is 1200 KWh (Kilo Watt hour). One might

conclude that to be materially rich and prosperous,

a human being needs to consume more and more

energy.

A recent survey on the energy consumption in

India had published a pathetic report that 85,000

villages in India do not still have electricity.

Supply of power in most part of the country is

poor. Hence more research and development and

commercialization of technologies are needed in

this field.

India, unlike the top developed countries has

very poor maintenance of electricity. Taking the

need of a particular industry, it needs a predictable

energy source to maintain accuracy in production

but here power being supplied to that industry

from respected sector is highly unpredictable. By

just placing a simple plant in a right place will be

very much advantage also for the industries near

seas or oceans.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Simple energy conversion from mechanical to

electrical.

We can develop electricity from ocean tides.

To generate electricity using the wind caused

by ocean tides energy as input.

Three mechanisms can be used:

I. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

II. Wave Energy Converter & Floating

Wave Energy Extractor

III. Capturing air through turbines from

the movement of tides

OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY

CONVERSION (OTEC)

The energy from the sun heats the surface

water of the ocean. In tropical regions, the surface

water can be 40 or more degrees warmer than the

deep water. This temperature difference can be

used to produce electricity. The OTEC system

must have a temperature difference of at least 25

degrees Celsius to operate, limiting use to tropical

regions.

First, the OTEC systems are not very energy

efficient. Pumping water is a giant engineering

challenge. Electricity must also be transported to

land. It will probably be 10 to 20 years before the

technology is available to produce and transmit

electricity economically from OTEC systems.

WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION USING

BUOY

The wave energy converter (WEC) consists of a

buoy coupled directly to the rotor of a linear

generator by a rope. The tension of the rope is

maintained with a spring pulling the rotor

downwards. The rotor will move up and down at

approximately the same speed as the wave.

The linear generator has a uniquely low pole

height and generates electricity at low wave

amplitudes and slow wave speeds.

FLOATING WAVE ENERGY EXTRACTER

The system is consists of a rectangular shaped

huge mass floating body supported by a large

number of floating air columns. The air column’s

extensions are connected to pistons. The pistons

are placed its own cylinders and it can move up

and down through the cylinders when the floating

air columns moves with the up-down movements

of the waves. The upper side of the cylinders has

two valves. One to a high-pressure fluid pipe and

it will open when the floating air column on crest.

One valve is to the low-pressure fluid pipe and it

will open when the floating air column on the

trough.

The whole system is anchored to the sea

bottom.

CAPTURING AIR THROUGH TURBINES

FROM THE MOVEMENT OF TIDES

Kinetic energy (movement) exists in the

moving waves of the ocean. That energy can be

used to power a turbine. If a long barrel is inserted

into the sea, the wave rises into the barrel. The

rising water forces the air out of the barrel. The

moving air spins a turbine which can turn a

generator.

When the wave goes down, air flows

through the turbine and back into the barrel

through doors that are normally closed.

This is only one type of wave-energy

system. Others actually use the up and down

motion of the wave to power a piston that moves

up and down inside a cylinder. That piston can

also turn a generator.

Most wave-energy systems are very small.

But, they can be used to power a warning buoy or

a small light house.

ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM

WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION BY

CAPTURING AIR

As we have seen the process of capturing air

through turbines from the movement of tides, this

process seems simpler and cost efficient to satisfy

basic needs of a small village near a sea or an ocean.

All the equipment we need is nothing but a large

and long synthetic barrel, a turbine, a generator and

energy storing devices.

WORKING PROCEDURE

The tides on seas and oceans are caused due to

the gravitational pull of Sun and Moon, this

process is continues till the end of the universe.

The movement of tides contains kinetic energy.

When a long barrel is inserted on the surface of

sea, the to-fro motion of waves produces pressure

on air inside the barrel and gets exhaled and

inhaled from it continuously.

A turbine is placed on the other end of the

barrel where inlet and outlet of air takes place;

this rotates the turbine and electricity is generated.

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

The basic and important elements used in

construction are:

LONG BARREL

TURBINE

ELECTRIC DYNAMO

PLACEMENT

LONG BARREL:

Barrel used is usually made of strong synthetic

which can be of anticorrosive long lasting material

like PVC etc.

TURBINE:

Generally turbines rotate in a direction

corresponding to the direction of air but here in

order to use wind completely from both the

directions we are using a special turbine called

Wells Turbine which can rotate in a single

direction irrespective to the direction of wind as

shown in figure 1.

Wells Turbine is unidirectional turbine which

lets great advantage by reducing the cost of

equipment used to convert to and fro motion of

turbine to rotating motion.

ELECTRIC DYNAMO:

It is a device which converts mechanical

energy into electrical energy.

PLACEMENT:

Placement of the equipment shall be focused

properly to see that the variation of tides shall be

more and to place the barrel vertically, the spot

should be chosen in such a way that the length of

the barrel should be properly accommodated.

ADVANTAGES

Low budget electricity production

Less surface area

No disturbance to marine lives

Easy maintenance

Suitable to satisfy basic needs

Uses: Charging batteries and using them to

light up the streets, etc.

CONCLUSION

As day by day power consumption increases

but electric crisis occur. So the minor needs of

electricity such as street lights and traffic signals

in urban areas beside seas or oceans and basic

needs of villages beside oceans or seas can be

satisfied by Tidal Energy. Instead of wasting

kinetic energy of Tides in oceans or seas, the

minor needs can be met by converting kinetic

energy to electrical energy.

REFERENCES

1. www.wikipedia.com 2. Renewable energy ’THE FUTURE’ by grseg

clofer (volume 3) 3. ‘New Ways of power’ by Alka Datta 4. Site: www.patentstorm.com 5. Powerpedia.com

6. Planet Mechanics ‘National

Geography’converting kinetic energy to

electrical energy.

Figure1: Wells Turbine