ANAND KUMAR SOLANKI 1

INTRODUCTION
Fuel Cells:
 A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy into
electricity without involving a combustion cycle.

 The first fuel cells were invented by Sir William Grove in 1838.

 The first commercial use of fuel cells came the invention of the hydrogen–
oxygen fuel cell by Francis Thomas Bacon in 1932.

ANAND KUMAR SOLANKI 2

 Principle operation of fuel cell
• The main components of fuel cell are a fuel
electrode (anode), an oxidant (cathode) and
an electrolyte.
• In most fuel cells, hydrogen is the active
material at the negative electrode and
oxygen is active at positive electrode.
• Porous nickel electrodes are generally used
for commercial applications.
• Hydrogen gas is supplied to one electrode
and oxygen gas to other. Between the
electrodes is the layer of electrolyte.
• At the negative electrode, hydrogen gas (H2) is converted into hydrogen ions (H+) plus an
equivalent number of electrons (2e-).
• At negative electrode, hydrogen is diffused through the permeable nickel which is embedded
as catalyst. The catalyst enables the hydrogen ions (H+) to react with hydroxyl ions (OH) in
the electrolyte to form water. ANAND KUMAR SOLANKI 3
 • The catalyst enables the hydrogen ions (H+)
to react with hydroxyl ions (OH) in the
electrolyte to form water.

• When the cell is operating and producing

current, the electrons flow through the
external load to the positive electrode. They
interact with oxygen and water from the
electrolyte to form negatively charged (OH-)
ions.
• Also electrons (2e-) are absorbed from the
oxygen electrode and released to hydrogen
electrode.
• Addition to three reactions, when cell is operating, the overall process is chemical
combination of hydrogen and oxygen to form water which is the waste product of the cell.

ANAND KUMAR SOLANKI 4

The cell reaction can be written as follows:

Anode Reaction: O2 + 2H2O + 4e– → 4OH–

Cathode Reaction: 2H2 + 4OH– → 4H2O + 4e–

Net Cell Reaction: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

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 Classification of a fuel cells
According to the temperature range
(a) low temperature : 25 to 100 C
(b) medium temperature: 100 to 500 C
(c) high temperature: 500 to 1000 C
(d) very high temperature: above 1000 C
According to the type of electrolyte
(a) aqueous
(b) non – aqueous
(c) molten or solid
According to the physical state of the fuel
(a) gas – hydrogen, lower hydrocarbons
(b) liquid – alcohols, hydrazine, higher hydrocarbons
(c) solid – metals

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 Types of fuel cells

 Alkaline fuel cells

 Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)
 Phosphoric acid fuel cells
 Molten carbonate fuel cells
 Solid oxide fuel cells

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The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell
•These cells are also known as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (or PEMFCs).
•The temperature range that these cells operate in is between 50oC to 100oC
•The electrolyte used in PEMFCs is a polymer which has the ability to conduct protons.
•A typical PEM fuel cell consists of bipolar plates, a catalyst, electrodes, and the polymer
membrane.
•Despite having eco-friendly applications in transportation, PEMFCs can also be used for
the stationary and portable generation of power.

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Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM)

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Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell
• These fuel cells involve the use of phosphoric acid as an electrolyte in order
to channel the H+
• The working temperatures of these cells lie in the range of 150oC – 200oC
• Electrons are forced to travel to the cathode via an external circuit because
of the non-conductive nature of phosphoric acid.
• Due to the acidic nature of the electrolyte, the components of these cells
tend to corrode or oxidize over time.

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Phosphoric acid fuel cells

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Alkaline fuel cells

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Alkaline Fuel Cell
•This was the fuel cell which was used as the primary source of electricity in the Apollo space program.
•The operating temperatures of these cells are quite low (approximately 90oC).
•These cells are highly efficient. They also produce heat and water along with electricity.

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Molten carbonate fuel cells

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Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
•The electrolyte used in these cells is lithium potassium carbonate salt. This salt becomes liquid at high temperatures,
enabling the movement of carbonate ions.
•Similar to SOFCs, these fuel cells also have a relatively high operating temperature of 650oC
•The anode and the cathode of this cell are vulnerable to corrosion due to the high operating temperature and the
presence of the carbonate electrolyte.
•These cells can be powered by carbon-based fuels such as natural gas and biogas.

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 Solid oxide fuel cells
 A solid oxide fuel cell (or SOFC) is an electrochemical conversion device that
produces electricity directly from oxidizing a fuel.
 Fuel cells are characterized by their electrolyte material; the SOFC has a solid
oxide or ceramic electrolyte.

 Anode: Ni-ZrO2 or Co-ZrO2

 Cathode: Strontium doped Lanthanum magnate (LaMnO3)

 Electrolyte: Zirconium oxide

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Fuel: H2 and CO
Oxidant: Oxygen
Operating temperature: 500-1000oC

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Advantages of a Fuel Cell
1. A fuel cell does not require any sort of recharging. A fuel cell is able to reproduce the energy till it is
supplied with fuel.
2. If hydrogen is used as the input fuel, then the only byproducts observed are water, heat, and electricity,
thereby producing electrical energy with utmost efficiency and with no release of toxic substances.
3. Fuel cells are highly efficient as they are able to directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy. In
comparison to the other alternatives available in the market, fuel cells are 60% more efficient.
4. Fuel cells do not contribute to air pollution in any way.
5. Fuel cells are not hazardous and do not lead to health problems as the working of fuel cells does not lead
to the formation of smoke or smog.
6. A fuel cell does not have any mechanical part; therefore, they are noiseless.
Disadvantages of a Fuel Cell
1. Fuel cells are expensive in nature.
2. Fuel cells are difficult to store as the fuel used in the cells require a particular temperature and pressure
level to be maintained.
3. Fuel cells are comparatively less durable.
4. The average lifespan of fuel cells is not quite high.

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 Applications of a Fuel Cell
Transportation
Fuel cells are widely used in transportation
vehicles such as buses, trucks, cars, etc. This
is because fuel cells do not release toxic
gases; therefore, these are cleaner
alternatives to power vehicles. The use of
fuel cells in vehicles tends to significantly
increase reliability. It is also used to power
FCEVs.
Material Handling Equipment
Fuel cells are prominently employed in
material handling equipment to ease the
process of transporting heavy goods from
one place to another.

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Spacecrafts
Fuel cells are often used to power rockets and space shuttles as
they do not release much toxic waste into the environment.

Electronic Gadgets
Hydrogen fuel cells provide a versatile option to power various electronic
gadgets and communication devices such as mobile phones, laptops, etc.

Backup Power Generation

A number of backup power generation systems
make use of fuel cells for their operation.
Stationary fuel cells are a crucial element of the
uninterrupted power supply devices installed
in hospitals, residential buildings, industries,
offices, etc.

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Applications of fuel cell
Fuel cell technology has a wide range of applications. Currently, heavy research is being
conducted in order to manufacture a cost-efficient automobile which is powered by a fuel
cell. A few applications of this technology are listed below.
•Fuel cell electric vehicles, or FCEVs, use clean fuels and are therefore more eco-friendly
than internal combustion engine-based vehicles.
•They have been used to power many space expeditions including the Appolo space
program.
•Generally, the byproducts produced from these cells are heat and water.
•The portability of some fuel cells is extremely useful in some military applications.
•These electrochemical cells can also be used to power several electronic devices.
•Fuel cells are also used as primary or backup sources of electricity in many remote areas.

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 POWER PLANTS BASED ON OCEAN
ENERGY:
The Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). plants are of three types,
namely
1. ‘closed’ Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
2. ‘open’, Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)

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Closed Rankine Cycle or Anderson Closed Cycle OTEC System

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 Closed Rankine Cycle or Anderson Closed Cycle OTEC System
 The closed cycle system using a low boiling point working fluid like ammonia or propane is shown in
Figure.
 It may be seen that warm water from the surface which is at a temperature of about 26°C is brought in one
pipe, and cold water at a temperature of around 5°C is brought in another pipe from a depth of about 1000
metres.
 In OTEC plants two water pipes are used in conjunction with a working fluid to generate electric power.
 Different operational activities of the plant are:
 The warm sea water evaporates the liquid ammonia into vapour in a unit called an evaporator. This can
be done because ammonia exists in the form of gas at the temperature corresponding to the surface sea
water.
 The liquid ammonia which is not evaporated collects in a unit known as separator, which again
recirculates through the evaporator.

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(c) The evaporated ammonia in the form of high pressure vapour is made to pass through a turbine where its
pressure and temperature make the turbine to rotate, thus converting thermal energy into mechanical energy. The
rotating turbine if coupled to an electric generator produces electric power.
(d) The ammonia vapour coming out of the turbine, which is now at the lower pressure than when it entered the
turbine is condensed back into liquid ammonia by cooling it with the colder sea water brought up from the deep
part.
(e) The liquified ammonia collects in an ammonia sump. After a few hours of operation, the make-up quantity of
ammonia is added from the ammonia storage to make up for the operational loss.
f) The liquified ammonia is then pumped back to the evaporator, thus completing the cycle. The cycle repeats to
run the plant continuously.

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Closed Rankine Cycle or Anderson Closed Cycle OTEC System

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 CLAUDE SYSTEM – OPEN CYCLE OTEC SYSTEM
• ‘Open cycle’ refers to the utilization of sea water as the working fluid, wherein
sea water is flash evaporated under partial vacuum.
• The low-pressure steam is passed through a turbine which extracts energy
from it and then the spent vapour is cooled in a condenser.
• This cycle drive the name ‘open’ from the fact that the condensate need not be
returned to the evaporator as in the case of ‘closed cycle’.
• or if a spray (direct-contact) condenser is used, the condensate is mixed with
the cooling water and the mixture is discharged back into the ocean.

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CLAUDE SYSTEM – OPEN CYCLE OTEC
SYSTEM

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The advantages of OTEC are as follows:
i. The plant can supply steady power without any fluctuation in all the
vagaries of weather
ii. The power output does not vary from season to season.
iii.The plant needs usual thermodynamic devices and equipment, such as
turbine, heat exchanger and condenser.
iv. The plant can be constructed on shoreline or on floating platform.
v. The plant of any size or capacity can be constructed at a suitable site.

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The demerits of OTEC plant are as follows:
i. As low temperature difference exists in upper surface and deep water, thereby plant has a
very low efficiency in converting ocean thermal energy. Hence, a large plant size at huge
cost has to be constructed to meet the power requirement.
ii. The design, operation and maintenance of flash evaporator in the open system are
problematic.
iii. The design, of steam turbine to operate at low pressure is problematic.
iv. The large size of heat exchanger to work as boiler is problematic.
v. The development of pumps suitable for handling large amounts of water is problematic.

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 INTRODUCTION:
• We are aware of the movement of ocean water in terms of waves, which become huge in height as one
goes farther from the coast.
• This movement of large quantities of water up and down can in principle be harnessed to convert into
usable forms of energy such as electricity or mechanical power.
• Waves are formed on the surface of water by the frictional action of the winds resulting in the radial
depression of energy from the blowing winds in all directions.
• The ocean is a big collector of energy transferred by wind over a large surface area which is stored as
wave energy.
• Wave energy is more concentrated compared to wind energy, which is thinly distributed.
• Wave energy is available in coastal areas, islands and its potential depends upon its geographic location.
• Energy available in ocean waves varies in different months and seasons.
• Wave energy, if harnessed with improved technology, can prove to be a large dependable source of
renewable energy. 33
 Factors Affecting Wave Energy
There are three major factors which govern the quantum of wave energy:
• The first is the wind speed, i.e., the higher the wind speed, the higher is the wave
energy. The amplitude of the waves depends on the wind speed. During gusts and
storms big ocean waves occur, which prove dangerous even to ships.
• The second factor is the effective fetch value ‘’, i.e., the uninterrupted distance on
the ocean over which the wind can blow before reaching the point of reference. The
larger the distance, the higher the wave energy. This distance may vary from 5 km
to 45 km.
• The third factor is the depth of the sea water. The greater the depth of ocean water,
the higher the wave velocity. Very large energy fluxes are available in deep ocean
waves. Wave energy is abundantly available on the Indian seacoast touching the Bay
of Bengal and the Arabian sea in high wind belts. 34
 Principle of Wave Energy Plant
• The wave energy plant utilizes an ‘oscillating
water column’ chamber and a self-rectifying
air turbine to produce power.
• The device works similar to the operation of a
bellow.
• Ocean waves enter the chamber inside the
caisson and cause the water mass to move up
and down producing a bidirectional air flow
through an opening at the top of the caisson, as
detailed in Figure 11.21.
• The special design of the turbine makes it
rotate unidirectionally even though the
actuating air flow is bidirectional.
• The turbine drives an induction generator
connected to the grid.
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36
 WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION MACHINES:
Introduction:
• Wave energy is a combination of kinetic and potential energies available in sea waves.
• The forward motion of sea water can easily be seen on sea beaches, lashing up to 100
metres.
• In deep sea this forward motion of the wave strikes the ships, depicting the presence of
kinetic energy.
• The potential energy is due to rise of sea water at the wave crest. The difference of head
between the crest and the trough of sea wave is the potential energy.
• It can easily be experienced when a large ship in the ocean is lifted up by swell and
oscillates up and down due to huge ocean waves.
• Thus, if the wave advances in a horizontal plane it is due to kinetic energy; when the
water moves in the vertical plane, it is the action of potential energy.
• Engineers of different countries have prepared several designs of wave machines to harness
wave energy. Few of them, which have scope of improvement, are described.

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Buoy Type Machine:
• The buoy is a floating part of a system
which rises and falls with rise and fall of sea
waves.
• However, the device is moored and
anchored as per design methodology to
avoid drifting.
• The buoy oscillates up and down with the
wave, the energy can be exhibited on a
pulley with a string and counterweight
arrangement as shown in Figure 11.23.
• The up and down motion of the
counterweight can be converted into to and
fro motion of a piston which can operate a
machine or a generator. Figure 11.23 Oscillating buoy with a string, pulley
and counterweight.
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 Dolphin Type Wave Energy Generator
• The Dolphin type wave energy generator
was designed by a research laboratory in
Japan.
• It essentially consists of the following
components as detailed in Figure 11.24.
• A supporting structure is built in the sea
bed to provide a firm position for the
equipment. The structure is erected on
pile foundations.
• One generator is installed on the top of
the structure which collects wave energy
from the connecting shaft with rolling
motion.
• The gear arrangement with the
stationary generator rotates the rotor to
generate electric power.
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• The buoy is at the other end of the
connecting rod floats and has two motions,
namely rolling motion and oscillatory
motions represented by N and M
respectively.
• The floating generator collects wave energy
from the buoy through a gear arrangement
and continuously generates power.
Power density, (P/B) = 1740a2 T, in W/m
where B = width of the wave, in metres
a = amplitude of the wave, in metres
T = wave period, in seconds
• Normally one dolphin type wave energy
generator is of 100 kW capacity. Several
such wave energy generating systems are
installed, say 50 numbers, along a width of
500 metres to have an installed capacity of 5
MW. 40
Figure 11.24 Dolphin type wave energy generator. 41
 Oscillating Ducks
• This wave power equipment was designed by
Stephen Salter at Edinburgh university in
Scotland.
• It is a float type wave energy conversion plant in
which several duck-shaped devices (each 25 m
long) are installed in a linear width-wise array
along a line which is perpendicular to the direction
of the wave.
• The system consists of a long cylindrical spine of
15 m diameter on which cam shaped ducks are
installed in an array to form an assembly as shown
in Figure 11.25.
• It responds to the incoming wave with a nodding
action. When the forward moving wave front
strikes the head on the face of the ducks, wave
energy is passed on and the ducks start to
oscillate. 42
• The face of the duck is designed for
maximum wave energy absorption.
Power is generated by the relative
motion of the ducks where the wave
energy is converted into mechanical
energy.
• The cylindrical spine transfers motion
through linkages and gears to the
generator rotor. The overall length of the
cylindrical spine varies between 100 m
and 500 m. To achieve a highly efficient
absorption it is necessary to mount a
series of ducks on a non-movable spine.

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Oscillating Ducks

Figure 11.25 (a) Phases of duck motion, and (b) oscillating ducks with a floating
powerhouse.
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150 kW conversion system at Thiruvananthapuram:
• The location of the station is at the end of a breakwater wall where water depth is
about 10 metres.
• The wave power available at the site is nearly 13 kW/m.
• The wave energy system consists of an oscillating water column, a chamber floating
in the sea experiencing wave action through a side opening as shown in Figures
11.26(a) and (b).

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Advantages of Wave Energy
The advantages are as follows:
i. It is a free and renewable energy source
ii. It is pollution free.
iii.It is highly suitable to develop power in remote islands, on drilling
platforms and on ship where other alternatives are impossible.
iv.Wave energy conversion devices help in reducing the erosion of coastal
region.
v. Waves are continuously formed, and power can be extracted continuously.
No storage of power is required.
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Disadvantages of Wave Energy:
The disadvantages are as follows:
i. Sea water is corrosive and life of equipment used in conversion devices is limited.
ii. Marine growth such as algae adversely affects the working of wave energy conversion devices.
iii. Wave energy conversion devices obstruct shipping traffic.
iv. Strong waves during storms can damage the wave energy conversion devices.
v. Installation of conversion devices is costly.
vi. Repair, replacement and maintenance are difficult to perform.
vii. Peak power is available in open sea, where it is difficult to construct, operate and maintain
conversion devices as well as transmit power to shore.
viii.The slow and irregular motion of wave creates problem to run electrical generator which requires
high and constant speed motion.
ix. It may cause disturbance to marine life.

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 INTRODUCTION:
• All forms of energy available on the earth are, in the first instance, derived from solar
energy, with the exception of nuclear, geothermal and tidal energy.

• Wind, ocean waves, are driven by the energy from the sun.

• Coal, oil, gas, wood and grasses are formed by solar energy, which splits carbon dioxide
with water to produce cellulose which has either been fossilized (to form coal, oil and gas)
or been turned to starch and sugar to produce biomass.

• In view of the rising prices of fossil and nuclear fuels, combined with adverse
environmental impacts with their use in electric power generation, of late there has been an
increased interest in the exploitation of tidal energy.

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 TIDAL CHARECTERISTICS:

• The tides are caused by the combined attraction of the sun and the moon on the
waters of the revolving globe.
• The effect of the moon is about 2.6 times more than that of the sun, influencing the
tides of the oceans. Thus, tide is a periodic rise and fall of the water level of the ocean.
• Twice during a lunar* day (i.e., within 24 hours 50 minutes) the water in oceans and
seas rises and falls. The excess of 50 minutes over the solar day results in the maximum
water level, occurring at different times on different days.
• The amplitude of water level variations at different points on the earth depends on the
latitude and the nature of the shore.

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• The rotation of the earth causes two high tides and two low tides to occur daily at any
place.
• The revolution of the moon around the earth increases the time interval between two
successive high tides from 12 hours to about 12 hours and 25 minutes. As the moon
revolution takes about 28 days, the three bodies, i.e., the sun, the moon and the earth are
in alignment every two weeks at new and full moon.
• During these periods the sun and the moon act in combination to produce tides of
maximum range as shown in Figure.

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 TIDAL CHARECTERISTICS:

Figure 11.1 The sun and the moon acting in combination to create spring tides.

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TIDAL
CHARECTERISTICS:
• The solar pull comes in line with the lunar pull
at ‘New Moon’ and ‘Full Moon’, causing greater
flow and ebb, known as spring tides.

• On the other hand, if the two pulls act at right

angles to each other, as at waxing and waning
‘Half Moons’, i.e., in the first and the third
quarters, we get low tides called ‘Neap Tides’
as shown in Figure.

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TIDAL
CHARECTERISTICS:

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TIDAL RANGE:
• The ‘tidal range’ is expressed as the difference in water levels between two
consecutive high tides and low tides.
• The rise and fall of water level in the sea during tides can be represented by a sine
curve shown in Figure 11.5.
• The figure shows the point B, a position of high tide, while the point D represents a
position of low tide.
• One tidal day is of 24 hours and 50 minutes and there are two tidal cycles in one
tidal day.
• The normal tide is a semi-diurnal tide Diurnal means daily, i.e., activities of tide
pattern during 24 hours.
• Diurnal tides indicate two high and two low tides created by the moon during one
rotation of the earth on its axis.
• The daily tidal cycle follows a sinusoidal pattern.
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 TYPES OF TIDAL POWER
PLANTS
Tidal power plants can be broadly classified into the following four
categories:
(i) Single-basin single-effect plant
(ii)Single-basin double-effect plant
(iii)Double-basin with linked-basin operation
(iv)Double-basin with paired-basin operation

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Single-Basin, Single-effect Plant
• Single-basin Single-effect Plant It is the oldest form of tidal power development and the basis of
many tide mills.
• A tidal power plant is simply a barrage (dam or dyke) across an estuary or creek, whose principal
elements are a powerhouse and a sluice as shown in Figure 11.9
• The basin is filled through the sluice by the rising tide. The water level in the basin reaches the
highest level of the tide.
• It provides the water head of tidal range to the turbine. The sluice gate is closed. The turbine is
started only when the water in the sea is at falling tide level.
• As the tide continues to fall a hydraulic head is formed at the barrage and at an appropriate time
water is released from the basin through the generating unit installed in the powerhouse.

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Operating cycle of Single-Basin, Single-effect Plant
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TYPES OF TIDAL POWER
PLANTS
• Electric power generation continues until the head is reduced to the minimum turbine operating level.

• It normally occurs after the tide has reached its lowest point and has begun to rise again.

• At this stage the turbine water passage is closed and all discharge from the basin is stopped.

• When the rising tide reaches the basin level, the filling sluice is opened, refilling of the basin starts and the cycle
is repeated.

• The cycle of operation showing the water level, the generating and the refilling periods, is depicted in Figure
11.10.

• The above cycle of operation offers different output characteristics depending on the time with respect to the
tidal cycle at which generation starts and stops and on the turbine capacity.

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TYPES OF TIDAL POWER
PLANTS
• There are three variables which affect the power characteristics of ebb tide at a particular tidal site, namely:
(i) The turbine capacity
(ii) Minimum head under which the turbine will operate efficiently
(iii) Time at which generation starts and stops.
• These three variables need to be adjusted to produce the best possible results.
• In general the aim should be to get as long a period of operation as possible, and with this objective, the
turbines would commence and stop operating at the minimum head consistent with high efficiency.
• In a single-basin single-effect tidal plant with ebb tide operation, the generation period is only for 3.5 hours
during every tide cycle.
• There are two tide cycles per day, so the energy available is intermittent and fluctuates from a maximum at
spring tides to a minimum at neaps.

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TYPES OF TIDAL POWER Single basin rising tide operation
PLANTS

• The single basin flood tide operation is similar to ebb tide operation, with the difference that power generation
during rising tide is less than that at ebb tide working.
• In rising tide, there is rapid filling of the basin, so the turbine operates for a reduced period.
• In ebb tide operation, the turbine and the generator operate for a longer time giving higher output.
• Thus, the single basin rising tide operation, besides its lower output, also suffers from intermittent and variable
output.

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TYPES OF TIDAL POWER Single-basin Double-effect Plant
PLANTS
• This arrangement makes use of the combination of the ebb tide and the flood tide working, and power is
generated both during emptying and filling of the basin.
• With a single barrage as shown in Figures 11.11(a) and (b) the water head which produces the energy operates
from the sea towards the basin during the flood tide and from the basin towards the sea during the ebb tide.
• The most practical method of achieving the double tide operation is by the use of the reversible turbine which
can operate in both directions of flow.
• In the operating cycle for double-effect operation, the curve shows that the output is variable and intermittent,
but to a lesser extent than that in the case of the unidirectional flow power plant.
• Other advantages over the one-way plant are:
(i) The overall output from an equal turbine capacity is greater by 15%. This percentage may increase if each
plant is designed to the most economic type specification.
(ii) The period of operation is increased.

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Single-basin Double-effect Plant

67
TYPES OF TIDAL POWER
PLANTS

• The reversible turbines and other allied equipment cost a little more, this additional cost is offset by the above
two advantages.
• Due to its large period of operation, the operating regime of power generation can be manipulated so as to offer
power to any predetermined period, either to suit the demand or to suit the tides.
• La Rance power plant of 240 MW in France is working on this type of operation.

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 Double-basin with Linked-basin Operation
• In this arrangement a large basin is converted into two basins of
suitable dimensions; one which is at higher level is called high basin and
the other low basin.
• The scheme consists of three barrages, one separating the high basin
from the sea and containing the filling gates, another separating the low
basin from the sea and containing the emptying gates.
• The third barrage separates the high basin from the low basin and
contains the powerhouse as shown in Figure,

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70
TYPES OF TIDAL POWER Double-basin with Linked-basin Operation
PLANTS

• The upper basin filling gates are opened only during the time when the sea level is higher than the upper basin.
• The emptying gates of the lower basin are opened only when the sea level is lower than the lower basin.
• The head on the turbine is the difference in elevation between the upper and lower basins.
• The two-basin scheme may be economically viable where power demand is less than the guaranteed output as
determined by the tide cycle.
• Alternatively, the two-basin system can be operated by retaining water in high basin and releasing it to meet
peak demands only.

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 TYPES OF TIDAL POWER Double-basin with Paired-basin Operation
PLANTS
• The paired basin scheme consists of two single-
basin single-effect separate schemes located at a
distance from each other.
• The locations are so selected that there is a
difference in tidal phase between them.
• Both the schemes never exchange water, but are
interconnected electrically.
• Both the basins operate in single-basin single-
effect mode.
• One basin generates electrical energy during the
‘filling’ process while the other during the
‘emptying’ process. The scheme is shown in Figure
11.13

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Double-basin with paired-basin operation 73
TYPES OF TIDAL POWER Double-basin with Paired-basin Operation
PLANTS

• This arrangement affords a little more flexibility in operation of the plants to meet power demands.

• More benefit can be derived if there is a difference in tidal phase of the sea near the two basins.

• In case where there is no difference in tidal phase, variations in power output can be evened out by resorting to
ebb tide operation in one plant and flood tide operation in the other.

• The paired-basin operation leads to a continuous output, still its power supply remains irregular and there is no
solution for equalizing the great difference in output between the spring and the neap tide operation.

• Further, it is difficult to find two tidal sites within reasonable distance of each other having the requisite
difference in time of high water.

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IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A TIDAL
POWER PLANT

There are three important components of a tidal plant:

(i) A barrage to form a basin
(ii) Sluice gates in the barrage for flow of water from the sea to the basin and vice-
versa
(iii) A powerhouse equipped with turbines, each coupled to a generator along with
auxiliary equipment

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 IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A TIDAL
POWER PLANT

Sluices:
• Tidal power plants operate on the continuously varying difference in level at which the basin must
be filled from the sea or emptied to the sea, as required by the operating regime of the power
plant.
• This requires suitable sluice ways equipped with gates which can be operated quickly.
• These are required to be operated two or more times a day.
• There are two types of sluice ways, one type with crest gates and the other of the submerged
gates associated with venturi type.
• Sluice ways with crest gates are more prone to damage by wave action and masses carried by the
flow.
• Vertical lift gates are the natural choice and can be fabricated from stainless steel.

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IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A TIDAL
POWER PLANT
Turbines:
• The energy potential in tidal power development is exploited from low to very low heads, for which large
size turbines are required.
• If the water head is more than 8 metres, a propeller type turbine is quite suitable because the angle of
blades can be changed to obtain maximum efficiency while the water is falling.
• The main aim of the designer for a tidal power plant is to achieve as long a period of operation as possible.
• The turbines beginning and finishing work at the minimum head provide maximum efficiency, and this is
the advantage of having turbines with variable pitch blades as shown in Figure.
• For low heads three types of turbines can be used; the selection is made according to the suitability. These
turbines are:
(i) Bulb turbine
(ii) Tube turbine
(iii) Straight flow rim type turbine.

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IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A TIDAL
POWER PLANT

Kaplan turbine with adjustable blades.

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Advantage and Disadvantage of Tidal Power

Advantages

1. Tidal power is predictable.

2. Available tidal power is firm as there are no wet or dry years, no dry or wet months, nor is there
any influence of summer or winter on the availability of tidal energy.
3. It is free from pollution.
4. Tidal power is inexhaustable and is a renewable source of energy.
5. Tidal power plants do not require valuable land as these are located on sea shores.
6. Tidal power when used in combination with a thermal plant can meet effectively the load
demand.
7. After the capital cost of a tidal power scheme is paid off, the cost of power generated is very low.

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Advantage and Disadvantage of Tidal Power

Disadvantages

1. Tidal power plant output varies with the variation in tidal range.
2. Tidal power supply is intermittent.
3. Capital cost of a tidal plant is not economical when compared with conventional sources of energy.
4. Silting of basins is a problem with tidal power plants.

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