Other forms renewable energy

R.Somasundaram M.Tech.
Topics to be taught
• Tidal power • Ocean thermal energy conversion:
Introduction. Principles.
The cause of tides. Heat exchangers.
Enhancement of tides. Pumping requirements.
Tidal flow power. Other practical considerations.
 Tidal range power. Problems.
World range power sites. • Hydro power & geothermal
energy.
 Problems.
• Brief review and description.
Tidal and geothermal energy

• Tidal energy and geo thermal energy are known as non solar
renewable energy as they do not depend upon the solar power.
• Tidal energy depends on the gravitational effort of sun and moon.
• Geo thermal energy is the thermal energy stored in the core of the
earth.
Tidal and geothermal energy
• Tides are the periodic rise and
fall of sea levels caused by the
gravitational forces exerted by
the Moon and the Sun.
• Sun has a higher mass and
higher is its gravitational pull.
• But due to moon’s close
proximity to earth, it plays a
more important role.
• Moon produces 70 % of tide
force.
• The side which faces the moon
will be more influenced by it.
Tidal energy conversion

• When the tidal wave reaches the shore it swells up

• Some of the water is forced into tidal inlets, basins and estuaries
• Rest of it gets washed along the shore.
• Profile of the shore line and water depth near shore influence the
tidal range.
• Tidal energy can be easily tapped by building dams to trap the water
at high tide and release it during low tide.
• Power can be generated during both times.
 Tidal barrage

• Tidal barrage flood generation: Generation of electricity during inward

flow only.
• Tidal barrage ebb generation: power is generated during the outward
flow i.e. falling tide.
• Two way generation: power is generated both times.
Draw backs of tidal energy

• Tides are not constant.

• They do not occur on a regular schedule.
• It is due to the moon’s orbit around earth which is 24 h, 50 minutes.
• So the tidal cycle lasts for 12h 25 minutes.
• The range is also not constant. It varies depending upon the relative
position earth with sun & moon.
HARVESTING TIDAL ENERGY

• Here the change in vertical column of sea water column due to the
gravitational pull of sun and moon is utilized.
• It needs construction of walls called tidal barrage which is built from sea
floor to a level just above the highest possible tide level.
• The barrage has a number of tunnels above the bottom with sluice gate
valves to allow the floe either side.
• Within these tunnels high capacity turbines are placed.
• During flood tide period, water flows into the tunnels and fills up the
reservoir, called as flood generation.
• On ebb tide period, the water flows outward, called as EBB generation.
• Thus energy can be created in both the directions of water movement.
Tidal energy conversion systems

• Simple single pool: A reversible water

turbine is used. Power can be generated
during two times in every tidal cycle i.e.
6h 12.5m
• Simple single-pool system has 2-high
peak, short-duration power outputs that Tidal barrage flood generation
occur every tidal period
• It needs large turbine that remain idle
most of the time
• Peaks occur at varying times and will not
surely correspond to peak power demand
and pose a burden on the power grid.
Modulated single pool

• Modulated single-pool tidal system

generates power more uniformly at a
lower average head
• It also has with some periods of no
generation.
• The work in each period is only
1/10thof that of a simple single-pool
system
• But it has no “spike”
• It requires smaller turbines (not large
turbines that remain idle most of the
time).
• The inland basin is enclosed by a Two pool system
dam.
• The basin is divided by another
dam into a high pool & a low
pool.
• The pools are relatively larger
than flow rate.
• Turbines are located at the
second dam.
• This arrangement provides a
continuous and much more
uniform power.
Indian continent –plentiful source of tidal energy

• With 6000 km long coastal line it

has an enormous potential to
harness tidal power.
• Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of
Khambat are the most promising
locations capable of generating
about 700-800 MW supply
Environmental effects of tidal power generation

• Alteration of currents and waves

• Alteration of substrates, sediment transport and deposition
• Alteration of habitats for benthic organisms which live along seabed
• Noise during construction and operation
• Emission of electromagnetic fields from subsea electric cables
• Toxicity of paints, lubricants, and antifouling coatings
• Interference with animal movements and migrations
• Certain species of marine mammals and fish could experience distress and
discomfort.
• Strike by rotor blades or other moving parts {mortality of fish passing
through turbines (blade-strike) and the collision risk of marine mammals
with tidal stream farms}
• Effect of underwater structure left after their useful life
World wide status of
tidal energy
generation
 gy
e r
en
e
av
W
 Wave energy

• Warming up and cooling down of • It has its own disadvantages.

the earth and the sea cause flow • It destructs the sea life near the
of wind in different directions. coastal areas so fishermen get
• Waves are generated by wind affected.
blowing over the sea surface. • It is not a source of constant
• So basically solar energy is the energy variation with amplitude..
source of wave energy. • At times waves may get packed
• It is different from tidal energy. with more energy in case of storms
• Waves travel long distance across etc.
oceans and when they strike • Structures to be made to withstand
against land such effects of Tsunami etc.
Wave energy conversion

Wave energy is absorbed using

• Vertical motion (heave)
• Horizontal motion in the direction of wave travelling (surge)
• Angular motion about a central axis parallel to the wave crest (pitch)
• Angular motion about a vertical axis (yaw)
• Or a combination of all four
Energy is created by the reaction of the structure to theses different
motions against some fixed resistance called as reaction point.
Types of wave energy conversion
• Waves entering the chamber forces the air up which is channeled
through a wind turbine to generate electricity
Waves carry the water over a ramp and fill the impoundment reservoir
This potential energy is extracted using a low head Kaplan turbine
generator form where the water returns to sea.
Submerged pressure
differential

• It has flexible membranes

(reinforced rubber) mounted on
sea floor at an inclination.
• As waves pass over air inside the
membrane gets squeezed into a
duct and thro a turbine.
• The air is recirculated to inflate
the membrane for the next
cycle.
 A L
ER M
TH
GE O Y
ER G
EN
Geo thermal energy and its uses
• The center of the earth contains molten rocks called as magma which has lot of thermal
energy.
• When water reaches the vicinity of such source, it gets heated up to very high pressure.
• Hot water at high pressure when reaches the surface flashes off as steam.
• This kind of energy can be suitably tapped by pumping water closer to magma and then
getting the hot water via man made passages so that hot water can be collected and made
to turn turbine or other means to develop power.
• Direct uses of geothermal energy:
• Bathing
• Space heating
• Industrial processing
• Horticulture
• Aquaculture
• It is also possible to generate electricity
 Geo thermal energy

• Heat source: Hot core of the earth

continually heats up the surrounding
layers of rock melting them into magma.
• Magma being lighter in weight rises to
the surface and when it breaks the
surface we call it lava.
• Most often it remains beneath the
earth’s crust.
• When groundwater/ rain water flows
down to the depths it gets heated up
and rises to the surface by convection
and breaks through faults, cracks as hot
water flumes.
Natural cycle of hot springs

• Rising water: Groundwater near the magma becomes heated and more buoyant
than the surrounding colder waters and rises through pathways that lead to the
surface.
• Hot water plume: The rising water is discharged at the surface through hot
springs and steaming ground.
• Interaction: The rising fluids interact chemically with the surrounding rocks and
their temperature is moderated by mixing with cooler water and by local boiling.
• Counter flow: The upward flow of hot water from depth creates a downward
counter-flow in the surrounding area so the surrounding cold water moves
downwards.
• Convection system: The movement of the two types of water create a circulating
convection system that is a very efficient way to transfer heat.
Various
uses of
geo
thermal
energy
 Advantages:
 It is a carbon free energy.
 It provides a continuous, uninterrupted
supply of heat.
 It is independent of sun & its relative
position.
 Nil Nox, Sox content, so no acid rain.
 Disadvantages:
 Wells have to be drilled to a depth of 4
kms. to get low to medium quality of heat.
 For better quality we may need latest
technology with materials to withstand
the temperature, pressure and hardness
of the material.
 In its true sense, it can’t be termed as
renewable energy.
 Types of geo thermal plants

Dry Steam Power Plant

• Plant uses steam that is accessed
by drilling directly into the
underground source.
• Dry steam is extracted from
natural reservoir and is used to
drive the turbines generating
electricity.
• Waste steam is condensed and
injected back into the natural
reservoir beneath the surface.
Generation of electricity from geothermal system
Types of geo thermal plants

Flash Steam Power Plant

• Hydrothermal fluid at 240 -
290°C is pushed to the surface
by the high pressure in the
subsurface reservoir.
• When this very hot fluid
reaches the surface, it enters
the separator where the
pressure drops instantaneously
and most of the liquid flashes
into steam.
• The force generated by the
steam is used to drive turbines
and produce electricity.
Utilisation of geothermal energy at various levels

• Binary vapour plants

• Geothermal fluid from the subsurface
reservoir never comes into contact with
the turbine/generator units.
• Instead, hot geothermal fluid is fed into
a heat exchanger where heat is
transferred to a “working liquid” with a
lower boiling point than water usually
Iso-butane.
• The working liquid turns into an
energised vapour and rotates the
turbine/generator unit, producing
electricity.
 L O N
A S I
R M E R
H E N V
T CO
A N Y
C E G
O NE R
E
• OTEC uses the temperature difference Ocean thermal energy conversion
between cooler deep and warmer
shallow or surface sea water to run a
heat engine.
• 80% of the sun’s solar energy is
absorbed into the surface of the world’s
oceans.
• It is replenished daily regardless of
weather patterns.
• So it is a kind of solar energy
System can work on open cycle or
closed cycle.
• Open-cycle engines use vapour from the sea water itself as the working fluid.
• S.W. is used to generate water vapor in vacuumed condition.
• Vapor runs the turbine.
• Waste vapor is condensed and can be used for agriculture or as potable water.
 Closed cycle
• In a closed cycle OTEC system, water flows through a large pipe and heat
exchanger, which heats a liquid with a low boiling point, such as ammonia
or R134a.
• As the boiling ammonia creates steam, it turns a turbine generator to
produce electricity.
• A second pipe extracts cool deep water from the ocean, which condenses
the steam back to liquid form.
• As the ammonia is recycled, the process repeats, creating unlimited clean
energy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• OTEC is a relatively expensive technology, since the construction of costly
OTEC plants and infrastructure is necessary before power can be
generated. 
Environmental effects by OTEC plants

• It alters the thermal structure by discharging cold water from deep

sea into photic region near the surface.
• It affects the water chemistry due to the release of dissolved gases
(CO2 & N2) from the depth to the surface altering the pH level.
• It has an impact on the eutrophication (nutrient content of the water)
• Algae booms.
• Introduction of organism from deep down to surface level which may
affect the ecological balance.
• Last not the least, effects of leakage in ammonia system
Hydro power
Advantages of hydro power Adverse effects of hydro power

• Pollution free • They need a dam and a reservoir.

• These structures may obstruct fish migration
• Renewable energy and affect their populations.
• Can be easily harvested • Operating a hydroelectric power plant may
also change the water temperature and the
• Natural elements like hills etc. can river's flow.
be best utilised. • These changes may harm native plants and
• Suitable for country like India animals in the river and on land.
where monsoon rainfall over the • Reservoirs may cover people's homes,
eastern & western Ghats is important natural areas, agricultural land, and
archaeological sites.
beneficial.
• So building dams can require relocating
• Suitable for countries where snow people.
fall over mountains is the source. • These people need to be rehabilitated.
Small hydro power system

• To overcome the draw backs of relocating the people, small hydro

power systems can be put into use.
• They can be built everywhere in the mountain region, plain or even
near the sea level.
• Power thus generated can be utilised effectively for pumped
irrigation, house hold lighting and some low power factories like saw
mills, grinding mills etc.
Merits and demerits of small hydro power systems

Merits Demerits

• Running expenditure is almost • Environmental consequences:

negligible. construction of dams, roads,
• Suitable for isolated areas power lines etc.
• No environmental issues like • Fish habitats is challenged.
submergence of fertile land etc. • Initial installation cost is very high.
• Ecology is not disturbed.
• Droughts play a major role
• Can employ local people.
• Limited availability of land in
• No soil erosion or cavitation on
turbine blades.
fertile areas.
Nuclear energy waste

• Nuclear fuel rods have high degree of radioactivity.

• Even after they have spent their useful energy, radioactivity continues for
longer time.
• Nuclear waste is hazardous to all forms of life and environment.
• Hence it must be kept isolated for sufficient periods until it is no longer a
threat.
• The time radioactive waste must be stored for depends on the type of
waste.
• Short-lived waste are stored in containers near-surface disposal for low and
some intermediate level waste, and deep burial for high level.
• Plutonium has the shortest life 87.7 years while neptunium has 2.144 million
years
• It is an electro chemical cell that converts the chemical energy from a Fuel cell
fuel into electricity thro an electrochemical reaction.
• In normal battery the chemical energy comes from the chemicals
already present in the battery.
• Whereas fuel cells can produce electricity as long as fuel and oxygen
are supplied.
• Fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte that
allows positively charged hydrogen ions (protons) to move between
the two sides of the fuel cell.
• At the anode a catalyst causes the fuel to undergo oxidation reactions
that generate protons and electrons.
• The protons flow from the anode to the cathode through the
electrolyte after the reaction.
• At the same time, electrons are drawn from the anode to the cathode
through an external circuit, producing direct current electricity.
• At the cathode, another catalyst causes hydrogen ions, electrons, and
oxygen to react, forming water
• Types of cell depends on Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
• The electrolyte substance, which can
be made from a number of
substances like potassium hydroxide,
salt carbonates, and phosphoric acid.
• The fuel that is used, the most
common fuel is hydrogen.
• The anode catalyst, usually fine
platinum powder which breaks down
the fuel into electrons and ions.
• The cathode catalyst, often nickel,
converts ions into waste chemicals,
with water being the most common
type of waste.
 Acid fuel cell

• Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) use phosphoric acid as electrolyte to pass positive
hydrogen ions from the anode to the cathode.
• These cells work in temperatures of 150 to 200°C
• This heat can be used to produce steam for air conditioning systems or any other
thermal energy consuming system.
• Phosphoric acid is a non-conductive liquid acid which forces electrons to travel from
anode to cathode through an external electrical circuit.
• Since the hydrogen ion production rate on the anode is small, platinum is used as
catalyst to increase this ionization rate.
• A key disadvantage of these cells is the use of an acidic electrolyte.
• This increases the corrosion or oxidation of components exposed to phosphoric acid
• Solid acid fuel cells (SAFCs) use Caesium hydrogen sulphate (CsHSO 4) or Caesium
dihydrogen phosphate (CsH2PO4) as the electrolyte.
MERITS AND DEMERITS OF FUEL CELLS
MERITS: DEMERITS
• Higher Efficiency-can go up to 80% • Expensive to manufacture due the
when utilizing co-generation. high cost of catalysts (platinum)
• Good reliability • Lack of infrastructure to support
• Quality of power provided does not the distribution of hydrogen
degrade over time. • A lot of the currently available fuel
• Noiseless and smooth operation. cell technology is in the prototype
• Environmentally beneficial- greatly stage and not yet validated.
reduces CO2 and harmful pollutant • Hydrogen is expensive to produce
emissions. and not widely available 
• Fuel cells are significantly lighter and
more compact so occupy less space.