OCEAN AND

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Tidal Energy
• Tides are periodic rise and fall of water level of sea which are caused
by the action of sun and moon on the water in the earth.
• They are mainly caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and
sun on the water of solid earth and oceans.
• 70 % of tides are produced by the force due to moon. Moon is the
major factor in the tide.
• They are two high tides and two low tides.
• A high tide will be experienced at a point which is directly under the
moon.
• At the same time, a diametrically opposite point on the earth‘s surface
also experience a high tide due to dynamic balancing.
• Hence the full moon as well as a no moon produce a high tide.
• The rise and fall of water level follows a sinusoidal curve.
• Tides are periodical phenomenon.
• When the water is above the mean sea level, it is called flood tide and
when the level is below the mean level, it s called ebb tide.
Basic principle of tidal power plant
Classification of Tidal Power Plants
Advantages
1. It is free from pollution as it does not use any fuel.
2. The tides are totally independent on nature’s cycle of rainfall.
3. This will also not produce any unhealthy waste like gases, ash, atomic refuse which
entails heavy removal costs.
4. Another notable advantage of tidal power is that it has a unique capacity to meet the
peak power demand effectively when it works in combination with thermal or
hydroelectric system.
Disadvantages
5. These power plants can be developed only if natural sites are available.
6. These power plants will be always located far away from the load centers. The power
generated must be transported to long distances. This increases the transportation cost.
7. The capital cost of the plant (` 5000/kW) is considerably large compared with
conventional-power plants (hydro, thermal).
8. The supply of power is not continuous as it depends upon the timing of tides. Therefore
some arrangements (double basin or double basin with pump storage) must be made to
supply the continuous power. This also further increase the capital cost of the plant.
Wave Energy
• Wave energy is a renewable energy whereby we capture the energy that is
being generated naturally by waves.
• Waves get their energy from the wind passing over the surface of the sea
as well and can transmit their energy over long distances with little
degradation; wave energy is considered a significant renewable energy
resource.
• The irregular and oscillating flow of wave energy in oceans is called as -
kinetic energy
• The energy in a wave is determined and calculated by wave height, speed,
length, and the density of the water.
• Though most wave technologies are intended to be installed near the
ocean’s surface, they can be used in nearshore, offshore, and far offshore
locations depending on where the resources lie.
• Wave energy devices can be categorized based on their location relative to
the shore: shoreline devices, nearshore devices, and offshore devices.
Shoreline Devices:
Location: Installed directly on or near the shore, where waves break.
How They Work: These devices capture energy from waves as they hit the
shore. Since they are anchored to land or built into coastal structures, they
don't require deep-water installations.
Advantages:
• Easier access for maintenance and installation.
• Lower transmission costs since they are closer to the grid.
• Can be integrated into existing coastal infrastructure like sea walls or
piers.
Disadvantages:
Limited energy potential due to the reduction of wave energy near the shore.
Nearshore Devices:
Location: Placed in waters typically 10–25 meters deep, usually 500
meters to 2 kilometers from the shore.
How They Work: These devices harness wave energy in shallower waters
but before the waves lose most of their energy near the shore. They
capture energy through wave motion or water displacement.
Advantages:
More energy potential than shoreline devices.
Easier maintenance compared to offshore devices.
Lower construction costs compared to fully offshore devices.
Disadvantages:
Still exposed to harsh environmental conditions like storms.
Potential to disrupt marine ecosystems and shipping lanes.
Offshore Devices:
Location: Situated in deep waters (usually more than 40 meters deep), several
kilometers away from the shore.
How They Work: These devices are designed to capture the more powerful and
consistent waves found in deeper waters. Offshore wave power devices usually
float on the surface or are submerged and anchored to the seabed.
Advantages:
• Stronger and more consistent waves, leading to higher energy potential.
• Less visual and environmental impact on coastal areas.
Disadvantages:
• High installation, maintenance, and transmission costs.
• More complex and costly to access for repairs and maintenance.
• Devices need to be highly durable to withstand harsh ocean conditions, such as
strong currents and storms.
wave power device
A wave power device is a system designed to capture and convert the
energy from ocean waves into usable electrical power.
Waves are a highly concentrated form of kinetic energy, and devices aim
to harness this by converting the movement of water into mechanical or
electrical energy.
There are different types of wave power devices, each designed to
operate in various sea conditions.
1. Point Absorbers:
• These devices float on the surface of the water and move up and down
with the waves.
• They are usually anchored to the seabed and have mechanisms to
convert the vertical motion of the waves into electricity.
• Example: A buoy-like structure with a piston that moves up and down.
2. Oscillating Water Columns (OWC):
• This type uses wave action to force air in and out of a chamber.
• As the water rises and falls within the chamber, it pushes air through a
turbine, which generates electricity.
• It can be positioned onshore or offshore.
3. Attenuators:
• Long, floating structures aligned parallel to the direction of the waves.
• The devices flex as waves pass by, and the movement between
segments is used to generate power.
• Example: The Pelamis wave energy converter.

4. Overtopping Devices:
• These devices capture water from incoming waves in a reservoir, and
the water is then released, passing through turbines to generate power.
• They resemble small dams built near the shore or offshore.
Submerged Pressure Differential:
• Placed on the seabed, these devices generate power by responding to
changes in pressure caused by passing waves.
• The pressure difference moves a mechanism that drives a generator.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
• Basically, Ocean thermal energy conversion is an electricity generation
system.
• The deeper parts of the ocean are cooler due to the fact that the heat of
sunlight cannot penetrate very deep into the water.
• Here the efficiency of the system depends on the temperature
difference.
• The temperature difference in the oceans between the deep and
shallow parts is maximum in the tropics, 20 to 25 ºC. Tropics receive a
lot of sunlight which warms the surface of the oceans, increasing the
temperature gradient.
 Types of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Systems
• Closed cycle
• Open cycle
Closed Cycle OTEC System
Open System OTEC System
Dry Steam Geothermal Power Plant
Liquid-Dominated Geothermal Power
Plant
• Flash- steam system
• Binary- cycle system.
Flash-steam System
Binary Cycle System