Lecture No 7

Tidal Energy

Introduction to Tidal
Tidal power, also calledtidal energy, is a form
ofhydropowerthat converts the energy oftides
into useful forms of power Although not yet
widely used, tidal power has potential for future
electricity generation .
Tidal power is taken from the Earth's oceanictides
;tidal forcesare periodic variations in
gravitational attraction exerted by celestial
bodies.
These forces create corresponding motions or
currents in the world's oceans.
Due to the strong attraction to the oceans, a
swelling in the water level is created, causing a
temporary increase in sea level

 When the sea level is raised, water from

the middle of the ocean is forced to move
toward the shorelines, creating a tide.
This occurrence takes place in an certain
manner, due to the consistent pattern of
the moons orbit around the earth.
A tidal generator converts the energy of
tidal flows into electricity.
Greater tidal variation and higher tidal
current velocities can dramatically
increase the potential of a site for tidal
electricity generation.

Tidal Energy

waves

Generator

How it work

 Another form of ocean energy is called tidal

energy. When tides comes into the shore, they
can be trapped in reservoirs behind dams.
Then when the tide drops, the water behind
the dam can be let out just like in a regular
hydroelectric power plant In order for this to
work well, you need large increases in tides.
An increase of at least 16 feet between
low tide to high tide is needed.
There are only a few places where this
tide change occurs around the earth.
Some power plants are already operating
using this idea.

 There are currently twocommercial-sized

tidalpower plants operating in the world.
One is located in La Rance, France; the
other is in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia,
Canada.
There is a third experimental plant
operating in Kislaya Guba, Russia.
The United States has no tidal plants and
only a few sites where tidal energy could
be produced at reasonableprice.
France, England, Canada, and Russia have
much morepotentialto use this type of
energy.
One plant in France makes enough energy

Barrages or Dams

A barrage, which is in fact a huge dam, is built across a

river to inlet water.
This barrage has gates in it, which allow the water to
flow into the barrage with the incoming tide.
These gates are then closed when the tide begins to
go back out.
This water which is now trapped inside the barrage is
now called a hydrostatic head.
The greater the head the more power can be
generated from the out flowing water.
There are other gates within the barrage which are now
opened; these gates contain hydro-electric generators,
very similar to the ones used in Hydropower.
These generators are now turned by the out flowing
water and power is generated.

ADVANTAGES
It is very cheap to maintain
There is no waste or pollution
Very reliable
We can predict when tides will be in
or out
The barrage can help to reduce the
damage of very high tidal surges or
storms onthe land

DISADVANTAGES
It changes the coastline completely and the
estuaries are flooded so any mud flats or habitats
that birds or animals live on are destroyed
Initial building cost is very expensive
Water is not replenished, it cannot flow away so
any dirt or pollution lingers around the coast much
longer
Silt builds up behind the barrage
Disrupts creatures migration in the oceans
Needs a very big piece of sea to be cost effective
Not many sites suitable for this kind of power
generation; building the barrage
Only produces power for about 10 hours of the day