Sea wave energy

Waves get their energy from the solar energy through the wind.
Wave energy will never be depleted as long as the sun shines.
Energy intensity may, however, have variation but it is available 24 h a day
in the entire year.
They are caused by the wind blowing over the surface of the ocean
The movement of the ocean water and the changing water wave heights are
the main sources of wave energy.
Kinetic energy in the wave motion is tremendous that can be extracted by
the wave power devices from either the surface motion of ocean waves
MOTION IN THE SEA WAVES
 Waves are caused by the wind blowing over the surface of the ocean
 Waves get their energy from the solar energy through the wind

When the wind blows across smooth water surface, air particles
from the wind grab the water molecules
Stretching of the water surface by the force or friction between
the air and the water creates waves (small wave ripples).
 Continued…
The combination of forces due to the gravity, sea surface tension, and
wind intensity are the main factors of origin of sea waves as shown in
figure below which illustrates the formation of sea waves by a storm.
Wave size is determined by wind speed and fetches (defined as the
distance over which the wind excites the waves) and by the depth
Sea waves have a regular shape at far distance from the fetch and this
phenomenon is called swell.
Wave formation makes the water surface further rough and the wind
continuously grips the roughened water surface, and thus, waves are
intensified.
. Waves are characterized by the following parameters, as shown in Figure below
1. Crest: The peak point (the maximum height) on the wave is called the
crest.
2. Trough: The valley point (the lowest point) on the wave is called the
trough.
3. Wave height (H): Wave height is a vertical distance between the wave
crest and the next trough (m).
4. Amplitude (a): It is defined as H/2 (m).
5. Wave length (l ): It is the horizontal distance either between the two
successive crests or troughs of the ocean waves (m).

l
Crest Crest
Wave propagation
v = lf

H 1
Trough
l/2
6.Wave propagation velocity (v): The motion of
seawater in a direction (m/s).
7.Wave period (T): It measures the size of the
wave in time(s). It is the time required for two
successive crests or two successive troughs to
pass a point in space.
8.Frequency (f ): The number of peaks (or
troughs) that pass a fixed point per second is
defined as the frequency of wave and is given by
f = 1/T (cycle/s).
Power associated with sea waves
 The kinetic and potential energy (E) of a wave per meter of crest and unit of
surface can be approximated as
 E = r ga2/2
 where r = density of water; g = gravitational acceleration; and a = amplitude of
the wave (approximately equals to half its wave height H).
 In deep water, dispersion relation (k) is given as
 k = w 2/g,
 w=angular frequency
Further, group velocity (V ) = w /2k = g/2w
g

 The total power (P) is obtained as P = EVg = [rg a2/2](g/2w ) = rg2a2/4w

 Wave period=T=2П/w or w=2П/T and a=H/2
So P=rg2a2/4w = rg2H 2T/32П
Problem
A 2–m sea wave has a 6 s period and occurs at the surface of 100-m deep water.
Assume sea- water density equals to 1,025 kg/m 3.
Calculate the energy and power densities of the wave.
Solution
Wavelength of the sea wave, l = v T (m)
(P12.1.1) where v is wave propagation velocity (m/s); and T = time period of the
wave (s).
The wave time period (T) and wave propagation velocity (v) depend upon the
wavelength and depth of seawater.
The relationship between the wavelength and the time period can be
approximated as l = 1.56 T 2
Therefore, l = 1.56 ´ 62 = 56.16 m
Therefore, velocity of wave propagation,v = l /T = 56.16/6 = 9.36 m/s and height
of the wave is the height from the crest to trough, H = 2 m
Wave frequency, f = 1/T = 1/6
Energy density = (1/8) (rgH 2) = 1,025 ´ 4 ´ 9.81/8 = 5,027.625 J/m2
Power density= E/T = E.f = 5,027.625/6 = 837.9375 W/m2
WAVE ENERGY AVAILABILITY
 Wave energy is converted into electricity by placing wave energy converter on the surface of the
ocean. The electrical energy generated is the most often used in power supply to electrical consumers,
and energizing water pumps.
 They are mostly using the first generation oscillating water columns (OWS) converters. Other
technologies such as the Japanese Pendulor and the Tapchan can also be fit in this category.

 The density of water is about 800 times higher than air, and therefore, the energy density of ocean
waves are significantly several times more than air. The amount of energy available in ocean waves
is tremendously high, and hence, it is considered as a renewable, zero emission source of power.
Estimates of the global ocean wave energy is 17,500 TWh/year according to the World Energy
Council.
 It has been reported that the total available US wave energy resource is 23 GW, which is more than
twice as much as Japan, and nearly five times as much as Great Britain. The West Coast of US is the
most promising area with wave energy densities in the range of 25–40 kW/m.
 Several installations have been built in Scotland, Portugal, Norway, the USA, China, Japan,
Australia, and India. The next generation of devices comprises new, modular floating devices, but
these require further research and/or demonstration.
Wave Energy Availability in India
The coastal area of Maharashtra has an annual wave potential ranging
between 4 kW/m and 8 kW/m wavefront, which is quite high as 12–20
kW/m during the monsoon.
The wave energy potential of the most feasible sites in Maharashtra is
given in Table 12.1 for offshore location

Coastal Average Power Location Site in Maharashtra.

Site Average Wave Power Average Wave Power
kW/m (Annual) kW/m (June–
August)
Vijaydurg 5.86 13.58
Girye 5.90 14.21

Ambolgarh 5.7 13.48

4
PawaPoint 5.3 13.10
6
Kunkeshwar 5.6 13.35
4
Wagapur 5.7 13.10
0
Wave energy conversion
Wave energy is converted into electricity by
placing wave energy converter on the surface
of the ocean
 DEVICES FOR HARNESSING WAVE ENERGY

There are three basic technologies for converting wave energy to electricity. They are as follows:
1. Terminator devices: It is a wave energy device oriented perpendicular to the direction of the
wave and has one stationary and one moving part. The moving part moves up and down like a
car piston in response to ocean waves and pressurizes air or oil to drive a turbine. An oscillating
water column (OWC) converter is an example of terminator device. These devices generally
have power ratings of 500 kW to 2 MW, depending on the wave parameters and the device
dimensions.
2. Attenuator devices: These devices are oriented parallel to the direction of the waves and are
long multi-segment floating structures. It has a series of long cylindrical floating devices
connected to each other with hinges and anchored to the seabed. They ride the waves like a
ship, extracting energy by using restraints at the bow of the device and along its length. The
segments are connected to hydraulic pumps or other converters to generate power as the
waves move across. Pelamis wave energy converter is one of the known examples of
attenuator devices.
Continued…
3.Point absorber: It is a floating structure with parts moving relative to
each other owing to wave action but it has no orientation in any defined
way towards the waves instead absorbs the wave energy coming from
any direction. It utilizes the rise and fall of the wave height at a single
point for energy conversion. The pressurized water creates up and down
bobbin- type motion and drives a built-in turbine generator system to
generate electricity. Aqua BuOY WEC is an example of point absorber
devices.
4.Overtopping devices: These devices have reservoirs like a dam that are
filled by incoming waves, causing a slight build-up of water pressure.
Gravity causes released water from reservoir to flow back into the ocean
through turbine coupled to an electrical generator. TAPCHAN is the
example of overtopping devices.
DEVICES FOR HARNESSING WAVE ENERGY
1.Float or Buoy Devices
 This system is shown in Figure below. Series of anchored buoys rise and fall with
the wave that creates mechanical energy to drive electrical generator for generation
of electricity, which is transmitted to ocean shore by underground cables.
2.Oscillating Water Column Devices

An oscillating water column device (OWC device) is shown in Figure below. It is

a form of terminator in which water enters through a subsurface opening into a
chamber, trapping air above. The wave action causes the captured water column
to move up and down like a piston, forcing the air though an opening connected
to a turbine to generate power.
It is a concrete structure partially submerged in seawater and encloses a
column of air on top of a column of water. The water columns in partially
submerged chamber rise and fall, when sea waves impinge on the device. This
wave action alternatively compresses and depressurizes the air column, which is
allowed to flow to and from the atmosphere via a turbine. The energy can then be
extracted from the system and used to generate electricity.
Continued…
concrete chamber
Air flow Air column

Motion of water
columns
Incoming waves
3.Pendulum System
 Pendulum System
 The pendulum system is a shoreline device that consists of a parallelepiped concrete
box, which is open to the sea at one end, as shown in Figure below.
A pendulum flap is hinged over this opening, which swings back and forth by
the actions of the waves. The back and forth motion of pendulum is then used to
power a hydraulic pump and an electric generator.
 4.TAPCHAN

 The schematic arrangement of TAPCHAN device is shown in Figure above. It has a

tapered channel connected to a reservoir constructed above the sea level at a height
of 3–5 m.
 They are relatively low power output devices and suitable for deep-water shore line
and low tidal range.
 It is a very simple device. Waves collect into a channel, which tapers into a large
reservoir. As the wave width decreases, the wave amplitude increases according to
the principles of conservation of energy and this enables the waves to travel up a
ramp and pour into the reser voir as shown in Figure above
 The potential energy of water stored in the reservoir is extracted by releasing the
reservoir water back to the sea through a turbine coupled to an electrical generator.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
OF WAVE POWER
1. Advantages
1. Sea waves have high energy densities and provide a consistent stream of electricity
genera- tion capacity.
2. Wave energy is clean source of renewable energy with limited negative environmental
impacts.
3. It has no greenhouse gas emissions or water pollutants.
4. Operating cost is low and operating efficiency is optimal.
5. Damage to ocean shoreline is reduced.

2. Disadvantages
1. High construction costs.
2. Marine life is disrupted and displaced.
3. Damage to the devices from strong storms and corrosion create problems.
4. Wave energy devices could have an effect on marine and recreation environment.
 KEY ISSUES
In general, the key issues affecting wave power devices are as follows:

1. Navigational hazards: Offshore wave energy devices may be a

potential navigation hazard to ships. Near shore devices will have a
visual impact
2. Survivability in violent storms: The structural loading in the event of
extreme weather conditions, such as Tsunami may be as high as
100 times the average loading.
3. Vulnerability of moving parts to seawater: Damage due to strong
storms and corrosion is expected.
4. High capital and operational cost: High construction costs induce
high power generation costs, thus making the technology