The
discovery
of
electricity
Renewable Energy: Wave
Power
Another source of energy, still in the experimental stages,
is <wave power> using ocean waves or the tides.
1
The discovery of electricity fact
sheets reviewed and updated with
the assistance of STAV Publishing
Waves are formed when wind blows across a large body of
water. The potential for waves to supply energy is enormous.
The amount of power a wave can produce is related to its
height and average speed.
The distribution of wave energy around the world is closely
linked to wind strength - where the winds are strongest the
wave potential is greatest.
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friendly
History of Wave Power
The use of waves as a source of power is a recent occurrence with
the earliest reported applications coming from early last century. In
1909, the California Wave Power Company used wave energy to
produce electricity to light lamps on wharves. At about the same time
an “electric ball” was installed near Sorrento, south of Melbourne. This
device generated electricity as it rose and fell on incoming waves. Little
else is known about its operation.
<Tides> (the rise and fall of the oceans) caused by the earth’s rotation
and the gravitational ‘pull’ of the sun and moon, can be harnessed to
drive electric generators. A dam wall is built across the entrance of a
bay or inlet, and the moving water is passed through a turbine, driving
a generator. It has certain limitations, as it can only work as the tide
flows out, as turbines only rotate in one direction.
<Generation of
Electricity>
Tide powered paddle wheels were used in Egypt in 1100 AD, and
about the same time tidal mills to grind grain were used in England and
France. The first tidal power stations were built in France and Russia
in the mid to late 1960’s. Tidal power provides a clean and constantly
renewable source of energy and emits no greenhouse gases, however
because the necessary retaining walls or dams can disturb the shape
of the sea floor, causing silting, it is still largely in the experimental
stages. No commercial wave generators exist in Australia at the
present time.
2
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3
OSCILLATING WATER COLUMN
This device consists of water column that is open to the sea at the base.
Incoming waves force the water up the column forcing the enclosed air
through a turbine located above the water surface.
AS WAVES MOVE IN THE TAPERED
CHANNEL, THEY OVERFLOW INTO
THE RESERVOIR
More information
WATER FLOWS THROUGH
TURBINE GENERATING
ELECTRICITY
Alternative energy sources
<http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/
solutions/index.html>
<http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.
htm>
<Wind power>
<Solar power>
TAPERED CHANNEL
<Hydro power>
This system focuses waves into a rock gully
60 metres leading to a concrete channel which
tapers from 3 metres to 0.2 Metres over a
90 metre length. The waves spill over the
channel sides into a reservoir 3 metres above
mean sea level. The water is returned to the
sea through a turbine coupled to a generator.
Nuclear power
<http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/
chapter13.html>
<http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/
solutions/nuclear.html>
This type of system incorporates several hours
of energy storage. However, it does occupy
a large area and suitable coastal sites are not
as readily available as those for oscillating
column systems.
Wave power
<http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/wave.
htm>
Wave energy and hydro power
<http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/
chapter14.html>
Tidal power
<http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/tidal.htm>
print
friendly
Renewable Energy: Wave
Another source of energy, still in the
experimental stages, is <wave power>
using ocean waves or the tides.
Waves are formed when wind blows
across a large body of water. The
potential for waves to supply energy
is enormous. The amount of power
a wave can produce is related to its
height and average speed.
The distribution of wave energy
around the world is closely linked to
wind strength - where the winds are
strongest the wave potential is greatest.
History of Wave Power
The use of waves as a source of power
is a recent occurrence with the earliest
reported applications coming from early last
century. In 1909, the California Wave Power
Company used wave energy to produce
electricity to light lamps on wharves. At
about the same time an “electric ball” was
installed near Sorrento, south of Melbourne.
This device generated electricity as it rose
and fell on incoming waves. Little else is
known about its operation.
<Tides> (the rise and fall of the oceans)
caused by the earth’s rotation and the
gravitational ‘pull’ of the sun and moon, can
be harnessed to drive electric generators.
A dam wall is built across the entrance of a
bay or inlet, and the moving water is passed
through a turbine, driving a generator. It has
certain limitations, as it can only work as the
tide flows out, as turbines only rotate in one
direction.
Tide powered paddle wheels were used
in Egypt in 1100 AD, and about the same
time tidal mills to grind grain were used in
England and France. The first tidal power
stations were built in France and Russia in
the mid to late 1960’s. Tidal power provides
a clean and constantly renewable source
Power
of energy and emits no greenhouse gases,
however because the necessary retaining
walls or dams can disturb the shape of the
sea floor, causing silting, it is still largely in
the experimental stages. No commercial
wave generators exist in Australia at the
present time.
More information
Alternative energy sources
<http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/
solutions/index.html>
<http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.
htm>
<Wind power>
<Solar power>
<Hydro power>
Nuclear power
<http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/
chapter13.html>
<http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/
solutions/nuclear.html>
Wave power
<http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/wave.
htm>
Wave energy and hydro power
<http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/
chapter14.html>
Tidal power
<http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/tidal.
htm>
The discovery of electricity fact
sheets reviewed and updated with
the assistance of STAV Publishing