THEUTILIZATIONANDINNOVATIONOFUNDERWATERTURBINESTOHARNESS
CURRENTANDTIDALENERGYFORCONSUMERUSE
LeeMuszynski([email protected])andAlexBuonomo ([email protected])
Abstract
In 2015, only thirty-one percent of the United States of America’s energy
was gathered from renewable resources. Hydroelectric accounts for only
seven out of the thirty-one percent of this renewable energy production.
Given that the Earth is made up of seventy-one percent water, the
percentage of energy obtained from hydroelectric systems could be
considerably higher. One area in the hydroelectric sector that shows great
potential for expansion is current and tidal energy. It is the most
overlooked and underutilized form of renewable energy obtainment,
producing less than three percent of the worlds total energy supply.
Ocean tides work on a continuous cycle that is never disrupted unlike
solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources which rely on unpredictable
forces. The most basic example of tidal power is manipulated by the use of
underwater turbines that harness the energy of current and tides and
convert it into mechanical energy. In today’s world, it has become very
apparent that the supply of our nonrenewable energy resources are both
nearing depletion and are harming the environment. By switching from
nonrenewable fossil fuels to renewable hydroelectric energy, the
environment will both be preserved and we will save our planet’s natural
resources.
TheDesign
• Each shape in the figure to the right is acted
upon by the water flow in a different manner
that allows each model to be more specialized
for different flows within currents and tides.
• The rotors are specifically designed to
maximize their hydrodynamics in order to
rotate ergonomically [9].
• In the first two models, the horizontal axis
turbine (1) and vertical axis turbine (2), they
are directly related to modern wind turbines
using the air.
• The horizontal axis turbine can operate much
more efficiently than the vertical axis turbine
under high speeds [10].
• The vertical axis turbine has the ability to work
efficiently with any angle of attack, while the
horizontal axis turbine must have the water
flowing at a ninety-degree angle [11].
• The venture device design (3) uses the physics
of bottlenecking, by creating an area of higher
pressure where the rotor is turning.
• This increased speed will cause a greater
rotational speed, thus greater power
production.
• Tying together the knowledge of how the
angle of attack and shape effect the efficiency
of the rotor of a turbine, a solution can begin
to be formulated to enhance these rotors.
• In the most common turbines, a classical fan-shape is employed
with a rotor containing three to six blades and is positioned on a
post, angled with the water to maximize rotation.
• Water then passes over and under the wings, causing a pressure
difference, thus inducing rotation about a pivot. Some of these
turbines have a sensor connected to small fans that are attached
to motors to turn the turbine system as a whole in order to find
the angle that maximizes efficiency.
• The rotor then rotates past a magnetic coil generator in the
housing of the post which creates an electrical current.
• This current is then transferred through a cable to an
underground power collection hub to then be distributed for
consumption [4][5].
Harnessing The Oceans Energy
SustainableEnergy
• Tidal power is the use of the ocean’s tidal patterns to gather
energy and convert it into useful power.
• Wind, water, solar, and geothermal energy are the main
renewable resources. Tidal energy also classifies as a renewable
resource.
• The world’s most prominent non-renewable resource, coal, is
projected to be depleted within the next fifty years [1].
• Tidal forces and oceanic currents are much more consistent and
predictable than all other forms of renewable resources.
• A newly developed underwater turbine has proven to acquire
13.5 megawatts of energy, enough energy to power 13,500
homes, compared to wind turbines of similar dimensions that
only have the capacity to power 240 homes [2].
[7]
TheRotor
• The rotor of any turbine is the driving component that allows the
technology to function as a whole. They can be reshaped, resized,
and repositioned in a multitude of ways to maximize its rotation,
therefore maximizing its energy obtainment.
• Another major variable when increasing the power production
efficiency of the rotor is the angle of attack.
• The angle of attack is the angle at which the fluid meets a surface
designed for maximum lift. The optimal angle of attack is the
angle at which the rotor rotates at the highest rate.
• This angle is directly proportional to a value known as the
Coefficient of Lift (CL) which can be determined experimentally.
By increasing lift, the rotation speed and therefore power
production is improved [6].
Thistableshowsdatafromnewtidalturbinesat
differentsiteslocatedinorneartheUnitedStates[3].
Sources
[1]A.Schwartz.“VisualizingAllTheNonrenewableResourcesWeHaveLeft.”November13,2014.Accessed1.27.17.https://www.fastcoexist.com/1680136/visualizing-all-the-non-renewable-resources-we-have-left
[2]T.Lewis.LiveScience.“UnderwaterOceanTurbines:ANewSpinonCleanEnergy?’August5,2014.Accessed1.27.17.http://www.livescience.com/47188-ocean-turbines-renewable-energy.html
[3]EnergyFuture."TheFutureofEnergy:AnalyzingtheOptions."Accessed3.27.2017.http://energyfuture.wikidot.com/ocean-resources
[4]GERenewableEnergy.“TidalPowerGeneration.”Accessed1.27.17.https://www.gerenewableenergy.com/innovative-solutions/tidal-energy/oceade-tidal-turbine-platform.html
[5]K.Sleight.Ecopedia.“HowDoUnderwaterTurbinesWork?”March2,2013.Accessed1.30.17.http://www.ecopedia.com/energy/how-do-underwater-turbines-work/
[6]C.Hodanbosi.TheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration.“LiftFormula.”EditedAugust1996.Accessed2.2.17.https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/WindTunnel/Activities/lift_formula.html
[7]TidalEnergyLtd.“Whatistidalenergy?”2017.Accessed1.10.2017.http://www.tidalenergyltd.com/
The Environment
Improvements
RotorDesigns
How Turbines Work
• Some studies show that underwater turbines create high
pressure changes in areas around the rotor [13].
• The quick pressure change makes it impossible for aquatic life to
control their buoyancy and therefore then either sink to the
bottom or float to the surface.
• As sediments flow in the water with the currents they are slowly
deposited on the floor, but as water flows past the downstream
side of the turbines the water slows down slightly, causing more
sediments to be deposited in the area.
• Large amounts of sediment can cover, damage, and kill plant life
and reef life [13].
• Further studies are attempting to prove that the underwater
generators and turbines are creating potential electromagnetic
interference which affects species of animals that sense electric
fields.
• This technology has no emissions and almost no pollutants aside
from the possible leakage of lubricants.
• Environmentalists will not allow these turbines to be built
without total confidence that their system will not cause damage
to the ocean's inhabitants
1
2
Thisimage
showsthe
pressure
changes
arounda
rotating
hydrofoil
[13].
3
[9]
Locations
[6]
• In 2012, there were currently only twenty discovered locations
worldwide identified as worthy locations for planting a tidal
turbine.
• Eight are on the coasts of Great Britain. And a few more are off
the coasts of East Asia and Australia [8].
• More recent water tests have shown that there are multiple
locations within the United States that have the potential for
turbine energy [8].
• Researchers will look to find locations with fast and steady water
flow.
• When a large body of water is moving in the direction that is
heading to a smaller area, called “bottlenecking”, where the
speed of the water will increase, this will produce a location of
more condensed energy that is prime for energy generation.
Goals For The Future
MaximizingCleanEnergy
• Only about 10 percent of the United States’ energy consumption
comes from renewable sources.
• At current rates of production, oil will run out in 53 years, natural
gas in 54, and coal in 110 years [14].
• These energy sources are responsible for almost all of the United
States’ energy production.
• With the arising advancements of the underwater turbines, the
United States and other countries can continue to take steps
towards completely reliable, safe, and infinite energy
consumption.
• Within the next few years there should be more improvements
to the technology.
• Environmental harm and high costs will be a non-factor, leading
to more participation in this method.
• Eventually ocean energy can take the number one spot as the
most utilized and most efficient form of clean energy generation.
Acknowledgements
[8]RP.Siegel.“TidalPower:ProsandCons.”June1,2012.Accessed2.7.17.http://www.triplepundit.com/special/energy-options-pros-and-cons/tidal-power-pros-cons/
[9]TheEuropeanMarineEnergyCentreLtd.“TidalDevices.”2017.Accessed1.10.2017.http://www.emec.org.uk/marine-energy/tidal-devices/
[10]TurbinesInfo.“HorizontalAxisWindTurbines– HAWT.”July5,2011.Accessed2.14.17.http://www.turbinesinfo.com/horizontal-axis-wind-turbines-hawt/
[11]J.T.Barett.“HorizontalVs.VerticalWindTurbines.”Accessed2.14.17.http://education.seattlepi.com/horizontal-vs-vertical-wind-turbines-3500.html
[12]EnergySystemsResearchUnit.Accessed2.15.17.http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/0506/marine_renewables/technology/oschydro.htm
[13]TheUniversityofWashington.“Calculatingtidalenergyturbineseffectsonsedimentandfish.”December13,2010.Accessed 2.24.17.http://www.washington.edu/news/2010/12/13/calculating-tidal-energy-turbines-effects-on-sediments-and-fish/
[14] S.Singh.“Howlongwillfossilfuelslast?”September23,2015.Accessed2.24.17.http://www.businessstandard.com/article/punditry/how-long-will-fossil-fuels-last-115092201397_1.html
We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Lee’s father. His expertise in the marine field was extremely
beneficial for helping us gather ideas within the paper. We would also like to thank Colleen Hilla for keeping
us up to date and on track to ensure that we finished each section of this assignment in a timely manner.
Also, we give a special thanks to all of the engineering students who helped us gather points of focus to do
further research on. This assignment was extremely beneficial to our knowledge of how a basic component
within a technology can make such a huge impact on our world. Also, Jon Howorth.