MODULE - 5

Module – 5
Sea Wave Energy
Introduction: Using the kinetic energy of the ocean,
waves is utilized to rotate an underwater power turbine
and generate electricity. The energy in the waves mainly
comes in an irregular and oscillating form at all the times
of day and night. Solar energy causes winds to blow over
vast ocean area, which in turn cause waves to form. Wave
height, period and direction depends on wind properties
and geometry of the sea. Wave energy will never depleted
as long as the sun shines. It contains high energy potential
and wave power devices extract energy from either the
surface motion of ocean waves or from pressure
fluctuations below the surface.
 Motion in the Sea Waves
When the wind blows across smooth water
surface, air particles from the wind grab the water
molecules they touch. Stretching of the water surface
by the force or friction between the air and the water
create small wave ripple. Surface tension acts on these
ripples to restore the smooth surface and thereby
waves are formed.
The combination of forces due to the gravity, sea
surface tension and wind intensity are the main factors
of origin of sea waves. Wave size is determined by
wind speed and fetches and by depth of topography.
Sea wave have regular shape and is called as swell.
 Waves are characterized by the following
parameters, which is as shown in the diagram.
Crest: The peak point on the wave is called as crest
Trough: The lowest point on the wave
Wave Height(H): Wave height is a vertical distance
between the wave crest and the next trough (m)
Amplitude: It is defined as H/2 (m)
Wave length (λ) : it is the horizontal distance either
between the two successive crests or troughs of the ocean
waves (m)
Wave Propagation Velocity (v): The motion of seawater in
a direction (m/s)
Wave Period (T): It measures the size of the wave in times
(s). It is the time required for two successive crests to pass
point in space.
Frequency (f): Number of peaks that pass a fixed point
second and it is given by f=1/T cycles/second
 Power Associated With the Sea Waves
It has been concluded by researchers through
linear wave motion theory that the kinetic and
potential energy (E) of a wave per meter of crest and
unit of surface can be approximated as,
E=𝝆ga2/2
Where, 𝜌 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟, g=gravitational
acceleration, a= amplitude of the wave.
The power that a meter of crest holds can be obtained
by multiplying the amount of energy transported by
the group velocity.
The deep water, dispersion relation (k) is given by
k=𝝎2/g
Further, group velocity (Vg) =𝜔/2k = g /2𝜔
The total power obtained as,
P = E Vg
P= (𝜌ga2/2) (g/2𝜔) = 𝝆g2a2/4𝝎
2𝜋
Further, wave period T=2𝜋/𝜔 or 𝜔 = and a=H/2
𝑇
Hence, P = 𝜌g2a2/4𝜔 = 𝝆g2H2T/32 𝝅
For irregular waves of height H(m) and period T(s),
and equation for power per unit of wave front can be
derived as P(irregular) P=0.4 (kW/m) of wave front.
From the above, it is seen that the wave power is
directly proportional to the square of wave height.
 Wave Energy Availability
The energy density of ocean waves are
significantly several time more than air and it is found
that density of water is about 800 times higher than air.
The amount of energy available in ocean waves is very
high and hence it is considered as a renewable energy
source. According to world energy council, the
estimated global ocean wave energy is more than
17500 TWh/year.
The total available US wave energy resource is
23 GW. The west coast of US is the most promising
area. The ocean wave along the western coast of
Europe has power up to 75 kW/m off the coastal area.
 Wave energy is converted into electricity by7
placing wave energy converter on the surface of the
ocean. Several installations have been build in
Scotland, Portugal, Norway, USA, China, Japan,
Australia and India.
A few installations of wave power converter are,
1. The first wave power plant in 1979 to use direct
mechanical action to drive pumps, mills and other
machinery.
2. During the 19th century, a device was put in
operation in Algeria that captured wave oscillation
and transformed into usable form by using a system
of cams and gears
3. A 10 kW pilot plant was installed in the Baltic
sea in 1917
4. Pelamis became the world’s first offshore wave
machine to generate electricity and fed into the grid,
when it was first connected to the UK grid in 2004
5. Salter Duck wave converter was developed in
1980 in UK
6. A 120 kW prototype was operating since 1998
at japan.
7. A 2 kW system off the cost of Portugal
8. A 750 kW project off Scotland
9. 2 MW project off the coast of Canada
10. A 5 kW developed by Scotland
 Wave Energy Availability in India
The coastal area of Maharashtra has an annual
wave potential of about 4 kW/m and 8 kW/m wave
front, and is 12-20 kW/m during the monsoon.
The wave energy potential in Maharashtra for off
shore location is as shown in the table.
Site Annual Avg. Wave Avg. Wave Power –
Power – kW/m (Annual) kW/m (June-August)
Malvan Rock 6.91 16.73
Kura Inset 5.79 13.74
Redi 6.35 16.57
Vengurla Rock 8.01 20.61
Square Rock 6.79 16.64
 Coastal Average Power Locations Site in
Maharashtra is as shown the table.
The vengurla and Malvan rocks and Redi are on the
top among the offshore locations. In the coastal
locations, Pawa is top the list.
Site Annual Avg. Wave Power – Avg. Wave Power –
kW/m (Anuual) kW/m (June-August)
Vijaydurg 5.86 13.58
Girye 5.90 14.21
Ambolgarh 5.74 13.48
Pawapoint 5.36 13.10
Kunkeshwar 5.64 13.35
Wagapur 5.70 13.10
 Devices For Harnessing Wave Energy
There are three basic technologies for converting
wave energy to electricity. They are as follows.
1. Terminator Device
2. Attenuator Device
3. Point Absorber
4. Overtopping Devices

1. Terminator Device: 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 move up and down like a car piston in response to
Ocean waves and pressurizes air to drive the 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.
2. Attenuator Device: These devices are oriented
parallel to the direction of the waves and are long
multi-segment floating structures. It has 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 the hydraulic pumps to
generate electrical power as the waves moves across.
Pelamis wave energy converter is an example for
attenuator device.
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 utilized 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. Salter Duck WEC is an example
of overtopping devices.

Float or Buoy Device: 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 cable
Oscillating Water Column Device: An oscillating
water column device (OWC) is as shown in the
diagram.
 It is a form of terminator in which water enters
through a subsurface opening into a chamber,
tripping air above. The wave action causes the
captured water column to move up and down like a
piston, forcing the air through an opening connected
to a turbine to generate power.
It is a shoreline-based oscillating water column
build in UK. Further, it is installed at Islay. 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.
Pendulum System: it is a shoreline device that consists
of a parallelepiped concrete box, which is open to the sea
at one end as shown in the diagram.
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.
TAPCHAN (Tapered Channel): The schematic
arrangement of the device is as shown in the diagram.
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 very simple device. Waves collected 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 enegy
and this enables the waves to travel up a ramp and
pour into the reservoir. The potential energy of water
stored in the reservoir is extracted by releasing the
reservoir water back to the sea through a low head
Kaplan turbine coupled to an electrical generator.
Salter’s Duck System:
Fig.
 The schematic cross section of Salter Duck is as
shown in the diagram. Salter Duck WEC is the example
of overtopping device. It was invented in Scotland in 1970
to extract mechanical energy from the ocean waves.
It is an egg shaped device that moves with the
motion of the waves. The shape of leading edge of the
duck is in such a way that the approaching sea wave
pressure is exerted on the duck. It forces the duck to rotate
about a central axis and the tip of the cam bobs up and
down in the water. As the salter duck moves up and down
on the sea waves, pendulum connected hydraulics that
pumps as the device moves back and forth with the waves.
This movement of the pressurized oil pumped into
hydraulic machine that drives electric generator.
Offshore Wave Dragon System:
it is an overtopping device that elevates ocean
waves to a reservoir above sea level as shown in the
diagram. Water is let out through a number of turbines
and in this way it is transformed into electricity. The
basic idea of this system consists of two large arms
that focus waves up a ramp into a reservoir. The water
returns to the ocean by the force of gravity via a low
head hydro turbine that drives an electric generator.
Bristol Cylinder:
Bristol cylinder operates under the sea level is as shown in
the diagram. It consists of a floating cylinder that
collected the waves movements. The cylinder is
mechanically connected to the energy unit by flexible
joints and rods. The rods are moving slowly with cylinder
and the reciprocating motion is transferred to the axels in
converter unit. When transferring converter movements
with mechanical arms and rotation to the generator, the
efficiency should be kept as high as possible.
Archimedes Wave Swing Devices: it is an underwater
buoy (Fig.) of which the upper part (floater) moves up and
down in the wave, while the lower part stays in position.
The floater (air filled chamber) is pushed down under a
wave crest and moves up under a wave trough. The
interior of the system is pressurized with air and serves as
an air spring. The mechanical power is converted into
electrical power by means of a power take-off system
(PTO). The PTO consists of a linear electrical generator
and a nitrogen filled damping cylinder.
 Advantages of Sea Wave Power/Energy
1. Sea waves have high energy densities and
provide a consistent stream of electricity
generation capacity
2. Wave energy is clean source of renewable energy
with limited negative environmental impacts
3. It has no green house gas emissions or water
pollution
4. Operating cost is low and operating efficiency is
optimal
5. Damage to ocean shoreline is reduces
 Disadvantages of Sea Wave Power/Energy
1. High construction cost

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
 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
Introduction: It is an indirect method of utilizing
solar energy. Large amount of solar energy is collected
and stored in tropical oceans. The upper layer acts as
collector for solar heat. The heat contained in the
oceans, could be converted into electricity by utilizing
the method of temperature difference.
Power can be generated in the location where a
temperature difference of 200 C and above exist
between warm surface water and cold deep water.
Generally, open surface water is at 250 C or above and
temperature below the surface (1000 m) is about 50 C.
OTEC is an energy technology that converts solar
radiation to electric power through heat of ocean
water. These systems use oceans natural thermal
gradient. As long as he temperature difference between
the warm surface water and the cold deep water below
600 metres by about 200 C an OTEC system can
produce a significant amount of power.
Principle of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion:
 Basic principle of OTEC is as shown in the
diagram. The warm water from the ocean surface is
collected and pumped through the heat exchanger to heat
and vaporize a low boiling organic fluid. In a boiler/heat
exchanger, heat present in the surface water is transferred
to organic fluid. Thus vapour/steam sill be produced. The
vaporized working fluid expands though turbine coupled
to electric generator, that generates electrical power.
Working fluid coming out of the turbine is condensed
back into liquid by condenser. Cold ocean water is
pumped trough condenser where the vapour is cooled and
returns to liquid state. The working fluid is pumped again
through heat exchanger and cycle repeats. It is known as
closed cycle OTEC. The organic fluids used are ammonia,
propane, etc.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plants:
There are two types of OTEC power plants
namely, land – based power plant and floating power
plants
Land Based Power Plant: This power plant will
consists of building as shown in the diagram. It is
constructed on the shore and accommodate all parts of
OTEC plant. It requires laying down long pipes from
plant site on shore to two extreme points of necessary
temperature gradient. One pipe is used to collect warm
ocean surface water through screened enclosure near
the shore, another lone pipe lay down on the slope
deep into the ocean to collect cold water.
 A third pipe is used as outlet to discharge used water
again in ocean via marine culture ponds deep down the
ocean. Cost of pipe installation and maintenance is very
expensive, and land based plant is also very expensive.
Since large electricity is used to pump water through long
pipes, the net electricity reduces considerably. Cold water
pipe is the largest single item in the land-based plant
design, as the slopes are larger than 150 or more
it has an advantage of savings on electrical
transmission line and connectivity to electrical power
grid.
Floating Power Plant: It is built on a ship platform
exactly where required temperature gradient sufficient
for OTEC plant is available. The working principle of
ocean thermal energy conversion is same as that of
land – based power plant. In this unit cost savings
exist on piping system but long transmission line is
required to transmit electrical power from plant to sea
shore.
Owing to high installation cost of long
underwater power cables and its inefficiency and
many other associated problems, floating OTEC plants
are considered for the production of fuels, such as
hydrogen, on the platform itself by the electrolysis of
water.
Basic Rankine Cycle and its Working: The basic
rankine cycle is as shown in the diagram. It consists
of the following.
1. Evaporator
2. Turbine expander
3. Condenser
4. Pump
5. Working Fluid
In open – cycle OTEC, warm sea water is used
as working fluid, whereas in closed – cycle type, low
boiling point ammonia or propane is used. The
schematic arrangement of OTEC Rankine cycle is as
shown in the diagram.
 Warm ocean surface water flows into the
evaporator which is the high temperature heat source.
A fluid pump is used to force the fluid in a heat
evaporator where liquid fluid vaporizes. Then. vapour
of boiling fluid enters the turbine expander coupled
with an electrical generator to generate electrical
power. The vapour released from the turbine enters
into condenser where it condenses. The cold deep sea
water is pumped through the condenser for heat
rejection from vapour fluid and condenses as liquid
fluid. The liquid fluid is again pumped through
evaporator and cycle repeats. As temperature
difference between high and low temperature ends is
large enough, the cycle will continue to operate and
generate electrical power.
Selection of Working Fluid: Steam rankine cycle and
organic rankine cycle are the two types used in OTEC
system. The choice of working fluid plays an
important role in design and performance of OTEC.
Water is the only fluid in steam rankine cycle but a
large number of working fluids are available for
organic rankine cycle. The working fluids has the
following properties.
1. Chemical stability and compatibility
2. Environmental Acceptability
3. Heat transfer coefficient
4. Cost and Availability
5. Flash point 6. Specific heat
7. Latent heat 8. Safety
Closed Cycle, Open Cycle, and Hybrid Cycle :
There are three types of OTEC cycle designs,
namely open cycle, closed cycle and hybrid cycle.
1. In an open cycle, warm sea water is pumped into a
flash evaporator as working fluid where it boils at low
pressure and converts into steam. This steam expands
through low-pressure turbine which drives an
electrical generator and generates electricity. The
steam released from the turbine is passed through
condenser, the steam is condensed by deep sea cold
water as non-saline water. When non condensable
gases are separated and exhausted.
2. In closed cycle, organic fluid flows in a separate closed-
cycle loop called organic rankine cycle. Warm sea surface
water pumped through another pipe vapourizes working
fluid in heat exchanger to drive turbine generator. The
fluid vapour condenses into liquid form by deep sea water
pumped in condenser by a separate pumping system. The
process of pumping liquid fluid in an evaporator cycle is
repeated.
3. Hybrid cycle is a combination of both closed and open
cycle
Open Cycle OTEC: In open cycle OTEC uses warm
ocean surface water as an working fluid. It is a non-toxic
and environment friendly fluid. The major components of
this system are shown in the diagram. It consists of
evaporator, low pressure turbine coupled to an electrical
generator, condenser, marine culture ponds, non-
condensable gas exhaust and pumps. Evaporator used in
an open cycle system is flash evaporator in which warm
sea water instantly boils or flash in the chamber that has
reduced pressure than atmosphere or vacuum. It results in
reduced vapourization pressure of warm sea water.
During the vapourization process in an evaporator,
oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide dissolved in sea
water are separated and are non condensable. They are
exhausted by non condensable gas exhaust system.
Condenser is used to condense vapour or steam released
by turbine is condensed by cold deep sea water and
returned back to sea. If surface condenser is used,
condensed steam is pumped into marine culture ponds.
The working principle of open-cycle OTEC plants are
explained as follows with help of diagram.
1. The warm ocean surface water is pumped into flash
evaporator where it is partially flashed into steam at
a very low pressure. The remaining warm sea water
is discharged into the sea.
2. The low pressure steam expands in turbine to drive
a coupled electrical generator to produce electricity.
A portion of electricity generated is consumed in
plants to run pumps and for other work.
3. The steam with many gases such as oxygen,
nitrogen and carbon dioxide released from the
turbine separated from sea water in an evaporator is
pumped into condenser. The steam is cooled in a
condenser by cold deep sea water
4. The condensed non-saline water is discharged either
directly in deep sea cold water or through the
marine culture pond

5. The non-condensable gases are compressed

to pressure and exhausted simultaneously

6. The warm ocean surface water is continuously

pumped into evaporator and cycle repeats.
Closed Cycle OTEC: The schematic of arrangement of
closed cycle OTEC is as shown in the diagram. In this
process, organic fluid with low boiling point is used as
working fluid. Ammonia liquid is the most widely used
working fluid. Working fluid flows in a closed loop and
perfectly sealed piping system. Working fluid circulates
around the loop continuously. Warm ocean surface water
flows through completely separate piping system and
discharges in upper surface of ocean. Warm surface sea
water and working fluid piping are placed very closely to
each other in a heat exchanger to transfer warm sea water
heat into working fluid. The cold deep sea water piping
system is in contact with working fluid piping system in a
condenser where working fluid condenses to its liquid
state.
Working principle of closed cycle OTEC are as
follows.
1. Working fluid is pumped through heat exchanger in
a closed loop cycle which is perfectly leakage
proof.

2. Warm sea surface water is pumped through

separate pipe in heat exchanger in close contact
with fluid closed loop cycle

3. Warm sea water transfer its heat energy to working

fluid in heat exchanger and working fluid
vapourizes
4. The fluid vapour makes the turbine to
rotate and drive an electrical generator
to produce electricity.

5. Fluid vapour leaving the turbine is cooled

and condensed as liquid fluid and is pumped
again to repeat the cycle.

6. Cold deep water is pumped through a

separate pipe in condenser for providing
efficient cooling of working fluid.
OTEC Hybrid Cycle:
Hybrid cycle is the combination of both closed-
cycle and open-cycle systems. Warm sea water is
pumped into a vacuum chamber where it is used to
flash and produces steam. Working fluid in another
closed cycle loop is evaporated and vapourized by
steam in vacuum chamber. The fluid vapour rotates the
turbine and drive an electric generator to produce
electricity. The schematic arrangement of OTEC
hybrid cycle is as shown in the diagram.
Carnot Cycle: It is the most efficient thermo
dynamical cycle by exploiting the warm sea surface
water and cold deep sea water.
Let, ‘W’ be the work done by the system,
QH be the heat energy entering into the system
Tc be the absolute temperature of the
sea surface, and
TH be the absolute temperature of the deep
sea water hot reservoir.
Carnot efficiency is given by the equation,
Efficiency ‘η’ = W/QH
= 1-Tc/TH
 Applications of OTEC
1. Electrical Power Generation

2. Hydrogen Production

3. Ammonia and Methanol Production

4. Desalinated Water

5. Aquaculture

6. Chilled Soil Agriculture

7. Air Conditioning
1. Electrical Power Generation: Electricity is the
primary product of OTEC plant. Laying down long
transmission and distribution cables up to the sea
shore for domestic and industrial applications is not
practical from economic view point. OTEC plants
are therefore considered for other products and
applications.
2. Hydrogen Production: Electricity produced from
OTEC plants is used for separating water in
hydrogen and oxygen by the method of electrolysis
of water. Hydrogen is considered as the second best
usable form of energy after electricity.
3. Ammonia and Methanol Production: OTEC
electricity can be used to obtain by-products such as
ammonia and methanol, that can be transported either
by tankers or through pipe lines to on shore
applications
4. Desalinated Water: it is produced in an open cycle
and hybrid type OTEC plants through surface
condenser. It is fresh water and widely used as water
resource for drinking, agriculture and industry
5. Aquaculture: Nutrient-rich cold deep sea water
provides sufficient environment for fish farming which
may create a profitable business activities
6. Chilled Soil Agriculture: it is another application of
OTEC plants. Cold deep sea water flowing through
underground pipes chills the surrounding soil. The
temperature difference is maintained between plant roots
in the cool soil and plant leaves in the warm air and thus
the tree and plants grows. The amount of food that can be
produced in this way is very large.
7. Air Conditioning: Since the temperature is only a few
degrees, cold water can be used as a fluid in air condition
system.
 Advantages of OTEC
1. Ocean thermal energy is a renewable energy
source.
2. It is a clean natural resource available in abundance

3. It is pollution free and has no green house effect

4. It is a good source of fresh water and portable
water
5. It encourage chilled agriculture and aquaculture
6. It is a source of base load electricity and fuels such
as hydrogen, methanol and ammonia
 Disadvantages of OTEC
1. High Cost: Electricity generated by OTEC plants is
more expensive
2. Complexity: OTEC plants must be located where a
difference of about 200 C occurs year round. Ocean
depth must be available fairly close to shore-based
facilities for economic operation
3. Acceptability: For large scale production of electricity
and other products, OTEC plants are poorly acceptable
due to their high cost
4. Ecosystem Damage: it is obvious by setting OTEC
plants
5. Lower Efficiency: Higher temperature difference
between ocean surface warm water and cold deep
ocean water is required for highly efficient operation.
 Benefits as a measure of the value of OTEC
1. It is a clean, renewable natural resource available in
plenty
2. It has no environmental problems and greenhouse
effect
3. It is a source of base load electricity and fuels such
as hydrogen, methanol and ammonia
4. It provides freshwater for drinking, agriculture and
industry
5. It encourages chilled agriculture and aquaculture
6. Self-sufficiency, no environmental effects and
improved sanitation and nutrition are the added
benefits for island
--------- END -----------
BY
Dr. H.B. Suresh
Professor,
Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Department,
JNNCE
SHIVAMOGGA - 577204