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=ga2/2
Where, 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=2/g
Further, group velocity (Vg) =/2k = g /2
The total power obtained as,
P = E Vg
P= (ga2/2) (g/2) = g2a2/4
Further, wave period T=2 or and a=H/2
Hence, P = g2a2/4 = g2H2T/32
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
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 25 0 C or above and
temperature below the surface (1000 m) is about 5 0 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 20 0 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
 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
 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