HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE MOON

How do we go from

to

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Tides rise and fall with great predictability each day. How can we use this resource?
Option 1: Tidal Barrage Option 2: In-Stream Tidal

Build a dam across the mouth of an estuary (like a hydro-electric dam) Harness potential energy of tides

Underwater wind turbine Harness kinetic energy of the tides

All pictures of in-stream turbines all available from the publicly accessible Electric Power Research Institute website (www.epri.com/oceanergy)

Lets take a closer look at each option

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Tidal barrage systems work like hydro-electric dams

Low Tide Barrage Dam

Ocean

Estuary

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

On the incoming tide (flood tide), water flows into the estuary
Low Tide
High Tide

Barrage Dam
Ocean Estuary

Then the dam shuts

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Once the tide goes out, there is a height (potential energy) difference between ocean and estuary
Low Tide
High Tide Low Tide

Barrage Dam
Ocean Estuary

Then the dam opens

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

As water flows through the dam, a turbine extracts energy from the flow
Low Tide
High Tide Low Tide

Barrage Dam Since the ocean is much more massive than the estuary, its height does not change
Ocean Estuary Turbine

Then the entire process repeats on the next tide

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Tidal barrages have issues

Cost ($$$) The infrastructure required is enormous and so the cost of construction is very high

A project in the Severn Estuary (UK) was projected to cost $8 billion and take 10 years to build!
Who can afford something like that? Variable Power Production Huge amount of power twice each day when dam in operation, but no power in between (most of the day) How can utilities integrate that with the grid? Environmental Impact Operation of dam completely alters circulation in estuary Dam turbines kill fish and cant accommodate marine mammals

It is unlikely that a tidal barrage would ever be constructed again

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

So how about in-stream tidal energy?

Its like a wind turbine but underwater.

Harnesses tidal currents rather than wind

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Tidal currents are generated by rise and fall of the tides (water flows downhill)
Estuary Inlet Estuary Flood Inlet tide Ebb Tide Estuary Inlet Seabed Slack water
Constant water height No velocity

Estuary Basin

Flood Tide
Water level higher outside estuary than in main basin Water flows into estuary

Ebb Tide
Water level higher in main basin than outside estuary Water flows out of estuary

Tidal turbines harness both ebb and flood tides

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Tides are caused by the pull of the moon and sun on the earths oceans

Gravitational mass of sun and moon pulls on ocean, causing water to rise and fall

Strongest tides when sun and moon pull in same direction (spring tide) Weakest tides when sun and moon in opposition (neap tide)

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Since currents are driven by tidal range, when the range is greatest, currents are fastest
Spring Tides (strongest)
3 2

Current Velocity (m/s)

1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 1-Feb 6-Feb 11-Feb 16-Feb 21-Feb 26-Feb

Tidal currents vary with the lunar cycle (14 days)

Date

Neap Tides (weakest)

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Tidal in-stream energy is in the early stages. Lots of ideas.

Lets take a closer look at them

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

All in-stream turbines have the same basic components

Component I II III
Rotor

Function

Options

Extracts power from flow

Steps up rotational speed from rotor Converts rotational power to electricity

Horizontal axis Vertical axis

Planetary Gears Hydraulics Induction Permanent Magnet

Gearbox

Generator

IV

Foundation

Secures turbine to seabed

Monopile Gravity Chain Anchors

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Marine Current Turbines

Power train

Horizontal axis (2 bladed) Planetary gearbox Induction generator Rated from 1.2 2.5 MW Monopile drilled or driven into seabed Lifting mechanism pulls turbine out of water 3 years of testing prototype in UK (300 kW)

Foundation

Maintenance Development Large Scale

(18 m diameter)

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Lunar Energy
Power train

Horizontal axis (ducted) Hydraulic gearbox Induction generator Rated at 2 MW Gravity foundation using concrete and aggregate Barge recovers cassette with all moving parts Tank testing Nearing end of design for first large scale unit

Foundation

Maintenance Development

Large Scale
(21 m diameter inlet)

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Open Hydro
Power train

Horizontal axis No gearbox Rim-mount permanent magnet generator Rated at 1500 kW Monopile drilled or driven into seabed Divers, barge recovery? Small scale demonstration unit off barge

Foundation

Maintenance Large Scale

(15 m diameter)

Development

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Verdant
Power train

Horizontal axis (3 blades) Planetary gearbox Induction generator Rated at 34 kW Monopile drilled or driven into seabed Boat recovers entire power train (pops off) Installing 6 turbines off Roosevelt Island, NY City

Foundation

Maintenance Small Scale

(5 m diameter)

Development

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

GCK (Gorlov Helical Turbine)

Power train

Vertical axis (3 blades) Power train in development Rated at 7 kW Foundation in development Divers, boat recovery?

Foundation

Maintenance Small Scale

(1 m diameter)

Development

Testing off barges and in rivers

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

So where should turbines be sited?

Criteria

Reason

Logical Sites

Strong currents

Power flux goes with the cube of velocity Channel power product of power flux and area Need to put the power to use

Constrictions in estuaries with good tidal range Large-scale constrictions Close proximity to existing electrical infrastructure

Large crosssectional area Electrical Infrastructure

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

(more siting issues)

Criteria

Reason

Logical Sites

Solid seabed

Needs to support or hold turbine foundation Maintenance and installation costs lower if site near port Estuaries used for shipping and recreation
http://www.energy.washington.edu

Scoured gravel or rock seabed Close proximity to major port

Port Facilities

Multiple Use

Minimize conflicts in design stage (e.g. fully submerged turbines)

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory

There are environmental concerns associated with in-stream tidal energy

Criticism

Response

Turbines make sushi out of fish and marine mammals

Turbines operate very slowly (1012 RPM) Unlikely to injure fish or marine mammals Manufacturers using glass-based non-toxic alternatives

Anti-fouling paints used on turbines leach toxins into estuary Operation changes estuary circulation

Limits set on kinetic energy extraction so the impact will be insignificant In-stream turbines much more benign than barrages!
Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

So lets look at a case study close to home Tacoma Narrows

Point Evans

Possible Turbine Site

Port of Tacoma
(base for installation and maintenance)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

High velocity currents in a relatively wide channel results in a strong resource

Channel Power
- Single Day 1400 1200 1400

Channel Power
- Tidal Cycle 140

Channel Power
- Monthly Average -

Annual Average= 106 MW

Average Channel Power (MW)

Channel Power (MW)

Channel Power (MW)

1000 800 600 400 200 0 0:00

High hourly variability (two ebb and flood tides per day)

1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

High daily variability (14 day lunar cycle)

120 100 80 60 40 20 0

Low monthly variability stable long-term resource

12:00

0:00

1-Feb

6-Feb

11-Feb

Jan Mar May Jul

Sep Nov

Hour

Date

Month

Extraction Limit (15% Annual Average) = 16 MW

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

The seabed is relatively deep at Point Evans - plenty of space to install large diameter turbines
MLLW Depth (m) <0 0-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65+

Tacoma Narrows

Point Evans

Array Location

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

The seabed is composed of dense sand and clay and should support either pile or gravity foundations
Seabed Surface Seabed Geology

Predominantly clay and sand Soil layers have been glacially consolidated and are very dense

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

High voltage interconnection is possible on the west side of Tacoma Narrows

Tacoma Power has a right of way (ROW)
115kV transmission line (Tacoma Power)

running south along the bluffs from the channel

Pt. Evans channel marker

marker. Turbine power cable would come ashore there. Turbine array power would connect with

115kV cable crossing towers

Tacoma Power ROW

existing 115kV line near

cable crossing towers

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Marine Current Turbines is the best fit for megawattscale generation in Tacoma Narrows

GCK (Gorlov)

Lunar Energy
Marine Current Turbines Open Hydro SeaPower SMD Hydrovision UEK Verdant
Design Device

A number of devices are unsuitable (in the near term) due to immature: Maintenance Foundation Power train
Of the remaining devices, Marine Current Turbines fit the site best

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

A surface piercing pilot plant could be tested, followed by installation of a larger array of submerged turbines
Pilot Plant Commercial Plant

Next-generation design Fully submerged

Compatible with shipping traffic Requires new support structure and lifting mechanism Same power train and foundation as SeaGen

SeaGen
Dual-rotor Surface piercing

Requires further development prior to deployment

Ready for deployment in short-term

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Device selection is driven by a need to minimize impact on Tacoma Narrows

Category
Issue Kelp wrapped around rotors Bio-accumulation on rotor and support structure Marine mammals and fish Array footprint overlaps with conventional shipping lane Design Approach Rope cutters at base of hub Use of glass-based anti-fouling paints to prevent bio-accumulation without introducing toxins to ecosystem Low rotational speed (~12 RPM) Shipping Traffic 15m LAT (lowest astronomical tide) overhead clearance for fully submerged turbines Pilot at edge of shipping lane Eddies and Turbulence Eddies and large-scale turbulence degrade turbine operation and shorten life Eddies from bridge and points Recreational Use Swimming, diving, fishing all take place in Tacoma Narrows Far enough north of bridge to avoid caisson wake Far enough offshore to be out of Point Evans eddy Far enough south for Point Defiance turbulence to dissipate May require exclusion zone around turbine array (< 10% total surface area). Enforceable? Sport fishing lines unlikely to effect rotors
Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

Biological Activity

Turbines need to be separated to prevent the wake from one from degrading the operation of another
Surface 15 m (minimum)

9m

10 m

Lateral Spacing and Clearance

17 m Seabed

18 m

8m

46 m

46 m

Channel Edge

Downstream Spacing
Channel Edge 180 m 180 m

Dual rotor turbine (46m tip-to-tip)

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

A commercial scale array at Point Evans might look like this... Turbine

Electrical Cabling

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

perform like this

30

Equipment Installed 64 fully submerged nextgeneration MCT arranged in 5 rows - 18,600 tons of equipment 7.4 km of subsea cable rated to 33 kV 1700 m of trenching and 400 m of directional drilling
25 20

Average Array Output = 13.7 MW

Daily Average 15 Power (MW) 10

5

0 1-Jan

20-Feb

11-Apr

31-May

20-Jul

8-Sep

28-Oct

17-Dec

Date

Average installation depth of 56 m

Enough renewable energy to power more than 10,000 homes

Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

and produce dependable electricity at a costcompetitive rate!

Utility Generator

Municipal Generator

cents/kWh (Real Nominal) 7.6 8.8 5.7 6.5

Locally available renewable energy: Low speed wind - ~10 cents/kWh Solar PV - ~50 cents/kWh And unlike solar and wind, tidal energy is predictable centuries in advance!
Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu

In-stream tidal energy represents an environmentally benign, lowcost, sustainable, predictable source of energy in our own backyard

Thank you
Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory http://www.energy.washington.edu