Renewable Energy

Sources
An overview on Energy sources (15EE563)
 Module-4
A. Biomass Energy: Biomass Production, Energy Plantation,
Biomass Gasification, Theory of Gasification, Gasifier and Their
Classifications, Chemistry of Reaction Process in Gasification, Updraft,
Downdraft and Cross-draft Gasifier, Fluidized Bed Gasification, Use of
Biomass Gasifier, Gasifier Biomass Feed Characteristics, Applications
of Biomass Gasifier, Cooling and Cleaning of Gasifier.
B. Biogas Energy: Introduction, Biogas and its Composition,
Anaerobic Digestion, Biogas Production, Benefits of Biogas, Factors
Affecting the Selection of a Particular Model of a Biogas Plant, Biogas
Plant Feeds and their Characteristics.
C. Tidal Energy: Introduction, Tidal Energy Resource, Tidal Energy
Availability, Tidal Power Generation in India, Leading Country in Tidal
Power Plant Installation, Energy Availability in Tides, Tidal Power
Basin, Turbines for Tidal Power, Advantages and Disadvantages of
Tidal Power, Problems Faced in Exploiting Tidal Energy.
 Biomass to Energy
3

The Sun is the direct or indirect source of nearly all

our energy on earth.
Energy can change from one form to another.
Plants capture solar energy through
photosynthesis to make food, a type of chemical
energy.

Biomass is a name for plant and animal waste used

as an energy source or fuel.
Biofuels are liquid and gas fuels used for
transportation, heat and electricity.
 Solar Energy to Biomass
4

Green plants act like

small, natural chemical
factories.

Plants use water and

carbon dioxide as raw
materials for making
food.

A green plant uses the

Sun’s energy to make
food and release
5
Biomass to Heat
Energy When we put
firewood in a fireplace
we are using biomass
to produce heat
energy

Many woody plant

parts and forest
products can be used.

Plants are renewable,

unlike oil, coal and
gasoline.
6
Biomass to Ethanol
Plant sugar, starch and
cellulose can be turned
into ethyl alcohol
(ethanol).

Microorganisms eat the

sugars and starch to
produce alcohol.

Alcohol can be used

like gasoline.
 Biomass to Methane
7
Plants decay naturally
through a chemical change
called digestion.

If oxygen is not present the

main products are carbon
dioxide and methane.

The methane collected is

called natural gas.
Natural gas is one of the
cleanest burning fuels to
use.
8 Biomass to Biodiesel
Vegetable oil and
animal fat can be
used to make
biodiesel (diesel
from plants).

Biodiesel is made
through a chemical
change, reacting oil
or fat with alcohol.
 Energy in Biomass

Only a small amount energy in sunlight converted into

biomass by plants.
Conversion efficiency varies:
Sugar cane: 2%
Corn: 1%
Typical forest: 0.8%
Most food plants: <0.8%
Maximum theoretical efficiency: 10%
 Sugar Cane

Sugar cane: very high productivity per acre. Use bagasse

(sugar cane waste) to run boilers to boil sap for sugar.
Bagasse to energy plants: 7% of Hawaiian energy
(Mauritius)
Bagasse to Methane Plant: Hilo, HI
 Hemp Plants
Advantages: 4 times as much pulp per acre as wood, no pesticides needed
Can make cloth,rope paper. Does need nitrogen fertilizer.
Not good to smoke. 1763-1767-Virginia farmers jailed if no hemp grown.
Four Year Old
Eucalyptus: Hawaii

Eucalyptus: produce high amounts

Of biomass under drier conditions
Than hemp. Very hardy species.
 Plants as Sources of Petroleum Like
Substances
Gopher plant: grows wild in California: 25 barrels of crude
oil per hectare

Copaifera multijuga: found in Brazil: produces almost

pure diesel fuel

Bladderpod: can be used to make plastic

Plastics Made from Pyrolysis Oil
(Wood Chip Waste)
Biomass Energy:
Biomass Production:
 Plant matter created by the process of photosynthesis is called
Biomass.
6H2O+6CO2+ Solar light energy C6H12O6+6O2
 Biomass referred to organic matter in the form of
carbohydrate(sugar)
 Biomass has the advantage of controllability and availability
when compared to many renewable energies.
 There are two types of obtaining the biomass
1. Direct Method : Directly available through the raw materials
like forest wood & waste, agricultural crops, residential food
wastes, Industrial wastes, human waste, energy crops. It can
be used directly by heating but insufficient, inconvenient way
2. Indirect Methods:
 Biomass can be used indirectly by converting it either into
electricity and heat or into convenient useful fuel in solid or liquid
or gaseous form.
 The efficient conversion methods are:
i. Thermo- Electrical Conversion: Direct combustion of
biomass material in the boiler produces steam that can be
used to generate electricity.
ii.Biomass Conversion to Fuel: It can be done by either
fermentation or gasification. Conversion procedure are of two
types.
a) Thermo – Chemical Conversion – Like distillation or
pyrolysis or
gasification
b) Biological Conversion – Like Fermentation or anaerobic
digestion
Energy Plantation:
 Large scale planned use of wood is termed as “Energy Plantation”
approach.
 In this Selected trees are planted in regular interval such that wood is
available for continuous use of cooking and other applications
 Some trees India involves in this approach are Eucalyptus, Babool,
casuarinas

Found in Bandipur, Mysuru Sarve

Niligiri
(Gaali)
Biomass Gasification:
 It is a process of partial combustion in which solid biomass is
converted into combustible gas mixture.
Biomass + air Carbon monoxide (CO)+ Carbon
dioxide(CO2) + Methane(CH4)+ Hydrogen
(H2)+Nitrogen(N2)+ Water vapour.
 Gasification produces a synthesis gas like Carbon
monoxide(CO), Carbon
dioxide(CO2),Methane(CH4),Hydrogen(H2),Nitrogen(N2) called
Producer gas.
 Producer gas can be used
1. To run internal combustion engine
2. As a substitute for furnace oil in direct heat applications
3. To produce Methanol.
 Gasification process involves
1. Drying of Fuels
2. Pyrolysis
3. Combustion
4. Cracking
5. Reduction
 Low Temperature Gasification : at 750°C to 1100°C , produces high
level of hydrocarbons
 High Temperature Gasification: at 1200°C to 1600°C , gas product is
referred as Synthesis Gas(SYN gas). It contains CO & H2, which can be
convertible to high quality synthetic diesel.
 The average energy conversion efficiency of gasifiers is given by
𝛈gs= Calorific value of gas/kg of fuel
Average calorific value of 1 kg of fuel
Theory of Gasification:
 Gasification may be considered as pyrolysis where destructive decomposition of
biomass by heat is converted into charcoal, oils, tar and combustible gases.
 Complete combustion of biomass produces Nitrogen, water vapour, CO 2, O2.
 The key design of Gasifier to create :
1. Biomass is reduced to charcoal
2. Charcoal converted at suitable temperature to produce CO and H 2
Volumetric Composition are:
CO: 20%-22%
H2: 15%-18%
CH4: 2%-4%
CO2: 9%-11%
N2: 50%-54%
Gasifier and their classification:
1. Fixed Bed Gasifier: Here biomass will move in same or opposite to the flow of
gasification medium(Steam, Air or Oxygen). They are simple to operate and have reduced
erosion.
a) Downdraft Gasifier: Air is passed through the layers in downward direction.
b) Updraft Gasifier: Air is passing through the biomass from bottom and combustible
gases come out from top of the Gasifier.
c) Cross draft Gasifier: It is simple and highly suitable for small output.

2. Fluidized bed Gasifier: Here an inert material (Sand, ash or charcoal) is

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fixed Bed Gasifier:
Chemistry of Reaction Process In
Gasification:
1. Drying Zone of Fuel: At here, Moisture content of biomass is removed to
obtain dry biomass. Some organic gases coming out of during the process may
rise corrosion of Gasifier.
2. Pyrolysis Zone: The products depends on temperature, pressure, residence
time, heat losses.
i. Up to the temperature of 200°C, only water is removed.
ii. Between 200°C to 280°C CO2,Acetic acid, water are given off
iii. The Pyrolysis taken place at 280°C to 500°C, produces large quantities of
tar, gases containing CO2. Small portion of methyl alcohol is produced
iv. Between 500°C to 700°C, gas production is small and contains hydrogen
3. Combustion (Oxidation) Zone: Here carbon from the fuel combust
and forms CO2 with O2 in the air by reaction.

C + O2 CO2 + Heat
Temperature rises until the balance is reached between heat supplied and heat loss
occurred.
4. Reduction Zone: Hot gases passes through the reduction
zone after combustion zone. As there is no oxygen in this zone
inflammable CO2 gas react with carbon in the fuel and forms
flammable CO gas. Reaction is endothermic,
C + O2 CO2 + Heat
The traces of water vapour are mixed with carbon to give CO and
H2.
C + H2O+ Heat CO + H2
If still more water vapours are there then flammable gasses react
with CO and form as CO2 and H2. The reaction is Exothermic.
CO + H2O - Heat CO2 + H2
Conversion efficiency is around 75%.
Updraft Gasifier:
 The Oldest and simplest type of
Gasifier is the counter current or
updraft Gasifier.
 The air intake is at the bottom
and gas leaves at the top.
 The reactive agent (generally
steam) is injected at the bottom
of the reactor and ascends to the
top.
 The Fuel is introduced at the top
and descends to bottom.
 Applications are
1. Packaged boilers
2. Thermal Fluid Heaters
3. Aluminium melting/annealing
furnaces
4. All kind of fryer roaster
Downdraft Gasifier:
 Here air is introduced at or above
the oxidation zone and the producer
gas is taken at the bottom.
 Fuel and gas move in same
direction.
 Biomass is fed at top
 It require 5 or 6 minutes to start the
process and as the temperature is
high, tars and oils are cracked
 Applications are
1. Continuous baking
ovens(bread, biscuits, etc)
2. Batch type baking
3. Dryers & curing (tea, coffee)
4. Boilers
5. Thermal fluid heaters
Cross-draft Gasifier:
 Here the ash bin, fire and
reduction zone are separated
 Design characteristics makes
fuel usage should have less
ash production
 Higher temperature operation
makes production of CO , CH4,
H2 when charcoal is used as
fuel.
 Cross draft operates in dry
fuel and dry air blast.
 Biomass is fed from top in
regular intervals of time and
converted through a series of
processes into producer gas
Fluidized Bed Gasifiers:
 It is used to convert prepared wastes
into clean fuel gas that can be used to
fire various type of industrial
Equipments.
 The bed is made of inert materials (such
as sand, ash or charcoal) and its is
heated.
 Fuel is introduced when temperature has
reached appropriate level.
 The bed material transfers heat to the
fuel and blows the reactive agent
through distributor plate at controlled
rate.
 Here drying, pyrolysis, gasification
occurs simultaneously.
 The fuel particles are introduced at the
bottom of the reactor, very quickly
mixed with bed material,,
instantaneously heated up to bed
temperature.
 So Pyrolysed very quickly, further
Advantages and Benefits of Fluidized
Bed Gasifiers:
 Advantages:
1. Reduced cost of boiler or dryer operation by using wood rather than gas or
oil.
2. Reduced cost for additional steaming capacity when compared to new boilers.
3. Reduced dependency on external fuel sources for propane, natural gas, oil.
 Benefits:
1. High Overall efficiency
2. Fuel Flexibility
3. Highly Reliable
4. Low purchase and installation costs
5. Flexible operations
6. Low emissions.
Use of Biomass Gasifier:
 The out put of biomass Gasifier can be used for variety of thermal application
 It can be also used as Fuel for Internal Combustion Engines to obtain mechanical power
 Fuel should be cleaned before using it in any engines.
 India is one of the leading country in production of biomass gasification.
 Obtaining the Liquid fuel from biomass is Tougher.

Gasifier Biomass Feed Characteristics:

 Following provides the various feed parameters dictate the quality and
classification of gasifiers:
1. Energy Content of the fuel
2. Bulk Density
3. Moisture Content
4. Dust Content
5. Tar Content
6. Ash and Slogging Characteristic
 Applications of Biomass
Gasifiers:
1.Motive Power: Used to Provide Shaft Power
a) Diesel Engine operation
b) Water Pumps
c) Tractors, Harvesters
d) Running of high efficiency Stirling Engines.
2.Direct Heat Applications:
i. Drying of agricultural crops
ii. Baking of tiles, potteries
iii. Melting metals
3.Electrical Power Generation
4.Chemical Production: Chemicals like Methanol, Formic acid from
producer gas
 Cooling and Cleaning of Gas:
 There are three types of Filters used for cleaning of gas, Dry, moist and Wet
1. Cyclone Filters: Used for a particle size of 5μm
2. Wet Scrubber: Elements like tar, dust will be removed
3. Cloth Filters: Fine Filter without thermal loss
 Module 4(b)
Biogas Energy
Introduction:
 Biogas is a mixture of different gases like methane,
CO2, H2,etc. produced by the biological breakdown of
organic matter in absence of oxygen.
 Biogas is produced either anaerobic digestion with
anaerobic bacteria, which digest material inside a
closed system or fermentation of biodegradable
materials.
 Anaerobic Digestion is a process that breaks down
organic matter into simpler chemical components in
absence of Oxygen.
 Common organic wastes are :
 Sewage sludge
 Organic Farm waste
 Municipal Solid Waste
 Organic Industrial and commercial waste
 Forests and Agricultural Waste.
 The Digestion takes place in Digester, which differs
in terms of temperature, water content in feed stock
and the number of Stages(single or multi stage)
 Outcome of digester is biogas and Digestate( can
be enriched manure for farming)
Recovered Sulphur
Biogas and its Composition:
 Biogas is a clean, non-polluting and low cost Fuel.
 It consists of 50-70% of Methane(CH4)
 A colourless, odourless, inflammable gas may be
referred as sewerage gas or clear gas or marsh gas or
gobar gas or sludge gas or RDF(Re-fuse Derived
Fuel).
 Biogas is lighter than air by 20% and ignition
temperature is in the order of 650°C to 750°C having
Blue flame same as LPG.
 Calorific value is 20MJ/m3.
 Estimation says that a family of 5 persons with 4
cows and buffaloes animal dung can produce 175
cubic feet of biogas per day which will be sufficient
Anaerobic Digestion:
 It is a biological process that produces gas in
absence of oxygen. Majorly Methane and Carbon
Dioxide
 A series of Processes like Micro organism break down
Biodegradable Material in absence of Oxygen .
1. Organic Matter (Plant Residue, Animal and Human
Residues) is Decomposed (Hydrolysis) to break down
organic material into usable sized molecules such as sugar
2. Conversion of decomposed matter into organic acids
3. Organic acids are converted into Biogas.
Process Stages of Anaerobic
Digestion:
 The Biological and Chemical Stages of Anaerobic Digestion are shown as below:

1.Hydrolysis: Process of breaking of large biomass organic chains into

smaller constituent parts like sugar, fatty acids, amino acids.
2.Acidogenesis: It is a biological process in which components are
broken down by fermentative (acidogenetic) bacteria. It creates fatty
acids with ammonia, CO2, Hydrogen Sulphide

3.Acetogenesis: Simple Molecules from Acidogenesis are digested to

produce acetic acid, CO2, H2.

4.Methanogenesis: Here Methanogens convert products further into

Methane, CO2, H2O.
 Methanogens are sensitive to high and low value of pH.
 Simplified chemical equation is :

C6H12O6 3CO2+3CH4
 The remaining Indigestible Material cannot be used by Microbes and any
dead bacterial remains constitute the Digestate ( Good Manure)
Biogas Production:
Construction Parts of Biogas Plants:
 It is a Brick and Cement Structure having following five sections
1. Mixing Tank
2. Digester Tank
3. Dome or Gas Holder
4. Inlet Chamber
5. Outlet Chamber
 Mixing Tank: It is first part located above the ground level in which water
and cow dung are mixed together in equal proportions (1:1) to form Slurry
that is fed into inlet chamber.
 Digester Tank: It is deep underground structure and divided into two
chambers by a partition wall in between. The digester is also called
Fermentation tank. It is of cylindrical structure, made up of bricks, sand and
cement over a solid foundation. It has two pipes : (i) Inlet Pipe- It’s the Inlet
chamber for putting slurry in digester tank, (ii) Outlet Pipe- The Overflow
chamber for removal spent slurry from digester tank.
 Dome or Gas Holder: The hemispherical top portion of the digester is
called Dome. It has fixed height in which all gas generated within digester
are collected. The gas collected in the dome exerts pressure on the slurry in
the digester. Dome can either be fixed or floating, made of inverted steel
drum resting on the digester above the ground surface. The dome moves up
and down due to gas pressure.
 Inlet Chamber: The cow dung slurry is supplied to the digester via Inlet
chamber. It has Bell Mouth sort of shape and is made of Bricks and cement,
sand. The outlet wall is made inclined so that slurry flows easily into the
digester.
 Outlet Chamber: The digested slurry from the biogas plant is removed
through outlet chamber.
 Gas Outlet Pipe and Valve: The gas holder has a outlet at top which
can be connected to gas stoves for many applications(cooking, electricity
generation). Flow of gas can be controlled by valve.
 Foundation: It is made of Cement, sand and Bricks. The Foundation should
be waterproof so that there is no Percolation (Percolation is the process of
a liquid slowly passing through a filter ) and Leakage of Water.
 Working Of Biogas Plant.
Types of Biogas Plant:
 Fixed Dome Type:
 It consists of following parts : (i) Mixing Tank (ii) Inlet Chamber (iii) Digester
 Advantages :
 The costs of fixed dome biogas plant is low as compared to floating type.
 It is simple in construction as no moving parts
 It is made of bricks, concrete and cements and long life of the plant
 Construction saves the space and protect from the physical damage.
 Temperature fluctuation may occur during day and night.
 Disadvantages:
 Porosity and cracks in plant walls
 Maintenance is difficult.

 Floating Type:
 Advantages:
 Very Efficient
 Simple maintenance
 Disadvantages: 1. Expensive 2. Steel drum may rust 3. Requires
regular maintenance
Different Models of Biogas Plants:
 Fixed Dome Biogas Plants:
1. Chinese Fixed Dome Type
2. Janata Model
3. Deenbandhu Model
4. CAMARTEC Model
 Floating Dome Plants:
1. KVIC ( Khadi and Village Industries Commission)
2. Pragathi Model
3. Ganesh Model
4. Arati Bogas model
5. BORDA model.
Benefits of Biogas Plant
1.Production of energy ( heat, light and electricity)
2.Transformation of Organic wastes into high quality
organic fertilizer
3.Health Benefits of biogas and the improvement of
Hygienic Conditions ( Reduction of Pathogens, Worm
eggs, flies)
4.Reduction of workload, mainly for women in firewood
collection and cooking
5.Environmental Advantages through protection of
forests, soil, water, and air
6.Global environmental benefits of biogas technology
Factors affecting the selection of a
particular model of a Biogas Plant:
1.Cost
2.Simplicity In Design
3.Durability
4.Suitability for use with available raw inputs
5.Inputs and Outputs use frequency
Biogas plant Feeds and Their
Characteristics:
 Different Organic Material have Different Biochemical Characteristics, and Gas
production also varies.
 Carbon to Nitrogen(C/N) Ratio:
 The Relationship between amount of carbon to nitrogen present in organic
materials ranging from 20 to 30 is considered as optimum fro anaerobic
digestion.
 For very low C/N ratio, nitrogen liberated and accumulated in the form of
Ammonia (NH4) which will increase the pH value of the content. A pH values
higher than 8.5 will make Digestate as Toxic on Methanogenesis.
 Advantages:
1. Clean fuel of higher calorific value and convenient ignition temperature
2. No Residue, smoke, and dust produced
3. Non – Polluting, significant health benefits
4. Economical Benefits of biogas and high quality manure
5. Provides nutrient rich (N and P) manure for plants.
 Disadvantages:
1. Initial Cost of installation of the plant is high.
2. Inadequacy of organic raw materials and its continuous supply
3. Social acceptability
4. Maintenance and repair of bio gas plants.
 Uses:
1. It is used as a domestic fuel
2. It is used as a fuel for motive power
3. It is used for electricity generation.
Kanoria Chemicals Ltd.
Ankleshwar, Gujarat
Brihan Maharashtra Sugar Syndicate Ltd.
Akluj ,Maharashtra
 INDIA GLYCOLS Ltd.
Kashipur,Uttaranchal
 INDIA LYCOLS Ltd.
Kashipur,Uttaranchal
 Module 4(C)
Tidal Energy
Introduction:
 Tides are periodic rise and falls of large bodies of water.
 Gravity is major force that creates the Tide.
 Spring tides occurs when earth, moon and sun are in
Line and are strongest.
 Neap tides occur in quarter moon(when sun and earth
moon are at right angles) and are weaker.
 Energy present in ocean are divided as
1. Tidal Energy
2. Wave Energy
3. Ocean Thermal Energy
What is a Tide ?
 Tides are the rising and falling of Earth's ocean
surface caused by the tidal forces of the Moon and
the Sun acting on the oceans.
Tides  Tidal power utilizes the twice-daily variation in
sea level caused primarily by the gravitational
effect of the Moon and, to a lesser extent the
Sun on the world's oceans. The Earth's rotation
is also a factor in the production of tides.
 The interaction of the Moon and the Earth
results in the oceans bulging out towards the
Moon (Lunar Tide). The sun’s gravitational field
pulls as well (Solar Tide)
 As the Sun and Moon are not in fixed positions
in the celestial sphere, but change position
with respect to each other, their influence on
the tidal range (difference between low and
high tide) is also effected.
 If the Moon and the Sun are in the same plane
as the Earth, the tidal range is the
superposition of the range due to the lunar
and solar tides. This results in the maximum
tidal range (spring tides). If they are at RIGHT
ANGLES to each other, lower tidal differences
are experienced resulting in neap tides.
Tidal Energy Resources:
 Tides are caused due to gravitational pull of the
moon and also the sun( very low pull)
 The rise of sea water is called High Tide
 The fall of sea water is called Low Tide
 Tide dams are built near to the sea shores
 The water mass moved by the moon’s gravitational
pull when moon is very close to ocean and results in
Tide Cycle.
 The tide starts receding as the moon continues its
travel further over the land, away from ocean,
reducing its gravitational influence on the ocean
waters results in Ebb Cycle.
Tidal Barrage
• Utilize potential energy
• Tidal barrages are typically dams built across an estuary or bay.
• consist of turbines, sluice gates, embankments, and ship locks.

Basin
What is the Tidal force ?

 The tidal force is the

vectorial difference
between the gravitational
force of the Earth and the
gravitational force of the
Moon.
History of Tidal power stations
 An early attempt to build a tidal
power plant took place at Aber-
Wrac'h in the Finistere in 1925, but
due to financial problems, it was
abandoned in 1930.
 Tidal mills have long existed in
areas affected by tides. In Europe,
tide mills have been used for over a
thousand years, mainly for grinding
grains.
Tidal Power Basin:
 It is created by enclosing a portion of sea behind erected
dams.
 The dam includes a Sluice that is opened to allow the tide
to flow into the basin during tide rise periods and the sluice
is then closed.
 When the sea level drops, traditional hydropower
technologies are used to generate electricity from elevated
water in the basin.

Single – Basin System:

 It is the simplest way of power generation.
 Single water reservoir is closed off by constructing dam
 Sluice(gate) should be large enough to admit the water
during tide to prevent the loss of head.
 There are two configurations of single basin system:
1. One- Way Single Basin system: The basin is filled by
seawater passing through the Sluice gate during the high tide
period. When water level in the basin is higher than sea level
at low tide period, then power is generated by emptying the
basin water through turbine generators
2. Two- Way Single Basin: Here Power is generated at both
stages, when sea water moving towards the basin and when
low tide, sea water moving towards sea from basin. But
process is bigger and it requires expensive turbine.
Two Basin Systems:
 The two basin systems regulates the power output of an
individual tide, but cannot vary the difference between neap
and spring tide.
 The tidal power plant can be merged with pumped storage
plant, to make the power plant efficient.
Co-Operating Two Basin Systems:
 It consists of two different elevation connected through the turbine.
 The high level basin Sluices are called Inlet Sluices and Low level
basin Sluices are called Outlet Sluices.
 The Basic Operation of the Scheme are:
1. The Rising tide fills the high level basin through the Sluiceways
2. When the falling seawater level is equal to the water level in the
high level basin, the sluice ways are closed to prevent the outflowing
high level water back to the sea
3. The water from high level basin is then allowed to flow through
turbine generators to the low level basin.
4. When falling seawater level becomes lower than the rising water
level in the low level basin, sluiceways are opened to allow water to
flow into the sea from the low level basin. This process is repeated
until water level in low level is equal to the sea water level, then
sluiceways are closed to prevent filling of low level basin from the
 Co-Ordinating Two Basin
Systems:
It has two basins, one is filled at high tide and other is emptied at low tide
 Turbines are placed between the basins and between basin and sea.
 It allows the continuous power generation
 It is Very Expensive to construct
Turbines for Tidal Power:
 The turbine should have higher efficiency at varying head.
1.The Kaplan type of water turbine: it operates in these
conditions
2.The Propeller type of Turbine: Here angle of blade can be
altered to obtain maximum efficiency while water is falling
3.The compact reversible Horizontal Turbine(Bulb
type): It acts with equal efficiency both as a pump and turbine.
Bulb- type Turbine:
 It consists of a steel shell completely enclosing the generator that is coupled to the
turbine runner.
 The turbine is mounted in a tube within the structure of the barrage and whole
machine is submerged at all times.
 When power demand is low during the rise tides, the unit operates as a motor
which pumps the water from sea to the basin.
 When power demand on the system is high, the unit acts as a Generator.
 Bulb turbines incorporated the generator – motor unit in the flow passage of the
water
 Main drawback is maintenance, as water flows around the turbine.
Advantages and Disadvantages of tidal
power:
Advantages:
1. Scope for tidal power plant is more as earth consists majority of
seawater.
2. Prediction of tides can be done, so energy availability will be
known.
3. The energy density is higher than other renewable sources
4. Cleanest source of energy
5. Inexhaustible source
6. Environmental friendly energy
7. Efficiency is appreciable ( around 80%)
8. Running and maintenance cost is low
9. Life of plant is large.
Disadvantages:
1. Capital investment for Construction of tidal plant is very high
2. Only a few ideal locations for construction are available
3. Unpredictable sea wave intensity can damage the system
4. Aquatic life is influenced adversely and migration of aquatic animals
will be disrupted
5. The energy generated is not much high
6. The low tide occur twice a day hence continuous power generation
may not be there
7. This technology is not cost effective.
Problems faced in exploiting Tidal energy:
8. Usually place of generation is far from usage, hence transmission
is expensive and difficult
9. Intermittent Supply
10.Cost