What do you guys think about Dynamic Tidal Power?

[Rod Alexei]

I am a 16 year old trying to make a research paper about it for my science high school. I'd like to study how it works and whether it can be applicable to Busan, South Korea. Thank you :)

 

[anorlunda]

Good luck on your paper. All forms of power production are welcome as long as they are practical.

There have been many trial projects with tidal power all over the world. You can research the results from those trials.

What is needed for successful tidal power and what the geography is like in Busan? Don't ask us, do the research and make your own conclusion.

 

[Rod Alexei]

Thank you ! I will. I will.

 

[Astronuc]

I am a 16 year old trying to make a research paper about it for my science high school. I'd like to study how it works and whether it can be applicable to Busan, South Korea. Thank you :)

Coincidentally -
The First Tidal Generator in North America Is Now Online
http://www.popularmechanics.com/sci...7/first-tidal-generator-north-america-online/
The generator harnesses the power of the tides in the Bay of Fundy, and produces enough electricity to power 500 homes.

If the currents are reasonably continuous and sufficiently strong to power a turbine, it would seem to make sense, much like hydropower.

 

[Baluncore]

The Bay of Fundy has a tidal range over 10 metres because it is far inland from the edge of the continental shelf. The area around Derby in Western Australia also has a high tidal range.
I believe that Busan is too close to the open Western Channel of the Korea Strait to have a big tidal range and flow. It would be uneconomic to build at Busan since there will be better sites available in South Korea. Inch'on for example would be a much better location as it is further inland and so will have a much greater tidal range. That does not mean you could not generate power locally in Busan, just that it would not be as economic.

http://ports.com/south-korea/port-of-busan-pusan/wiki/TidesandCurrents/
https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Inchon-South-Korea/tides/latestKorea[/QUOTE]

 

[Rod Alexei]

Thank You very much! I'll be doing more research on the topic in the next few days.

 

[NTL2009]

Interesting, and maybe able to supplement our power sources to some degree. Diversification of our power sources is a good thing, IMO.

I feel there is a bit of hype in some of the optimism though. Some articles say that unlike solar, wind, tidal energy is 'predictable'. True, but somewhat like a stopped clock is also 'predictable' (a 12H stopped clock is right 2x a day). So tides are predictable, but still variable and certainly not constant. So that limits their usefulness. They can still supplement a grid, allowing the cut back off peaker plants when the tidal power is strong. But you still need those peaker plants to be available for the times when tides and demand are mismatched.

I find statements like 'can power X,XXX homes' a bit misleading (that applies to any variable power source). These sources could provide enough power on average to offset the power requirements of XX,XXX homes. They really couldn't power those homes on their own - you'd have blackouts 2x a day, at least.

I'd be curious as to how much this source could be tapped (assuming it is practical and economical). I don't think there are that many places where the tides are concentrated enough to easily be tapped, and also near enough a large grid, and not interfere with shipping lanes. But to whatever extent it makes sense, we ought to be using it. I just get the feeling this is going to be niche, not any great % of overall energy.

 

[rootone]

A large tidal power scheme involves building quite a lot of infrastructure.
It needs to be located at a site where the expected output is enough to justify the cost of building it.

 

[Kevin McHugh]

What about currents rather than tides? The Gulfstream comes within 3 miles of land in Fl. I wonder if you could economically tap that? Sorry to be off-topic.

 

[Baluncore]

There are several different ways of harnessing tidal energy. [PLAIN]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power[/PLAIN]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power

1. You can simply mount a turbine in a place with high but intermittent tidal flow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power#Tidal_stream_generator
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power#Tidal_stream_generator

2. You can build two reservoirs connected to the sea, one kept high by high tides, the other kept low by low tides. Hydroelectric generation from the high to the low reservoir can be a continuous process without interruption. The infrastructure is expensive.

3. Dynamic tidal power employs a dam from the coast that amplifies the oscillating coastal tidal current wave. Bidirectional turbines in the dam wall extract available energy. By using multiple dam systems, in different tidal phase positions on the coast, power can be generated continuously by the regional system. The infrastructure is expensive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_tidal_power

This thread specifically refers to "Dynamic Tidal Power" on the coast of South Korea, where the tidal oscillation currents are enhanced by the natural position of the Korean peninsula.

 

[dlgoff]

I thought "how cool" when I first saw this. But things come and things go.


http://renews.biz/101935/end-is-nigh-for-pelamis-device/

 

[tech99]

There are several different ways of harnessing tidal energy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power

1. You can simply mount a turbine in a place with high but intermittent tidal flow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power#Tidal_stream_generator

2. You can build two reservoirs connected to the sea, one kept high by high tides, the other kept low by low tides. Hydroelectric generation from the high to the low reservoir can be a continuous process without interruption. The infrastructure is expensive.

3. Dynamic tidal power employs a dam from the coast that amplifies the oscillating coastal tidal current wave. Bidirectional turbines in the dam wall extract available energy. By using multiple dam systems, in different tidal phase positions on the coast, power can be generated continuously by the regional system. The infrastructure is expensive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_tidal_power

This thread specifically refers to "Dynamic Tidal Power" on the coast of South Korea, where the tidal oscillation currents are enhanced by the natural position of the Korean peninsula.

There tend to be severe environmental penalties with building a barrage, as by definition it upsets tidal flows and can create problems with silting and loss of habitat. In the UK there was an outcry because the tidal "bore", or wave up river, would be lost, together with huge environmental damage.