Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Wave Energy



Wave energy is a renewable source of energy. This energy is caused largely by wind blowing on the ocean surface. Wave power plants are plants designed to use wave power to generate electricity. To use wave energy we must choose the location where the waves are sufficiently frequent and shave enough strength.

  The energy of the wave decreases rapidly with depth of the wave, and thus at the depth of 50 m is only 2% of the energy just below the surface. Wave power is estimated to be 2 × 109 kW, which corresponds to a power of 10 kW at 1m of wavy lines. This power varies depending on the geographic location, from 3 kW / m in the Mediterranean up to 90 kW / m in the North Atlantic. Wave energy is a renewable energy source. It varies over time (more and bigger waves are there in the winter) and has a random character.

  Wave height is the highest during the winter, which coincides with the time of the high electricity consumption. The kinetic energy of the waves can start effectively transforming into electrical energy when the wave height is greater than 1 meter. Due to the natural resources of the waves, a high level of technological development, the large energy requirements and environmental conscience, the furthest in development of commercial power of waves came highly industrialized countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, Scandinavia and Australia.

  Today there are basically three known ways of using wave energy if categorized according to the method by which they accept waves. These are over buoys, floating piston and pendulum or spatula.

  Advantages of building power plants on the open seas are:

- better utilization of wave potential higher-potential area for field power, and those with higher total power for a given geographic location
- ability to supply offshore facilities
-ability to supply various types of sensors as autonomous energy system

  Objective shortcomings of floating objects are their reliability due to corrosion and mechanical unpredictable environment.

  Pacing device. The device works on principle that the kinetic energy of the wave motion transforms into a work of stop plate and the hydraulic pump which drives a generator.


  Buoys. The power of these devices can range up to 50 kW, but the advantage is the possibility to take a large number of the particular area, which is offset by small individual forces. Such devices are especially interesting for active ocean sensors as beacons, bait fish, sonar, communications repeaters etc.


  Advantages of building power plants near the coast compared to floating systems are the following:

    - lighter construction because they use classical construction equipment
     -easier maintenance of the plant because they are not required divers and boats
     -easier and faster control and replacement of defective parts
     -can serve as a breakwater

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