Regenerating the Tidal Power Plants Using Conglomerated Version Constituting Of Wind Turbines & Tidal Probes

Debraj Roy (B.Tech, Mechanical & Automation Engg., IIIrd Sem)

Amity School of Engg. & Technology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, Raj.-302006, India

General Background In 1987, the Central Electricity Authority (Govt.) documented a techno-economic feasibility report for a 900 MW tidal power plant, but the project couldnt be undertaken due to several issues associated with this energy. Has anyone thought why? Has ever any alternative been found? Any solutions? Lets think about this issue. For this lets first see what the disadvantages are of this form of renewable energy. Some of which were like... 1. Requirement of a reservoir so that the potential energy of water which can be effectively converted to produce the tides. The only new problem is efficiency is just 80% while the rest 20% is lost. 2. The cost of a complete tidal plant is 1.2 billion. While tidal energy can be utilised at a cycle of 6 hours only when a tide speeds up or slows down. 3. The tides are again lopsided & irregular, thus are 4. A cheap & strong conversion device with fully salt resistant. 5. Location of a plant is at the seas somewhere at 4-5 kms away which stops fish migration to some extent & well the fishermen would have to suffer some losses.

After seeing the whole scenario one can simply say that this will be a lot of headache if one tries for harvesting this form of energy. But why doesnt one go for unified forms. Well if Sir Maxwell can unify Electricity & Magnetism the why dont we unify Wind & Tidal Energy. The proper explanation of this process will be the following. Principle Phenomena How exactly does wind come into play? Start Up Speed -> This is the minimum speed at which the rotor & blade assembly begins to rotate. Cut-in Speed -> This is the minimum wind speed at which usable power output is obtained from the turbine. Required wind speed 1116 kmph Rated- Speed -> This is the minimum speed at which wind turbine provides us with designated rated power. For example:- For generating 10 kW a speed of 30-40 kmph is required. The most beneficial part of wind energy is that any increase in wind speed increases the energy output by the cubic power & thus the more wind we obtain the more will be the energy output.

Cut-off speed -> The max wind speed at which the turbine has to be shut down for safety measures using automated brakes. Its around 70-125 kmph Construction & working Now why not unify this form of energy with tidal project? All are aware of the fact that wind is the prominent factor for all the huge ripples or oceanic waves other than lunar pull or seismic activities. A wind turbine located over a high pillar vertically above the tidal probe will be quite the effective solution for the situation.

This will greatly serves our purpose & as well solves the problem of having tides after 6 hours will be sorted out to maximum extent as the wind flowing at the coastal regions will contribute largely to provide a steady flowing energy to the power plant & thus losses from this form of energy will be reduced to such a great extent that several such projects can be started at the same time. Such dynamic wind-tidal probes can be thus created to utilise this vital form of energy to utmost extent.

This clearly justifies production of energy using a 24m high tower with a 4- bladed rotor which can double up as a tidal energy harvester thus preventing the subsequent losses & even supporting the system.

These underwater rotors will work when the tides will rise & fall after the lunar pull acts upon the surface of the water body.

A long sequence of such conglomerations about 4-5 kms away from the shore would help in providing us with quite a handsome quantity of energy.

Vision India
Well the most biggest beneficiaries from this technology will definitely be the European countries which already greatly utilise the huge wind farms for generating electricity while in India only the border regions of Rajasthan provide us with that sort of wind while the Gulf Of Cambay. Rann Of Kutch & the Sunderbans in the Bay Of Bengal provide the luxury of wind farms nearby water, but since we can rejuvenate the 900 MW tidal project now by overcoming the losses using the unified form then definitely the 30-40 kmph wind observed nearly throughout the year in these regions can easily be

harnessed for meeting energy requirements. Even the cyclonic winds & gales & storms observed at regular intervals throughout the monsoon year (Thanks to Indias vivid climate & huge coastline of over 4000 kms). Thus in a way even the strongest of storms & tornadoes like the one in Chennai in 2003 with a record 112 kmph will be in a way adding up in a way to meeting up the energy requirements.

Result & Summary A simple idea for rejuvenating the tidal energy project in India that is stuck since 1987 has been suggested by combining the tidal project with wind turbines on a single pillar/ tower for simultaneous working & cost effectiveness for harnessing of this form of energy.