Ocean Wave Energy

Introduction
Take a look at a globe and you'll quickly notice that dry land is in the minority on this planet --water, in fact, covers most (about 70 percent) of the Earths surface. It's certainly a exciting prospect to think that we could gather usable energy from the natural forces at work on water's surface.

Wave energy refers to the harnessing of the extraordinary power of water waves. Waves hold a huge amount of available energy, some of which we can use to power at least a portion of the world's everyday electricity. Though estimates vary about how much power waves could contribute to the world's energy consumption, some say it could realistically contribute about 10 percent

When learning about waves, it's a good idea to know these common terms: Crest: the uppermost part of the wave Trough: the lowest point on a wave Wavelength: the horizontal distance between one crest and the next crest (or trough and trough)

Wave height: the vertical distance between a wave's trough and its crest
Frequency: a measure of how many waves pass in a certain amount of time.

Depending on the Earth's natural formations as well as its orientation to the sun, some spots get heated more than others. As some air gets heated, it becomes less dense, and thus lighter, and naturally floats upward. This leaves an open space for denser, colder air to rush in and take its place. This air rush is the refreshing cool breeze you feel on a sunny day. Wind is also responsible for our very powerful waves. As wind rushes up along the water, the friction causes ripples. Wind continues to push against these ripples in a snowball effect that eventually creates a large wave. Essentially, this action is a transfer of energy from the sun to the wind to the waves.

As wind hits the water, ripples form. Then, wind gets an even better grip and continues to push the ripples until they grow to be large waves

A few factors determine how strong an individual wave will be. These include: Speed of wind: The faster the wind is traveling, the bigger a wave will be. Time of wind: The wave will get larger the longer the length of time the wind is hitting it.

Waves vs Tides Although wind causes the powerful surface waves that we use for wave energy, the moon's gravitational pull is responsible for the tides, which is the rise and fall of the oceans twice a day. Tidal energy, different from wave energy, also holds energy potential. Advantages and Disadvantages Waves have a few advantages over wind when it comes usable energy. For one thing, ocean waves are dense with energy. In other words, whereas wind might take up a lot of space to contain some energy, waves can collect a great amount of energy and pack it into a small space. Another advantage is that ocean waves are reliable -- we can more easily calculate which way the waves will be moving than which way the wind will be blowing.

Also, wind can start a wave and then on its own, the wave can travel a great distance. Large waves that travel far from their origin are called swell waves. This means that the entire surface of an ocean can collect energy, and without us doing any work

Oscillating water column (OWC)

shown in the image above, is a terminator. OWCs have two openings -- one on the bottom that allows water to enter the column and one narrow passage above to let air in and out. As waves come and fill the column with water, this pressurizes the air inside, which forces the air through the opening above. The air encounters and drives a turbine. Then, as waves pull away, water rushes out, which sucks more air back down through the top, driving the turbine again.

Overtopping device
Another terminator, an overtopping device, includes a wall that collects the water from rising waves in a reservoir. The water can escape through an opening, but while passing through, drives a turbine. The most famous kind of terminator.

After waves topple over a wall into a reservoir, the water drains out of an outlet, where it drives a turbine.

Attenuator
These devices are oriented parallel to the direction of the wave. One of the most well-known examples of this is the Pelamis, a series of long cylindrical floating devices connected to each other with hinges and anchored to the seabed. The cylindrical parts drive hydraulic rams in the connecting sections and those in turn drive an electric generator. The devices send the electricity through cables to the sea floor where it then travels through a cable to shore.

As attenuators, they are oriented along the same direction of the waves

Point absorber
These devices aren't oriented a particular way toward the waves, but rather can "absorb" the energy from waves that come from every which way. One such device is called the Aquabuoy, developed by Finavera. In a vertical tube below the water, waves rush in and drive a piston, a buoyant disk connected to hose pumps, up and down to pressurize seawater inside. The pressurized water then drives a built-in turbine connected to an electrical generator Many Aquabuoys can send electricity to a central point. From that point, electricity is sent down to the seafloor and then to shore via a cable.

The AquaBuoy uses waves to drive the disk-shaped piston in a tube to pressurize seawater. The hose pumps connected to the piston send pressurized water up to drive a generator.

Advantages
The energy is free - no fuel needed, no waste produced. Not expensive to operate and maintain. Can produce a great deal of energy.

Disadvantages
Depends on the waves - sometimes you'll get loads of energy, sometimes almost nothing.
Needs a suitable site, where waves are consistently strong.

Some designs are noisy. But then again, so are waves, so any noise is unlikely to be a problem.
Must be able to withstand very rough weather.