Wave Energy Generation from Ships Report
Wave Energy Generation from Ships Report
A PROJECT REPORT
Submitted by
Dr. K. SIVASAMI
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
in
MARINE ENGINEERING
JUNE 2024
INDIAN MARITIME
UNIVERSITY CHENNAI 600119
BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
SIGNATURE
Dr. K. SIVASAMI
GUIDE & HEAD- SMET
From decades, Earth is reminding humans to find better ways to produce power
rather than burning fossil fuels which would result in the emission of harmful
gases into the environment. The world energy consumption is expected to increase
substantially in the next decade and if the same negligence towards the
environment continues, there will be a day when no clean air would be available.
Traditional practices of producing energy, regularly reminds us the serious threat
they pose to the environment. Thus there is a need to produce independent and
clean electricity. Wave energy can be observed as a possible clean energy
resource which can be exploited for power generation purposes. While this
method is relatively new and economically competitive, there is a growing trend
towards it, which is gaining interest from government and industries. A vital
feature of these waves is that they have the highest energy density when compared
to
other renewable energy resources.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE
NO.
ABSTRACT
LIST OF FIGURES 3
LIST OF TABLES 4
1 INTRODUCTION 5
1.1 Overview of Wave Energy
1.2 Wave Energy Potential
1.3 Environmental Impact
1.4 Geographical Distribution of Wave Energy
1.5 Historical Context and Development
1.6 Challenges and Considerations in
Wave Energy Development
1.7 Wave Energy Conversion Mechanisms
1.8 Factors Influencing WEC Design
1.9 Ongoing Research and Future Prospects
2 ENERGY STORAGE 9
3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 12
4 WAVE FORMATION 15
5 BENEFITS OF WAVE ENERGY 18
1
6 CHALLENGES OF WAVE ENERGY 20
8 TYPES OF TRANSDUCERS 28
8.1 Mechanical Devices
8.2 Hydraulic Devices
9 ANOTHER METHOD 30
11 CASE STUDY 36
12 CONCLUSION 40
2
LIST OF FIGURES
3
LIST OF TABLES
4
1. INTRODUCTION
Sea waves are recognized as one of the most potent carriers of renewable
energy, boasting significant energy resources across all geographical areas.
Scientists estimate that ocean waves have the potential to generate
approximately 2 Terawatt (TW) of energy annually on a global scale. This
immense energy capacity underscores the importance of wave energy in
the broader context of renewable energy sources and its potential role in
addressing global energy demands sustainably.
The theoretical global energy potential from ocean waves is about 8×10 ⁶
Terawatt hours (TWh) per year, which is roughly 100 times the total
hydroelectric power generated worldwide. To produce this amount of
energy using fossil fuels would result in 2 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
This stark comparison highlights the significant environmental benefits of
wave energy, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based
energy sources.
5
1. 3 Environmental Impact
Utilizing wave energy aligns with the goals of the Kyoto Protocol, aimed at
reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. Wave energy can
significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing
fossil fuels, which currently account for about 80% of the gross primary
energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that fossil fuels
will continue to dominate energy consumption by 2030, making the
adoption of cleaner technologies like wave energy even more critical.
6
1.6. Challenges and Considerations in Wave Energy Development
The development of WECs involves significant costs related
to
construction, maintenance, and infrastructure setup. Larger devices,
although more efficient in energy generation, often lead to higher expenses
compared to smaller ones. Unlike wind energy, where increasing the swept
area can enhance energy output, WECs face limitations due to their optimal
size from inception, posing challenges for further product development and
scalability.
7
Research into improving the efficiency of WEC systems is ongoing, focusing on
8
enhancing the overall performance and reducing costs. Innovations in materials,
design, and energy conversion technologies hold promise for the future of wave
energy. As these advancements continue, wave energy could play a more
prominent role in the global renewable energy landscape, contributing
significantly to sustainable development goals.
9
2. ENERGY STORAGE
The Energy obtained as a result of the process is to be stored using a suitable
storage device. These storage devices can be short term storage devices or long
time storage devices depending upon the use. Some of the Short term storage
devices are Capacitors, Super Capacitors and Super Conducting Magnetic Energy
storage. Some of the technologies that use capacitor for energy storage
are electrolytic capacitors, film capacitors and ceramic capacitors. In spite of
having high frequency applications and low equivalent resistance, Ceramic
capacitors have poor aging characteristics. To store large volumes of power
Electrolyte capacitors are typically used relative to other capacitors (non-SC) with
a relatively high capacity. Electrolytes are frequently used to maintain bus
voltage to contain power fluctuations in DC-link programs on power converters.
10
storage is still in its development stage and it is costlier than the other energy
storage systems. It consists of important part such as a refrigerator, which will
help to increase the vulnerability of the rough wave climate, as well as increase the
required space and mechanical maintenance. For these reasons, small and medium
enterprises are not considered as ocean-dependent energy applications. In flywheel
Energy storage, a cylinder is used with a shaft that rotates in a robust enclosure. In
order to reduce the frictional losses the magnet levitates the cylinder. This system
is in turn connected to the motor or generator. In flywheel Energy storage, the
motor is used to convert the electric energy from which rotational speed of the
shaft can be increased. Some of the long-time storage devices
are Batteries, Hydrogen Fuel Storage, Compressed Air Energy Storage and
Pumped Hydroelectric.
11
are higher, the energy stored is released. The compressed air is released into a
combustion turbine generator system in order to generate electricity.
12
3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Wave energy has a positive effect on the environment, which reduces the amount
of harmful gases that can be emitted to extract the same amount of energy as the
WEC produces. According to Fadaeenejad et al. the use of wave energy in the
offshore islands has a positive impact on tourism as these islands have a stable
development and a high quality environment. The Institute of Electrical Power
Engineering (2004) also noted that WEC’s safe water can be used to engage in
some types of water sports. Thus, WEC’s will have a significant and positive
impact on leisure and tourism. When wave transmitters are installed on the sea,
effective agricultural zones will not disappear. Bedard concluded that the
installation, operation, maintenance and discharge of these WEC’s will present the
additional benefit of being the most environmental friendly technology .
Like other energy sources, the wave energy also has environmental and economic
consequences that need to be taken into account when planning a new facility.
Many environmental issues related to wave energy are similar to the marine wind
power schemes. Lessons from offshore oil, wind and other ocean-based industries
can provide important information when designing to minimize the effects of wave
energy on the environment. The environmental interaction of WEC’s with the
marine environment can be defined as negative and positive . The possible effects
on organisms, livestock, fish, habitat and others have been largely investigated by
Frid et al. , Inger et al. , Linley , Simmonds et al. . They noted the potential for loss
/ weakness of habitats, such as marine vertebrates, marine mammals and large fish
to determine the negative effects of such waves farms, the risk of collision with
deep noise emissions and electromagnetic fields, as well as the ability to operate as
an artificial reef as well as reconstruct the damaged ecosystems that have
13
previously demonstrated their success in improving biodiversity and fisheries .
The impact on the environment varies with the extent of the project and depends
on the location and ecosystems in the region. An effective EIA investigation is
essential to establish a system for monitoring the environment, which is a key
element that determines the life cycle of a transducer. Leeney et al. conducted a
research on different MRI sites (Wave and tidal) in northern Europe, using the data
from SOFIA project collected via questionnaires in particular, the authors
classified
the environmental assessment of the devises at the different sites in eight
environmental categories during the monitoring program which are marine
mammals, Benthos, fish and fish habitat, sea birds, marine vertebrates and other
marine organisms at different locations and medium. Coastal and near-coast
schemes may affect coastal erosion due to changes in currents and waves. Pulse
velocity, amplitude of waves and water flow can be proportional to the size of the
array. This may damage the unit when installing wave energy. Many rods, concrete
blocks, anchors and chains are secured to the ocean floor. Land preparation may
include depending on the sea beds and washing the seabed to install electric cables.
14
in the seas, fishing activities may be beyond the scope of the installation. Marine
15
mammals may be vulnerable to floating structures or may act as seagoing and
migratory barriers affecting the flora and fauna of the seabed. Many offshore
wind installations are directly fixed to the seabed, and anchor lines can pose a
threat to some animals, especially large whales. Liquid microwave devices can
also encourage seafarers to use buildings as temporary boards. WEC may be a
navigation hazard for carriage, because their low profile may cause complex visual
or radar detection. Potentially impacting traffic during nighttime, when wave
energy devices break out at night or break up in storms in their boats. Also,
boosting ship movement in the area of maintenance and repairs may affect the
quality of water due to potential oil spills. Noise from these devises may affect
whales and dolphins that use hunting echoes, especially in harsh conditions. For
coastal and coastline devices, operating noise levels pollute local noise on the
beach or coast.
16
4. WAVE FORMATION
The distribution of wave energy around the world can be seen using
following Fig. 1 This shows the wave density at different parts of the world
in
kW/m . A combination of forces due to gravity, marine tension and air intensity
are key factors in the production of marine waves.
The Fig. 2(a) Represent the formation of sea waves in the storm. The wavelength
is achieved by wind velocity, the depth and topography of the sea (concentrating or
disseminating wave energy). Waves of sea have a regular shape at far distance this
phenomenon is called as swell. Wind-driven water particles show circular
trajectories with the maximum radius on the surface and goes on decreasing with
depth. This combination of circular movement is responsible for the wave
formation and proper distribution, as shown in the Fig. 2(b) The distance between
17
the two crests or two troughs determines the wavelength. The height of the wave
H (crest to trough) is proportional to the air intensity and its duration. The
frequency 𝑓=1/𝑇 specifies the number of waves to appear in unit time. As a result,
the velocity of the wave will be 𝑣=𝜆/𝑡=𝜆/𝑓. The ratio 𝜆/2𝐻 are called the wave
declivity and this value is greater than 1/7, the waves are unstable and disappear.
Long-term waves have relatively long wavelengths and move fast. In general, large
waves are strong.
Fig. 2. (a) Formation of waves due to storm and (b) Sea waves propagation
The western coasts of four shallow water areas and east coasts waves of India are
studied on the basis of data collected from one year of measurements and the
variations are reviewed . The study indicates that 83-85% of the electricity
generation occur during the summer monsoon period (June-September). Near
Pondicherry Coast, the wave of 31.8 kW/m was the most cost effective. The power
generation during summer monsoon is higher than usual; the western coast of India
has higher capacity than eastern coast (15.5 to 19.3 kW/m). In the study it has been
found that on the contrary, the power generation in the studied locations is lower
than the hot zones (1.8 to 7.6 kW/m). The wave power potential in India as shown
in Fig. 3.
18
Fig. 3. Wave potential in India
19
5. BENEFITS OF WAVE ENERGY
Wave energy, derived from the power of ocean waves, offers several benefits:
1. Renewable Resource: Waves are a perpetual and abundant source of energy,
driven primarily by wind and tides. Unlike fossil fuels, wave energy is
renewable and sustainable, as long as the Earth's oceans exist.
3. Predictability: Unlike some other renewable energy sources like solar and
wind, which can be intermittent and unpredictable, ocean waves are relatively
constant and can be forecasted with reasonable accuracy, allowing for more
reliable energy generation.
4. High Energy Density: The energy density of ocean waves is much higher
than that of wind or solar energy, making wave energy a potentially more
efficient source of power generation, particularly in coastal regions with strong
wave activity.
5. Less Visual Impact: Wave energy devices can be located offshore and may
not have as significant a visual impact as some other renewable energy
technologies like wind turbines or solar farms. This makes them more socially
acceptable in many coastal communities.
6. Long Lifespan: Wave energy devices, once installed, can have a long lifespan
20
with minimal maintenance requirements, providing a stable source of energy over
many years.
7. Potential for Co-location with Other Uses: Wave energy projects can be
integrated with other activities such as aquaculture, desalination plants, or
marine transport infrastructure, offering opportunities for synergies and co-
benefits.
21
6. CHALLENGES OF WAVE ENERGY
While wave energy holds significant promise as a renewable energy source, it also
faces several challenges:
1. Technological Immaturity: Many wave energy conversion technologies are
still in the early stages of development and lack maturity compared to other
renewable energy sources like wind and solar. This immaturity can result in
higher costs, technical uncertainties, and reliability issues.
3. High Capital Costs: The initial capital costs of installing wave energy
devices can be substantial, particularly for offshore installations where
construction, transportation, and installation expenses are higher. This can
hinder the commercial viability of wave energy projects, especially in
comparison to other more established renewable energy sources.
4. Low Energy Density: While wave energy has a high energy density compared
to some other renewable sources, it is still relatively low compared to fossil fuels.
This means that large-scale deployment of wave energy devices may be necessary
to generate significant amounts of electricity, which can increase infrastructure
costs and environmental impacts.
22
5. Intermittency and Variability: Like other renewable energy sources, wave
energy is intermittent and variable, depending on factors such as weather patterns,
seasonal variations, and tidal cycles. This variability can complicate grid
integration and require backup energy sources or energy storage systems to
ensure a stable supply of electricity.
23
[Link] ENERGY CONVERTERS
24
2. Oscillating Water Columns (OWCs): OWCs utilize a partially submerged
chamber open to the sea. As waves enter the chamber, the water level rises and
falls, causing the air inside to move back and forth. This oscillating air flow
drives a turbine or generator, converting wave energy into electricity. OWCs are
relatively simple and have low environmental impact.
3. Attenuators: Attenuators are long, multi-body devices that float parallel to the
wave direction. As waves pass along the length of the attenuator, each segment
moves independently, generating mechanical motion or hydraulic pressure that can
be converted into electricity. Attenuators can capture energy from a large area of
the wave front and are suitable for deployment in regions with consistent wave
direction
25
.
Fig 6. Attenuators
26
5. Surface Following Devices: These converters move with the motion of the
waves, capturing energy from both the vertical and horizontal movement of the
water surface. They can take various forms, such as floating platforms,
articulated bodies, or flexible membranes, and typically use hydraulic or
mechanical mechanisms to convert wave motion into electricity.
27
6. Hybrid Systems: Hybrid wave energy converters combine two or more
conversion mechanisms to improve overall efficiency and reliability. For
example, a device may incorporate both point absorbers and oscillating water
columns to capture energy from different wave characteristics or operate in
conditions.
varying sea
28
Fig 10 Terminators
Each type of wave energy converter has its advantages and limitations, depending
on factors such as wave climate, site conditions, deployment location, and
technological maturity. Continued research and development are essential to
optimize performance, reduce costs, and increase the scalability of wave energy
conversion technologies.
29
8. TYPES OF TRANSDUCERS
There are different ways by which the energy can be generated. Some of them use
Hydraulic transducers, Electrical Transducers and some use Mechanical
transducers. The steps in conversion of wave motion into electricity are as shown
in Fig. 12.
Some mechanical devices are gear arrangements, Pelton turbines, wells turbine,
etc. The drawback of using these is that they are bulky and also provide less
efficiency. Flywheels are also used to provide a steady rotational output as shown
in Fig. 13
30
Fig. 12. Turbine Converting Wave energy into electricity
Hydraulic devices are used as they are reliable and durable than the rest. A
typical hydraulic system consists of pumps, reservoirs, hoses, piping, piston
arrangements, incompressible fluid, etc. Hydraulic motors are also used.
Hydraulic devices have a disadvantage that they are bulky, costly and occupy lots
of space as shown 13.
31
[Link] METHOD
The model uses incoming water from the openings created in the side ship shell
and is drawn into a tube, in this tube we have a turbine system connected so as that
it rotates the turbine, the turbine shaft is connected to the generator which
produces electricity. The water is then sent along the tube which have an opening
along with side ship sell and is sent out to sea.
This system justifies the absence of the shaft generator and can also increase
maneuverability of the ship which can help to reduce time required by ship to turn
in either direction.
All in all we remove the shaft generator and bow thrusters and we install this
system to get benefit of both the components in one system. This arrangement has
minimal leak design and minimal maintenance requirements as this system has
only one moving part rest all are integrated parts. The expandable parts would be
the sealing gaskets that would seal the shaft coming out of tube which would
prevent sea water from coming inside the ship.
32
10. STATE OF THE ART EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
33
control systems.
34
be done using the Froude’s scaling law,
and the scale factor should be same for
both wave conditions and the prototype
8 Jochen Bard and Peter Kracht published a
Bard and Kracht report on Structural Design of Wave
Energy Devices and their testing.
Hydraulics seemed to be the most
favorable option for hydropower systems
that are closer to commercialization
9 It has been found that at least 15 months
Faizal et al. of the data should be required for the
installation of the wave energy at a
particular site to check the available
resources. In that, 12 months are required
to check the data regarding different
seasons and additional 3 months are
required to check the repeatability of the
obtained data
10 Renzi et al. Renzi E of Loughborough University
stated that the Oyster had recently
generated 1 megawatt of energy
11
Shi et al. There are also devices that are
huge, having a large single buoy,
which is slowly reciprocates due to
the wave
motion and hydraulic systems are used for
35
transducing purposes and then a generator
to produce electricity
36
been discussed and has been shown to be a
key feature behind massive deployment of
wave energy converters. Based on their
study the authors are highlighted some
challenges that needs to be overcome to
enlarge the vision of large-scale
commercial arrays of wave energy
converters.
14 Angre and Joshi the Pacific Community worked on a
project to estimate the cost range for
energy generation using wave energy
device considering the geography and
environmental conditions of the site for
energy generation
37
11. CASE STUDY
38
the local diesel power plant. In particular, about 30% of the heat source was
provided from the solar panel collectors and 70% from waste heat from a diesel
engine.
40
This work was born from research field Nexus Water and Energy, in fact
desalination represents the best example of interconnection among these different
resources. We present a possible integration among desalination plant adopted in
Pantelleria (real system or small scale pilot) and wave energy. The island has an
average annual wave power of 7 kW/m. If we use WECs above presented, it will
convert 120 MWh/year of electrical energy. Due to their fragile environment and
the need to protect their resources, islands are natural laboratories for climate
change adaptation and integrated solutions concerning energy or water.
41
[Link]
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j1CqIl2GecaAtGQEALw_wcB
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