Tidal Power Basin
The tidal power basin system is an efficient method for harnessing tidal energy by enclosing a section of the sea behind dams.
The system operates by utilizing the rise and fall of tides to generate electricity through various configurations.
1. Single-Basin System:
- This simplest form of tidal energy harnessing involves a single water reservoir isolated by a dam with sluice gates.
- Types:
- One-way Single-Basin: Fills with seawater during high tide and
generates power by emptying the basin when the water level is higher than the sea level during low tide. This process allows power generation for about five hours until the basin is refilled.
- Two-way Single Basin: Generates power from water flowing into the basin and then back to the sea, but requires larger and costlier turbines.
- Limitations: The single-basin system provides intermittent (not continuous) power supply and can harness only about 50% of available tidal energy.
Two-Basin System:
- An enhancement over the single-basin system, this configuration maintains a continuous output by adjusting turbine valves according to the operational head.
- Advantages: Provides a more consistent power output, though it still cannot fully manage variations between spring and neap tides.
- The challenges can be mitigated by integrating a pumped storage plant.
- Integration with Pumped Storage: Surplus (left over) energy can be stored and utilized when tidal energy output is low, making it technically feasible but expensive.
- Operation: The two basins operate alternately, with one generating power during rising tides (filling) and the other during falling tides (emptying). This arrangement can either have a shared powerhouse or separate ones for each basin, allowing for continuous power generation.
Co-operating Two-Basin Systems:
- Comprises two basins at different elevations, interconnected through turbines. The high-level basin fills during high tides and releases water through turbines to the low-level basin.
- Operation: As seawater rises, it fills the high-level basin; sluices are closed to retain water. When the sea level drops, the water flows through turbines to generate power. The cycle repeats with each tide.
- Continuous Generation: Allows for ongoing power generation but incurs high construction costs due to additional infrastructure.
Co-operating Two-Basin Systems:
