It's amazing how many ways the ocean can generate electricity

A tidal tide generates electricity

What is tidal energy?

The gravitational pull between the sun, moon and Earth, combined with the Earth's rotation, causes the water level of the ocean to change periodically. It is customary to call the rise and fall of the sea water in the vertical direction "tide", and the flow of the sea water in the horizontal direction "tide". Tidal energy is the energy produced by tides and currents. As a kind of renewable energy, tidal energy is not only pollution-free, but also renewable.

Tidal power generation

At present, tidal power generation is one of the main ways to use tidal energy. Tidal power is easier to predict than wind and solar power, and there are many unexplored areas. There are two main forms of tidal power generation: one is a relatively low-cost turbine generation, and the other is a more expensive dam generation. In contrast, the latter has a greater impact on the environment.

Tidal power station

Tidal power station is a new type of hydroelectric power station. In the sea area with tidal power generation conditions, the reservoir is built according to the terrain. When the sea water rises, the reservoir is filled with water. When the sea water falls, it forms a tidal difference with the water stored in the reservoir. Using this tidal range, the generator set is driven to produce electricity.

Seawater thermal power generation

Seawater temperature difference energy

The ocean is the world's largest collector and storage of solar energy. Because of the difference in the depth of the water, the degree of solar energy obtained by the water at different depths is very different, which leads to different temperatures of the water at different depths. According to scientific research, the area below the sea level of 200 meters, sunlight is almost impossible to reach. In other words, the deeper the water, the cooler it gets. The temperature difference between the surface water and the deep water is converted into energy, which is the seawater temperature difference energy.

Principle of seawater temperature difference power generation

Seawater temperature difference power generation follows the principle of heat exchange. The heat exchanger has a working fluid with a very low boiling point, and when the exchanger pumps the seawater at a higher surface temperature, the working fluid originally stored in the exchanger will vaporize. At this time, under the action of steam power, the generator will produce electricity. The vaporized working fluid is then cooled by the cooler, deeper seawater in another exchanger, and returns to the liquid state, completing a cycle.

Wave power generation

Ocean wave energy

The motion of waves contains great power. As long as this power is used effectively, people can convert it into electricity. At present, wave power generation is the main way of wave energy utilization. However, although wave energy is abundant in many seas, its utilization is difficult. With current technology, wave energy can only be used effectively in the near sea.

Wave power generation technology

Wave energy is abundant in areas such as the coast of the United Kingdom, the West coast of the United States, the southern coast of New Zealand and the southeast coast of China. It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of small wave power generation devices around the world. These wave energy harvesting devices are roughly divided into two types: one is a collection system, and the other is a conversion system. Most wave power generation devices mainly use the technology of vibrating water column in the collection system.

Offshore wind power

Offshore wind power generation is generated by sea wind as power generation, through the operation of wind turbines, through a series of mechanical operations to convert it into electrical energy. Offshore wind power has three main characteristics. First, the distance from the electricity load is relatively close, the second is the fan capacity is larger, and the third is the wind energy resources are more abundant. Offshore wind power generation has certain advantages over onshore wind power generation: compared with onshore wind power generation, offshore wind energy resources are more adequate, the wind speed is stronger, and offshore wind power plants are built in the sea, do not occupy a large amount of land, do not disturb the normal life of residents

The gifts of the sea have changed human life, and the rational use of the sea will make our life more and more beautiful.