Tidal generators capture the energy of moving water driven by tides to produce electricity.
Tidal generators, often utilizing systems like tidal barrages, work by leveraging the natural rise and fall of ocean tides. A barrage, essentially a dam built across a tidal basin, is equipped with sluice gates and turbines.
Here's a step-by-step look at the process:
- Capturing the High Tide: As the tide rises, sluice gates on the barrage control water levels and flow rates to allow the tidal basin behind the barrage to fill. Water flows into the basin through the gates or dedicated channels.
- Waiting for the Ebb Tide: At high tide, the gates are closed, trapping a large volume of water in the basin at a higher level than the ocean outside the barrage.
- Generating Power on Ebb Tide: When the tide outside the barrage drops sufficiently (during the outgoing ebb tide), the stored water in the basin is released. The water flows through an electricity turbine system installed within the barrage structure. This forceful flow turns the turbine blades, which in turn power a generator to produce electricity.
- Generating Power on Incoming Tide (Two-Way Systems): Some advanced systems, known as two-way tidal power systems, can generate electricity from the incoming and outgoing tides. In these systems, turbines are designed to operate efficiently in both flow directions. As the tide rises outside the barrage, water can also be allowed to flow into the basin through the turbines, generating electricity on the way in as well.
Essentially, the barrage creates a significant difference in water height (a 'head' of water) between the basin and the open sea, allowing gravity to drive water flow through turbines as the tide changes, thus generating power.
