Transcript Document

Group members :
 Perian Bogdan
 Ghenea Madalin
 Tihu Mircea
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This is the only form of
energy whose source is
the moon. Some other
energy sources, nuclear
power and geothermal
energy for instance,
have the Earth as their
source. The remainder,
fossil fuels, wind
energy, biofuels, solar
energy, etc. have the
Sun as their source,
directly or indirectly.
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The tidal power is generated by
the gravitational pull of the Moon
on water. Due to these
gravitational forces the water
level follows a periodic high and
low. The height of the tide
produced at a given location is the
result of the changing positions of
the Moon and Sun relative to the
Earth coupled with the effects of
Earth rotation and the local shape
of the sea floor.
The tidal energy generator uses
this phenomenon to generate
energy. The higher the height of
the tide the more promising it is
to harness tidal energy.
Tidal power types
Tidal power can be classified into
two main types:
• Tidal stream systems make use
of the kinetic energy from the
moving water currents to power
turbines, in a similar way to wind
mills use moving air. This method
is gaining in popularity because
of the lower cost and lower
ecological impact.
• Barrages make use of the
potential energy from the
difference in height between
high and low tides. Barrages
suffer from the problems of
very high civil infrastructure
costs, few viable sites globally
and environmental issues.
Modern advances in turbine technology may eventually see
large amounts of power generated from the ocean especially
tidal currents using the tidal stream designs.
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Tidal stream turbines may be arrayed in high velocity
areas where natural flows are concentrated such as the
west coast of Canada, the Strait of Gibraltar, the
Bosporus, and numerous sites in south east Asia and
Australia. Such flows occur almost anywhere where
there are entrances to bays and rivers, or between land
masses where water currents are concentrated.
Advantages

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by tidal power
 Easy to predict
 Improved transportation because of the development of
traffic or rail bridges across estuaries
 Not many places have dramatic enough tide change to
support a tidal power plant
 Reduces dependence on fossil fuels
 Is a reliable, dependable source
 Renewable
 Produces no pollution
Disadvantages
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Effect on plants and animals which live near tidal
stations
 Very little is known about the full effect of tidal power
plants on the local environment because so few have
been built
 There are times of low power and high power because
the tides have high and low periods
 Few places where tides are actually strong enough to
produce amount able energy
 Could damage/destroy animals habitats
 Expensive construction of power plants
 Tidal fences can block paths for migrating fish
Rance Tidal power plant
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The Rance tidal power
plant is the world's first
electrical generating
station powered by tidal
energy. It is located on the
estuary of the Rance River,
in Bretagne, France. It is
operated by Électricité de
France (EDF).
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The construction
necessitated draining the
area where the plant was to
be built, which required
construction of two dams; an
effort which took two years.
Construction of the plant
proper commenced 20 July
1963, while the Rance was
entirely blocked by the two
dams.
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The construction took
three years and was
completed in 1966. Charles
de Gaulle, then President of
France, inaugurated the
plant on 26 November of the
same year.
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The idea of constructing a tidal power plant on the
Rance dates to Gerard Boisnoer in 1921.
The site was attractive
because there is a large
average range between
low and high tide levels
(8 metres, with a
maximum equinoctial
range of 13.5 metres).
Nevertheless, work did
not actually
commmence until 1961.