Parra, Eureca Joy M

BS ChE-5

Hydroelectric Power and Ocean Harvesting Energy Technologies

HYDROELECTRIC POWER- Is the generation of power by harnessing energy from moving

water. The current commercially available technologies generate electricity through the
transformation of hydraulic energy into mechanical energy to activate a turbine connected to a
generator.
OCEAN HARVESTING TECHNOLOGIES- Harnessing the natural flow of ocean currents to
generate clean, renewable, utility scale energy to power our homes, vehicles, and industry with zero
environmental impacts.

AVAILABILITY AND SOURCES

A. Hydroelectric power comes from flowing water (winter and spring) runoff from mountains
streams and clear lakes. The water when falling by the force of gravity can be used to turn
turbines and generators to produce electricity.
B. The major source of ocean harvesting technology are: tidal streams, ocean currents, tidal
range(rise and fall), waves, ocean thermal energy, salinity gradients

OPERATING PRINCIPLES OF THE TECHNOLOGY

A. The principle of hydroelectric power is similar to that of wind energy which turns the
wheels of the turbine by its energy. Hydroelectric power uses the natural flow of water
to give mechanical energy to turbines to produce electricity. The water flows
continuous to provide energy. Gravitational energy gives water kinetic energy required
for the flow.
The power is generated by water using its gravitational force when it is flowing or
falling.
Water is moved from a higher elevation point to a lower elevation point through pipe
At the end, there is a turbine and the water spins it, which moves the shaft that moves
the generator making electricity.
B. The operating principle of ocean harvesting technologies are depending on its type of
sources such for:
Ocean thermal energy-it uses temperature difference between cooler deep and warmer
shallow or surface seawater to run a heat engine and produce useful work, usually in
 the form of electricity. OTE can operate with a very high capacity factor and so can
operate in base load mode.
Ocean wave Harvesting-it converts the kinetic energy and potential energy in the
natural oscillation of ocean wave into electricity. It harness wave energy to bend or
focus the wave into narrow channel of concentration to increase their power and size.
The wave can also channeled into a catch basin or used directly to spin turbine

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

A. Hydroelectric Power
Topology
Dam size, retention basin size and depth
Inlet valves, weir and control gates
Penstock length and diameter, turbines, generators, transformers and excitation
equipment
Elevation or head and stream flow have to be established as well.
B. Harvesting Energy Technologies
Deep ocean currents flow continuously
Generate electricity and utility (power plant)scale
Generate high power Dc voltage to facilitate transmission
Generate and export potable water to the surface.
Fish, marine mammals and macro/micro organisms had to be protected
The system had to be classed for implementation anywhere in the world
The cost of construction and operation had to be viable

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

A. The environmental impact of Hydroelectric Power

Hydroelectric power does not pollute the water or the air. However, hydropower facilities can
have large environmental impacts by changing the environmental impacts by changing the
environment and affecting land use, homes and natural habitat in dam area.
Most hydroelectric power plants have a dam and reservoir. These structures may obstruct fish
migration and affect their population. Operating a hydroelectric power plant may also
change the water temperature. And the river flow these changes may harm native plants and
animals in the river and on land.
 Reservoirs may convert peoples home important natural areas, agricultural land
archeological sites. So building dams can require relocating people. Methane, a strong
greenhouse gas, may also form in some reservoirs and be emitted to the atmosphere.

B. The environmental impact of Ocean Harvesting Technologies

Wave energy devices will remove energy from the ocean, making less available for natural
processes at the site
Wave energy arrays will introduce many large, hard structures, creating new and different
habitat types.