Development of a prototype model for assessing tidal energy extraction potential

With the rising concerns over global climate change associated with rapid depletion of limited fossil fuel resources, worldwide attention has intensified towards the potentials and possibilities of renewable energy sources. In the context of Bangladesh, among multifarious sources of renewables (solar, wind, biomass, tidal and wave power and ocean thermal energy) harnessing of energy from ocean tides, that cogitates both kinetic and potential energy, is a promising option. The former deals with tidal current energy conversion technologies while the latter concept focuses on the tidal barrage approach-similar to hydropower technique. This paper presents an assessment of the potential of tidal barrage technology through the development of a laboratory scale prototype model. The prototype energy extractor is constructed to study and verify the one-way generation method of tidal barrage technology. The model is scaled down to actual generation. A laboratory flume is used to generate a hydraulic head across a sluice gate, considering the upstream as basin side and downstream as the seaside. Water on the basin side is retained by the sluice, creating maximum head difference and thereby generates electricity while traversing through the turbine and rotating the generator. The generated power in the downstream end is measured by an ammeter. The amount of energy generated through the turbine is then compared to the theoretical energy generation. The findings of this study are discussed in relation to the prospects of tidal potential energy and identifies this technology as a preferable option for electricity generation in the suitable locations of the Bay of Bengal.