Use of Ocean Sensors as Wave Power Generators

摘要

Solar energy can be harvested from the ocean through ocean currents. Ocean currents being solar and wind generated near the equator are classifiable into marine and tidal currents. Marine currents flow in one direction and are relatively constant. Tidal currents, however, are found near the shoreline due to gravitational forces. Some important currents include the Gulf Stream, Florida Straits Current, and the California Current. The wind and thermal energy get stored in the ocean as currents and surface waves. Wave heights and widths change during the year. Kinetic energy is proportional to the cube of velocity and density. Ocean energy is comparable to wind energy because the two are forms of hydrodynamic and fluid flows. Ocean currents are slower than wind speeds, however, as sea water is 832 times denser than air. Also, ocean currents can be predicted years in advance, since these depend on the sun and the moon. Worldwide, ocean currents of more than five knots or 2.5 m/s (1 knot = 0.50 m/s) exist. Current energy has been estimated greater than 5000 GW, with power densities of up to 15 kW/m~2.