Tide operated electrical power station - relies on siphon effect between tidal area and reservoir

摘要

A low dam (A) is used to make an artificial lagoon, which will act as a reservoir (G). When the tide comes in (H) water flows int into the station through a funnelled aperture (B) at ground level When the tide is at its highest, the difference in levels between the open sea (H) and the reservoir (G) is sufficient to start a siphoning action past a turbine (D) and through a U-shaped outlet pipe (C). The turbine has a vertical shaft which drives an electrical generator (E) mounted on top of the dam. When the tide has dropped to such a level that the siphoning action stops, water flows through another siphon and turbine installation which works in the reverse direction, allowing water to flow from the reservoir into the sea, if necessary with the aid of a starting vacuum generator.