How much energy ocean wave create?5 answersOcean waves have significant energy potential, with estimates suggesting that the total power of waves breaking around the world's coastlines is around 2-3 million megawatts. The United States alone is estimated to have 260 TWh of potential wave energy off its coasts, which is approximately 6% of its annual electrical load. The entire ocean holds approximately 10TW of wave energy, a substantial portion of which currently goes untapped. Various methods are being explored to harness this energy, such as wave energy converters that can convert the motion of waves into electrical energy. The energy generated by ocean waves can be computed in terms of Watt per area unit, with potential locations identified to have values ranging from 0-1317 W/m2.
Why are so many things in waves?5 answersMany phenomena are described in terms of waves due to their dual nature as both material and conceptual entities, as highlighted in various research contexts. Waves, whether in the form of sound, water, or electromagnetic radiation, exhibit common characteristics of energy propagation without permanent displacement of the medium. Waves serve as intriguing objects for interdisciplinary study, bridging scientific, artistic, and social domains, allowing for analogies and insights across different fields. Additionally, the concept of waves extends to literature, as seen in Virginia Woolf's novel "The Waves," where the formal structure intertwines descriptions of waves breaking on the shore with characters' soliloquies, reflecting a universal memory bank of endless interior speech. Overall, the pervasive presence of waves in various disciplines underscores their significance in understanding natural, cultural, and artistic phenomena.
How to control wind wave device?4 answersA wind-wave farm system with a self-energy storage capability and a smoothed total power output can be achieved by utilizing the rotor inertias of wind turbines as short-term energy storage devices. This eliminates the need for extra energy storage hardware, reducing investment and maintenance costs of wave energy conversion. A floating offshore wind turbine experimental device can be used to simulate different wave heights and periodic wave loads without relying on a wave pool or wind-making device. This device has a simple structure, easy installation, convenient operation, and high safety and reliability. A control device for a wind power generation system can be used to conveniently monitor and control the wind power generation system using an integrated display device and keyboard on the control panel. A fully-coupled aero/hydro/servo-mechanic model can be used for the response and control of floating offshore wind turbines in waves. An optimal controller based on blade pitch and generator torque can effectively reduce power fluctuations and vibratory loads. A control device of a wave compensator can be used to directly, rapidly, accurately, and stably control the alternating load borne by a rope and provide wave compensation for hoisted goods.
What are Wave-powered renewable energy sources?3 answersWave-powered renewable energy sources refer to the utilization of the energy potential contained in ocean waves to generate electricity. The ocean waves have immense potential as a renewable energy source and can be harnessed through various technologies known as wave energy converters (WECs). These WECs extract energy from the waves using techniques such as power take-off (PTO) mechanisms and convert it into usable electrical energy. Wave energy is considered a reliable and high-density energy source, offering a good correlation between resource and demand. It has the potential to meet a significant portion of the energy demand for humankind. The development of wave energy technologies has gained global interest and is seen as a promising field in the future of renewable energies.
How does waves change with changing climate?5 answersWaves change with changing climate in various ways. Climate change can lead to alterations in wave climate patterns, including changes in wave heights, frequencies, and directions.These changes can have significant impacts on coastal dynamics, sediment transport, and coastal risks.For example, projections suggest a transition from positive to negative trends in Southern Ocean westerly swells, with increasing signals propagating to tropical regions.In the Northern Hemisphere, climate change can result in shifts in prevailing wind patterns, weakening of stationary wave circulations, and changes in regional precipitation and temperature.Additionally, studies have investigated the potential changes in wave characteristics, such as significant wave height and spectral wave period, in various locations.These changes in wave climate have implications for the design of marine structures and marine operations.
How are longshore currents generated?4 answersLongshore currents are generated through a combination of factors. The offshore spreading of coastal river outflows over shelf-like topography is inhibited by potential vorticity conservation, causing the outflows to remain coastally trapped and flow parallel to the coast. The effects of topography and anomalous vorticity of the outflow also play a role in forming coastal currents. The creation and evolution of the surface roller generated by wave breaking contribute to the development of depth-averaged cross-shore and longshore currents. The momentum equation governing mean longshore currents on straight beaches is a balance of forcing from oscillatory wave motion, turbulent momentum transfer, and bottom stress. Irregular waves in the surf zone, along with bed friction and mixing processes, also drive longshore currents. Regular, obliquely incident, breaking waves induce steady-state longshore currents, with friction coefficients determined by bottom roughness.