Wave Energy - shoreline devices
There are various ways to capture the kinetic energy in the waves as they break against the coastline. The following are some of the methods being used.
TAPCHAN
TAPCHAN stands for 'TAPered CHANnel', the incoming waves enter a wide channel which rapidly narrows. The narrow end end of this channel is within a reservoir which is raised above sea level.
The waves that would break against the shore are forced into the wide end of the channel and their height is amplified as they are forced up the narrowing channel until they overflow into the reservoir.
The water that ends up in the reservoir has potential energy and as water flows through the pipe to the turbine (which is at a lower level than the reservoir), the potential energy becomes kinetic energy and operates the turbine which spins the generator to create electricity.
Picture available when I can get one that I am allowed to use!
LIMPET oscillating water column
The Oscillating Water Column (OWC) is basically a chamber built into a rocky shoreline. The device operates on the basis the incoming waves flood into the chamber, compressing the air within the chamber and forcing air through a Wells turbine and operating a generator.
As the waves fall back, the suction produced forces air back into the chamber through the turbine again. (A Wells turbine rotates in the same direction regardless of whether the air is being pushed through the turbine or sucked back through the turbine.)
Picture available when I can get one that I am allowed to use!