What does ocean current power generation rely on?

How do you put a generator set on the seabed and rely on ocean currents to generate electricity?

Tidal energy is a kind of marine energy power generation, which is the earliest, largest and more mature technology in the utilization of marine energy. Tidal energy refers to the energy in the periodic ebb and flow movement of sea water, and is a renewable energy source.

The energy of tidal energy is proportional to the tidal volume and tidal range, or rather, to the square of the tidal range and the area of the reservoir. Compared with hydroelectric power, the energy density of tidal energy is very low, and it is quite not at the level of micro-head power generation. Tidal energy is a general term for the periodic movements and changes in the earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, which are used by the tidal forces of the sun and the moon to cause them.

Tidal energy is a kind of ocean energy power generation, and it is the earliest, largest and most mature kind of ocean energy utilization. Tidal energy refers to the energy in the periodic fluctuations of seawater and is a renewable energy source. The sizzle pure energy of tidal energy is proportional to the tidal volume and tidal range, or to the square of the tidal range and the area of the reservoir.

The energy density of tidal energy is very low compared to hydropower, which is equivalent to the level of micro-head power generation. Tidal energy is a general term for the periodic movements and changes of the Earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere caused by the tidal forces of the Sun and Moon.

River water can generate electricity, and seawater can generate electricity. Electricity can be generated by using the tides. Tidal power stations and hydroelectric power stations on rivers are a principle.

A dam was built at an estuary or bay near the sea, and a hydro-generator unit was installed in the middle of the dam section. At high tide, the tide flows from the ocean through a dam into an estuary or bay, driving a hydroelectric generator to generate electricity; When the sea water flows back into the ocean at low tide, it drives the turbine again from the opposite direction to generate electricity. This tidal power station is more stable than a hydropower plant built on a river because it is not affected by floods and droughts.

The sea is windless and waves, and the waves are also a kind of energy, but it is much more difficult to convert the energy of the waves into electricity than hydroelectric power. In the 70s of the 20th century, Japan developed the first wave power generation device. There is also a barge in the UK where such generators are installed.

It is also possible to generate electricity by taking advantage of the difference between the surface and deep temperatures of seawater. Such a power generation device is similar to a thermal power station: water vapor drives a steam turbine, and the steam turbine drives the generator to generate electricity.

The high temperature of the surface seawater acts as a heat source for the steam engine, while the deep low temperature seawater is the cold source for cooling the exhaust steam. The United States has built an experimental seawater temperature difference power station near Hawaii. A temperature difference of 20 generates 50 kilowatts of electricity.

The use of ocean currents to generate electricity is also being studied. With the development of science and technology, the ocean will surely provide more and more electricity for human beings.