Page 50 - Additional Materials MSPP Writing Book 1

GENERATING ELECTRICITY FROM WAVES

The illustration shows an installation on the coast that uses the

motion of sea waves up and down a beach to produce electric

power.

From a glance we can see that the installation consists of a two

main parts: a vertical column, mounted on solid rock or a man-

made barrier, which houses a turbine, which is spun by the

movement of air up and down the column; and second, an

irregularly-shaped chamber that extends down the beach to

channel waves into column.

The first diagram shows the forward movement of a wave, coming

up the beach and into the lower chamber. The moving water forces

air up the vertical column, turning the turbine clockwise, which in

turn generates electricity.

The second diagram shows the retreat of the wave, back down the

beach. This time, the air is sucked back down the vertical column.

Although the air direction is reversed, the turbine continues to spin

clockwise, thus continuing to generate power.