pre331 - Ocean Energy Resources (Complete module description)

At the completion of this module, the student will:
- have an understanding of the physical mechanisms in the ocean which are on the basis of the generation of surface waves, tides and currents, and their effects, as well as the biological processes that may affect or be affected by ocean energy devices.
- be familiar with the statistic description of waves and currents
- be able to use the statistical information in order to make evaluation of the energy resource
- be able to use GIS for site selection characterization.

- Introduction to the ocean environment: ocean water and geology; ocean circulation and stratification; ocean habitat; ocean economy.
- Ocean surface waves: linear wave theory (regular and random waves); wave spectrum; wave energy resource: parametrical characterisation of ocean waves, nearshore wave transformation, wave measurement and modelling.
- Other sources of ocean energy: ocean tidal currents (current measurement; current turbulence; current energy resource); ocean thermal energy conversion; ocean salinity gradient energy resource.
- Site selection and characterization for ocean energy systems: criteria on energy resource, expected cost levels, water depth, seabed geology and ecology, distance to shore, ports, O&M bases and electrical grid, marine environmental issues.

Apel, J.R.: Principles of Ocean Physics. Academic Press, 1987, 631 pp.
Bakus, G.: Quantitative analysis of marine biological communities. Wiley, 2007.
Boon, J.: Secrets of the tide: Tide and tidal current analysis and predictions, strom surges and sea level trends. West Sussex, UK: Horwood Publishing, Ltd, 2004. 300 pp.
Cartwright, D. E.: Oceanic tides. Rep. Prog. Phys., 1977, 40(6), 665–708.
Goda, Y.: Random Seas and Design of Marine Structures. University of Tokyo Press, Japan, 1985. 323 pp.
Sarpkaya, T. and M. Isaacson: Mechanics of Wave Forces on Offshore Structures. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, U.S.A., 1981. 651 pp.
Young, I.R.: Wind Generated Ocean Waves. Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford, UK, 1999. 288 pp.
Roberts, J.: Marine Environment protection and biodiversity conservation. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2007. 264 pp.
Lerman, M.: Marine Biology: environment, diversity and ecology. Addison-Wesley 1999.

Exam: end of lecture period (early June)
Report: deadline end of May

Written exam (60%): 2.5 hours
Written report (40%): essay on a chosen topic, 10-20 pages