| As the world looks for alternative fuel
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| | quagmire has never been solved, but a new
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| sources, tidal energy is starting to
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| | approach is gaining adherents.
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| attract attention again. Following is an
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| | One new approach incorporates the dam
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| overview of tidal energy.
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| | principals in hydroelectric production.
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| Overview of Tidal Energy
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| | The idea is to let water come in when the
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| If you have ever lived near the ocean,
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| | tide is rising and then prevent it from
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| you know about tides. Like clockwork, the
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| | leaving when the tide goes out. Doors are
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| tide rolls in and out moving massive
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| | used to cut off the water. The water is
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| amounts of water from here to there and
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| | then diverted into pipes with turbines
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| back again. This massive movement of
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| | and you essentially have hydroelectric
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| water also happens to contain a huge
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| | power.
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| amount of energy. If the power of the
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| | There are a few problems with this
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| tides could be converted to usable
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| | approach. First, the tidal area is
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| energy, many think tidal energy would be
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| | devastated because the natural cycle is
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| the answer to many of the energy problems
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| | interrupted. Second, the volume of moving
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| in the world.
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| | water is reduced because the dam can't be
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| There are two basic theories on how to
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| | built with a large enough opening to
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| convert tides into power. The first
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| | allow all water to enter. Third, the
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| involves converting the power of the
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| | inherent corrosive nature of salt water
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| horizontal movement of the water into
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| | leads too much higher maintenance costs
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| electricity. The second involves
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| | or at least is forecast to do so.
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| producing energy from the rise and drop
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| | The advantage of tidal energy is it is
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| of water levels. With our vast knowledge
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| | extremely reliable and predictable.
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| of hydroelectricity production with dams,
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| | Orbital issues involving the moon cause
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| converting moving water is currently the
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| | tides. Although the moon is slowly moving
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| favored technology.
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| | away from the Earth, the sun is expected
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| With hydropower, energy is produced by
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| | to burn out before it gets very far away.
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| passing moving water through turbines
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| | Regardless, this means tides are highly
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| which spin and create electricity. While
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| | predictable from both size and time
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| this may seem an obvious way to go after
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| | aspects. In fact, you can go to any surf
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| tidal power, there are some inherent
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| | store and pick up a tide table.
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| problems. First, tidal water moves much
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| | The tidal energy platform has a lot of
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| slower. Second, the energy in tides are
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| | potential if technological issues can be
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| spread across great areas, to wit, the
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| | overcome. To date, Japan and a few
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| energy in the amount of water that would
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| | European countries are the only ones
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| pass through even a large pipe is
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| | researching solutions.
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| relatively small. This technological
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