Suppose two tidal pools are used for a tidal power plant. The upper pool, area A1, is filled at high tide and the lower pool, area A2, is emptied at low tide. The tidal range is R.
(a) Determine the energy that can be obtained by emptying the upper pool into the lower pool while the gates connecting the two pools to the ocean are closed.
(b) A comparison with single tidal pool of area A is desired. Assuming that A=A1+A2, the total area enclosed by the two tidal pool scheme, determine the ratio of the energy obtained for each tidal period.
Note: For the two tidal pool system, energy can be extracted only once for each tidal period. What is this ratio for A1=A2=0.5 A?
(c) What is the advantage of the two pool system?