Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion OTEC

W. H. Avery, R. W. Blevins, G. L. Dugyer, and E. J. Francis, Executive Summary—Maritime and Construction Aspects of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Plant Ships, Apphed Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., Apr. 1976. 

Fig. 18. Flow schematic of an open-cycle ocean—thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and desalination plant (77), where (—) represents liquids (-),...

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plants generate electricity by exploiting the difference in temperature between warm water at the ocean surface and colder waters found at ocean depths. To effectively capture this solar energy, a temperature difference of 35°F or more between surface waters and water at depths of up to 3,000 feet is required. This situation can be found in most of the tropical and subtropical oceans around the world that are in latitudes between 20 degrees north and 20 degrees south. 

Oceanic zooplankton species, wax esters in, 26 204-205 Ocean ranching, 3 198 Ocean raw materials, 17 684-699 consolidated deposits of, 17 691-694 economic aspects of, 17 697 fluid deposits of, 17 694-695 minerals recovery from, 17 695—697 unconsolidated deposits of, 17 686-691 Ocean resources, global, 17 684—686 Oceans, selenium content of, 22 11. See also Marine entries Seawater Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plants, 13 267, 268 26 92-93 Ocean transportation, 25 328 Ochratoxin A, 7 267-268 Ochre (mineral hematite) color, 7 333... 

Because of its high heat capacity, ammonia is used as the working fluid in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) units. See http //www.nrel.gov/otec/for more information. 

Wave power, tidal power, municipal solid waste, gas from animal wastes (biogas), landfill, peat energy and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) are the other renewable energy sources (RES). Water energy sources are hydropower, tidal and wave technologies. 

The ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is an energy technology that converts solar radiation to electric power. OTEC systems use the ocean s natural thermal gradient to drive a power-prodncing cycle. As long as the temperature between the warm strrface water and the cold deep water differs by about 20 K, an OTEC system can produce a significant amormt of power. The oceans are thus a vast renewable resomce, with the potential to help tts produce billions of watts of electric power. 

Incident solar energy is absorbed by the surface water of the oceans. Ocean surface temperatures in excess of 26°C occur near the equator. Pure water has a maximum density at a temperature of 4°C. The chilled water tends to settle to the depths of the ocean. The combination of the warmed ocean surface water and cold deep ocean water provides the thermodynamic condition needed to operate a heat engine called ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). A typical closed-cycle OTEC Rankine cycle using a working fluid such as ammonia or a freon is suggested. 

OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC). Utilization of ocean temperature differentials between solar-heated surface water and cold deep water as a source of electric power. In tropical areas such differences amount to 35-40°F. A pilot installation now operating near Hawaii utilizes a closed ammonia cycle as a working fluid, highly efficient titanium heat exchangers, and a polyethylene pipe 2000 feet long and 22 inches inside diameter to handle the huge volume of cold water required. Alternate uses for such a system, such as electrolysis of water,... 

P. Bienfang, J. Szyper and others Biogeochemistry time-series at two Hawaii Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) program sites (20°N, 156°W and 21°N, 158°W)... 

The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) project in Hawaii produces electricity from the temperature difference between water near the surface of the ocean (about 27° C) and the 600 m deep water at 5°C that surrounds the island. Estimate the maximum net... 

L. C. Trimble, B. L. Messinger, H. E. Ulbrich, G. Smith, and T. Y. Lin, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System Study Report, Proc. 3d Workshop Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), APLIJIIU SR 75-2, pp. 3-21, August 1975. 

A. E. Bergles and M. K. Jensen, Enhanced Single-Phase Heat Transfer for OTEC Systems, Proc. 4th Conf. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, pp. VI-41-VI-54, July 1977. 

D. Yung, J. J. Lorenz, and C. Panchal, Convective Vaporization and Condensation in Serrated-Fin Channels, in Heat Transfer in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion [OTEC] Systems, W. L. Owens, ed., HTD vol. 12, pp. 29-37, ASME, New York, 1980. 

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