A PAPER PRESENTATION

ON

OCEAN THERMAL
ENERGY
CONVERSION

Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
Email: help@matlabcodes.com
Engineeringpapers.blogspot.
com
More Papers and
Presentations available on
above site
 using the temperature difference
of 20°C (36°F) or more that exists
between warm tropical waters at
the sun-warmed surface, and
ABSTRACT colder waters drawn from depths
Ocean Thermal Energy of about 1000 m. To convert this
Conversion (OTEC) is a thermal gradient into electrical
means of converting into energy, the warm water can be
useful energy the used to heat and vaporize a liquid
temperature difference (known as a working fluid). The
between surface water of working fluid develops pressure
the oceans in tropical and as it is caused to evaporate. This
sub-tropical areas, and expanding vapor runs through a
water at a depth of turbine generator and is then
approximately 1 000 condensed back into a liquid by
meters which comes from cold water brought up from
the polar regions. For depth, and the cycle is repeated.
OTEC a temperature There are potentially three basic
difference of 20oC is types of OTEC power plants:
adequate, which embraces closed-cycle, open-cycle, and
very large ocean areas, various blending of the two. All
and favors islands and three types can be built on land,
many developing on offshore platforms fixed to the
countries. The continuing seafloor, on floating platforms
increase in demand from anchored to the seafloor, or on
this sector of the world (as ships that move from place to
indicated by World place
Energy Council figures) A very important technical issue
provides a major potential pertaining to the Claude cycle is
market the performance of direct contact
heat exchangers operating at
typical OTEC boundary
. OTEC generates electricity by conditions. Many early Claude
cycle designs used a surface
condenser since their OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY
performance is well understood. CONVERSION
However direct contact Ocean Thermal Energy
condensers offer significant Conversion (OTEC) is a means of
disadvantages. As the warm sea converting into useful energy the
water rises in the intake pipes, temperature difference between
the pressure decreases to the surface water of the oceans in
point where gas begins to evolve. tropical and sub-tropical areas,
If a significant amount of gas and water at a depth of
comes out of the solution, approximately 1 000 meters
designing a gas trap before the which comes from the polar
direct contact heat exchangers regions. For OTEC a
may be justified. Experiments temperature difference of 20oC is
simulating conditions in the adequate, which embraces very
warm water intake pipe large ocean areas, and favors
indicated about 30% of the islands and many developing
dissolved gas evolve in the top countries. The continuing
8.5 m of the tube. The tradeoff increase in demand from this
between pre-deaeration of the sector of the world (as indicated
sea water and expulsion of all the by World Energy Council
non-condensable gases from the figures) provides a major
condenser is dependent on the potential market.
gas evolution dynamics,
deaerator efficiency, head loss, Depending on the location of
vent compressor efficiency and their cold and warm water
parasitic power. Experimental supplies, OTEC plants can be
results have indicated that land-based, floating, or - as a
vertical spout condensers longer term development -
perform some 30% better than grazing. Floating plants have the
the falling jet types. advantage that the cold water
pipe is shorter, reaching directly
INTRODUCTION down to the cold resource, but
the power generated has to be zones, but a longer-term
brought ashore, and moorings development - a grazing plant -
are likely to be in water depths allows OTEC energy use in
of, typically, 2 000 meters. The highly developed economies
development of High Voltage DC which lie in the world’s
transmission offers substantial temperate zones. In this case the
advantage to floating OTEC, and OTEC plant is free to drift in
the increasing depths for ocean areas with a high
offshore oil and gas production temperature difference, the
over the last decade mean that power being used to split sea
mooring is no longer the water into liquid hydrogen and
problem which it once was - but liquid oxygen. The hydrogen, and
still a significant cost item for in some cases where it is
floating OTEC. Land-based economic the oxygen too, is
plants have the advantage of no offloaded to shuttle tankers
power transmission cable to which take the product to energy-
shore, and no mooring costs. hungry countries. So, in time, the
However, the cold water pipe entire world can benefit from
has to cross the surf zone and OTEC, not just tropical and sub-
then follow the seabed until the tropical areas.
depth reaches approximately 1 A further benefit of OTEC is
000 meters - resulting in a much that, unlike most renewable
longer pipe which has therefore energies, it is base-load - the
greater friction losses, and thermal resource of the ocean
greater warming of the cold ensures the power source is
water before it reaches the heat available day or night, and with
exchanger, both resulting in only modest variation from
lower efficiency. summer to winter. It is
The working cycle may be closed environmentally benign, and
or open, the choice depending on some floating OTEC plants
circumstances. All these variants would actually result in net CO2
clearly develop their power in absorption. A unique feature of
the tropical and sub-tropical OTEC is the additional products
which can readily be provided - this aspect, the technological
food (aquaculture and improvements - such as the much
agriculture); potable water; air smaller heat exchangers now
conditioning; etc. (see Figure required - have contributed to
16.2). In large part these arise significantly reduced capital
from the pathogen-free, nutrient- expenditure. On top of these two
rich, deep cold water. OTEC is factors the world-wide trend to
therefore the basis for a whole whole-life costing benefits all
family of Deep Ocean Water renewable when compared with
Applications (DOWA), which those energy systems which rely
can also benefit the cost of on conventional fuels (and their
generated electricity. Potable associated costs), even when the
water production alone can higher initial maintenance costs
reduce electrical generating costs of early OTEC/DOWA plants are
by up to one third, and is itself in taken into account. When
very considerable demand in compared with traditional fuels
most areas where OTEC can the
operate.
The relevance of environmental
impact was given a considerable
boost by the Rio and Kyoto
summits, and follow-up actions
have included a much greater
emphasis on this aspect by a
number of energy companies.
Calculations for generating costs
now take increasing account of
"downstream factors" - for
example the costs associated with
CO2 emissions. With such
criteria included, OTEC/DOWA How it works
is becoming an increasingly OTEC generates electricity by
attractive option. Even without using the temperature difference
of 20°C (36°F) or more that
exists between warm tropical
waters at the sun-warmed
surface, and colder
drawn from depths of about
1000 m. To convert this thermal
gradient into electrical energy,
the warm water can be used to
heat and vaporize a liquid
(known as a working fluid). The
working fluid develops pressure
as it is caused to evaporate. This
expanding vapor runs through a
turbine generator and is then
condensed back into a liquid by
cold water brought up from
depth, and the cycle is repeated.
There are potentially three basic
types of OTEC power plants:
closed-cycle, open-cycle,
various blending of the two. All
three types can be built on land,
on offshore platforms fixed to
the seafloor, on
platforms anchored
seafloor, or on ships that move
from place to place
The surface water and the deep
water of tropical ocean can be
used respectively as the heat
source and the heat sink of a
thermal engine ruled by the
waters
Cannot principle.
The main components of the
system are: Pumps and pipes for
supplying the evaporator and the
condenser respectively with warm
and cold sea water; a working
fluid which is vaporized to drive a
steam turbine which generates
mechanical energy. This
mechanical energy can be
transformed in electric energy if
and the turbine is coupled to an
alternator.
A very simplified scheme The
details of the process and the
floating technology of the components for
to the OTEC systems depend essentially
on the choice of the working
fluid. There are basically two
types of OTEC processes: the
closed-cycle and the open-cycle.
of OTEC process is shown below.
The surface water and the deep Depending on the cycle used
water of tropical ocean can be
• Open cycle
used respectively as the heat
source and the heat sink of a • Closed cycle
thermal engine ruled by the • Hybrid cycle
Carnot principle.
This cold seawater is an integral

The main components of the part of each of the three types of

system are: Pumps and pipes for OTEC systems: closed-cycle,

supplying the evaporator and the open-cycle, and hybrid.

condenser respectively with

warm and cold sea water; a
working fluid which is vaporized
to drive a steam turbine which
generates mechanical energy.
This mechanical energy can be
transformed in electric energy if
the turbine is coupled to an Closed-cycle
alternator. Diagram of a closed cycle OTEC
A very simplified scheme of plant
OTEC process is shown below Closed-cycle systems use fluid
with a low boiling point, such as,
to rotate a to generate electricity.
The details of the process and
Warm surface is pumped
the technology of the components
through a heat exchanger where
for OTEC systems depend
the low-boiling-point fluid is
essentially on the choice of the
vaporized. The expanding vapor
working fluid. There are
turns the turbo-generator. Then,
basically two types of OTEC
cold, deep seawater—pumped
processes: the closed-cycle and
through a second heat exchanger
the open-cycle.
—condenses the vapor back into
a liquid, which is then recycled
through the system.
In, the Natural Energy
Laboratory and several private-
sector partners developed the
mini OTEC experiment, which
achieved the first successful at-
sea production net electrical
power from closed-cycle OTEC.
The mini OTEC vessel was
moored 1.5 miles (2.4 km) off the
Hawaiian coast and produced
enough net electricity
illuminate the ship's light bulbs,
and run its computers and
televisions.
Then, the Natural Energy
Laboratory in tested a 250 kW
pilot OTEC closed-cycle plant,
the largest such plant ever put
into operation. Since then, there
have been no tests of OTEC
technology in the United States,
largely because the economics of
energy production today have
delayed the financing of
permanent, continuously
operating plant.
Outside the United States, the
government of has taken an
active interest in OTEC
technology. India has built and
plans to test a 1 MW closed-
cycle, floating OTEC plant.
Open-cycle
Open-cycle OTEC uses the
tropical oceans' warm surface
water to make electricity. When
warm seawater is placed in a low-
pressure container, it boils. The
expanding steam drives a low-
to pressure turbine attached to an
electrical generator. The steam,
which has left its salt behind in
the low-pressure container, is
almost pure fresh water. It is
condensed back into a liquid by
exposure to cold temperatures
from deep-ocean water
In, the Solar Energy Research
Institute now the developed a
vertical-spout evaporator to
convert warm seawater into low-
pressure steam for open-cycle
a plants. Energy conversion
efficiencies as high as 97% were
achieved for the seawater to
steam conversion process (note:
the overall efficiency of an OTEC
system using a vertical-spout
evaporator would still only be a
few per cent). In May, an open-
cycle OTEC plant at Keahole
Point, Hawaii, produced 50,000 considered under the treaty,
watts of electricity during a net giving them no legal authority of
power-producing experiment. their own. OTEC plants could be
This broke the record of 40,000 perceived as either a threat or
watts set by a Japanese system in potential partner or to future
seabed mining operations
Hybrid
controlled by the. The has not
Hybrid systems combine the ratified the treaty as of 2006
features of both the closed-cycle despite strong internal support.
and open-cycle systems. In a
hybrid system, warm seawater Cost and Economics
enters a vacuum chamber where For OTEC to be viable as a
it is flash-evaporated into steam, power source, it must either gain
similar to the open-cycle political favor (ie. favorable tax
evaporation process. The steam treatment and subsidies) or
vaporizes a low-boiling-point become competitive with other
fluid (in a closed-cycle loop) that types of power, which may
drives a turbine to produce themselves be subsidized.
electricity. Because OTEC systems have not
Political Concerns yet been widely deployed,
Because OTEC facilities are estimates of their costs are
more-or-less stationary surface uncertain.
platforms, their exact location One study estimates power
and legal status may be affected generation costs as low as $.07
by the treaty (UNCLOS). This USD per kilowatt-hour,
treaty grants coastal nations 3-, compared with $.07 for
12-, and 200-mile zones of subsidized wind systems Besides
varying legal authority from regulation and subsidies, other
land, creating potential conflicts factors that should be taken into
and regulatory barriers to account include OTEC's status as
OTEC plant construction and a renewable resource (with no
ownership. OTEC plants and waste products or limited fuel
similar structures would be supply), the limited geographical
area in which it is available simulating conditions in the
the political effects of reliance on warm water intake pipe indicated
oil, the development of alternate about 30% of the dissolved gas
forms of ocean power such as evolve in the top 8.5 m of the
wave energy and the possibility tube. The tradeoff between pre-
of combining it with or filtration of the sea water and expulsion of
for trace minerals to obtain all the non-condensable gases
multiple uses from a single pump from the condenser is dependent
system. on the gas evolution dynamics,
deaerator efficiency, head loss,
Technical difficulties vent compressor efficiency and
Degradation of heat exchanger parasitic power. Experimental
performance by dissolved gases results have indicated that
A very important technical issue vertical spout condensers
pertaining to the Claude cycle is perform some 30% better than
the performance of direct the falling jet types.
contact heat exchangers Improper sealing
operating at typical OTEC The evaporator, turbine, and
boundary conditions. Many condenser operate in partial
early Claude cycle designs used a vacuum ranging from 3 % to 1 %
surface condenser since their atmospheric pressure. This poses
performance is well understood. a number of practical concerns
However direct contact that must be addressed. First, the
condensers offer significant system must be carefully sealed
disadvantages. As the warm sea to prevent in-leakage of
water rises in the intake pipes, atmospheric air that can severely
the pressure decreases to the degrade or shut down operation.
point where gas begins to evolve. Second, the specific volume of the
If a significant amount of gas low-pressure steam is very large
comes out of the solution, compared to that of the
designing a gas trap before the pressurized working fluid used in
direct contact heat exchangers the case of a closed cycle OTEC.
may be justified. Experiments This means that components
must have large flow areas to boost by the Rio and Kyoto
ensure that steam velocities do summits, and follow-up actions
not attain excessively high have included a much greater
values. emphasis on this aspect by a
number of energy companies.

The working cycle may be closed Calculations for generating costs

or open, the choice depending on now take increasing account of

circumstances. All these variants "downstream factors" – for

clearly develop their power in example the costs associated with

the tropical and sub-tropical CO2 emissions. With such criteria

zones, but a longer-term included, OTEC/DOWA is

development – a grazing plant – becoming an increasingly

allows OTEC energy use in attractive option. Even without

highly developed economies this aspect, the technological

which lie in the world’s improvements – such as the much

temperate zones. In this case the smaller heat exchangers now

OTEC plant is free to drift in required – have contributed to

ocean areas with a high significantly reduced capital

temperature difference, the expenditure. On top of these two

power being used to split sea factors the world-wide trend to

water into liquid hydrogen and whole-life costing benefits all

liquid oxygen. The hydrogen, renewable

and in some cases where it is when compared with those

economic the oxygen too, is energy systems which rely on
offloaded to shuttle tankers conventional fuels (and their
which take the product to associated costs), even when the
energy-hungry countries. So, in higher initial maintenance costs
time, all the world can benefit of early OTEC/DOWA plants are
from OTEC, not just tropical taken into account. When
and sub-tropical areas. compared with traditional fuels

The relevance of environmental the economic position of

impact was given a considerable OTEC/DOWA is now rapidly

approaching equality, and work prepare overall ocean policies
in Hawaii at the Pacific and recent years have seen a
International Center for High number of these introduced – for
Technology Research has example in Australia.
contributed to realistic
Despite the existence of EEZs, the
comparisons, as well as
low costs of many "traditional"
component development.
energy resources in the recent
past had not encouraged venture
capital investment in
OTEC/DOWA, but the currently
higher costs of oil, plus the
growing recognition of
environmental effects noted
above (and the associated costs)
of some traditional fuels, are
rapidly changing the economics
of these in relation to
OTEC/DOWA and other
Nations which previously might
renewable. Technology transfer
not have contemplated
is a major factor in many
OTEC/DOWA activities have
maritime activities and
been given legal title over waters
OTEC/DOWA is no exception, in
throughout the 200 nautical mile
this case borrowing from the oil
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
and gas industry – again as
associated with the UN
already noted.
Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS). Prior to that no It is all these factors which now
investor – private or public – place OTEC/DOWA within
would seriously contemplate realistic reach of full economic
funding a new form of capital commercialization early in the
plant in such seas and oceans, 21st century. But, whilst a number
but since UNCLOS a number of of the components for an
nations have worked steadily to OTEC/DOWA plant are
therefore either available, or allows OTEC energy use in
nearly so, the inherent simplicity highly developed economies
of a number of key elements of which lie in the world’s
OTEC/DOWA still require temperate zones. In this case the
refinement into an effective OTEC plant is free to drift in
system, and this will need ocean areas with a high
further R&D investment. Before temperature difference, the
OTEC/DOWA can be realized, power being used to split sea
this R&D must be completed to water into liquid hydrogen and
show clearly to potential liquid oxygen. The hydrogen, and
investors, via a demonstration- in some cases where it is
scale plant, that the integrated economic the oxygen too, is
system operates effectively, offloaded to shuttle tankers
efficiently, economically, and which take the product to energy-
safely. hungry countries. So, in time, the
entire world can benefit from
OTEC, not just tropical and sub-
tropical areas.

Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
Email: help@matlabcodes.com
Engineeringpapers.blogspot.
com
The working cycle may be closed More Papers and
or open, the choice depending on Presentations available on
above site
circumstances. All these variants
clearly develop their power in
the tropical and sub-tropical
zones, but a longer-term
development – a grazing plant –