Non Conventional Sources of Energy

UNIT –V
OCEAN ENERGY

by

Dr.VVN Bhaskar
HOD of ME
ACEM
OCEAN ENERGY
OceanThermal Energy
Conversion (OTEC)

Tidal Energy

Wave Energy
OTEC Basics
 OTEC – Converts Solar radiation into
electricity

 The top surface of ocean water will be around

270C (Warm Water)

 The deep Ocean water will be around 50C

(Cold Water)

 This temperature difference is used to power

a turbine for generation of electricity
Surface water of Ocean
Deep Cold water of Ocean
 Efficiency of OTEC


Ŋ =Th-Tc/Th
= (27 +273) – (5+273) / (27 +273)
= 7.33%
 Warm water is used in
EVAPORATOR to produce steam or
to evaporate organic working fluids
like Ammonia etc.,

 Cold water is used in CONDENSER

for condensation process

 OTEC Plant Works on Rankine

Cycle
OTEC –Types of Plants
 Open cycle (Claude or steam cycle)
 Working fluid -Steam

 Closed cycle (Anderson or vapour

cycle)
 Working fluid – Organic fluid like NH3

 Mixed/Hybrid Cycle OTEC Power plant

 Working fluid – Both steam & NH3
 Deaerator – Removes oxygen
from water.

 Air
Pump –Removes other non-
condensable gases from water

 Flash Evaporator – Produces

vapour at low pressure.
 Advantages of OTEC
 No fuel & No Pollution
 Clean form of energy conversion
 Renewable & eco -friendly
 Does not occupy land areas
 Fresh water as well as Electricity
 Minimum Maintenance
 Available throughout the year
Disadvantages of OTEC
 Investment cost is high
 Cost of Electricity is high
 Scaling problems
 30% of power used in pumping water
 Away from towns/high transmission

cost.
 More transmission losses
Applications of OTEC
 Electricity generation

 Produce Fresh Desalination of

Water (Removal of Salt) for
Irrigation & Human consumption

 Acts as Chemical Treatment plant

 Deep Sea Cold water can be used for
Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning
applications

 Aquaculture & Mariculture

 Mineral Extraction

 Hydrogen is produced via

electrolysis
Development of OTEC Plants
 In 1979 First OTEC power plant(40kW)
at Hawai, USA

 In 1981 another plant (100kW) at

Nauru,Japan

 In India 1MW plant at Tamilnadu

 India has a potential of 50,000 MW

Design Parameters
 In a 50kW OTEC plant nearly 35kW is
wasted for pumping water from Ocean.

 In a 100kW OTEC plant we will get only

30 kW of net power output.

 1km long cold water pipe line is required

with proper supports

 Axial flow turbine with 3000 rpm.

OTEC Scenario
 Oceans cover about 70% of the global
surface

 Most of the Sun’s radiation is

absorbed by Sea water.

 Power from OTEC is Renewable

 OTEC technology is in infant stage

 Conclusion
OTEC is a technology
available today and
economically viable in the
near future.

Last but not the least, it is for

every citizen to believe in the
power of renewable energy
sources and understand its
importance.
Thank
You