OCEAN THERMAL

ENERGY CONVERTION
PRESENTED BY:
RAJYALAKSHMI.D.M.V.S NAGMANI.V
III/IV EEE III/IV EEE
WHAT IS OTEC ?
The main objective of ocean thermal energy or
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is to
turn the solar energy trapped by the ocean into
useable energy
This kind of energy is found in tropical oceans
where the water temperature differs from surface
to deeper into the sea. On the ocean surface it can
be at least 20°C hotter or cooler than the
temperature at a deeper sea level.
Working Principle:
OTEC generates electricity by using the temperature
difference of 20°C(36°F) or more than that exists
between the warm tropical waters at the sun warmed
surface, and cold water drawn from the depth of 1000
meters.
To convert this thermal gradient into electrical energy,
the warm water can be used to heat and vaporize a
liquid.
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.
So far, this concept of producing energy is still
experimental, although it is at least a century old;
created by the French engineer Jacques D'Arsonval in
1881.
What region is an OTEC plant most suitable to?
• OTEC plants are most suitable for islands around the
tropical region of the east Pacific Ocean.
• This is because OTEC plants can provide both energy
and pure water at the same time with a relatively low
cost. It is also because the ocean in that region has
greater temperature differences, which is about 24 oC.
Depending on the location
Land based plant
Shelf based plant
Floating plant
IMAGE
The Queensland coast is a possible location
for OTEC
 Depending on the cycle used
Open cycle
Closed cycle
Hybrid cycle
Closed Cycle OTEC:
Closed Cycle OTEC employs a low-boiling-point liquid
like propane or ammonia as an intermediate fluid. The
OTEC plant first pumps in the warm sea water and
boils the intermediate fluid.
The first closed cycle OTEC was built by French
Ministry of Colonies and the Centre National de la
Recherche Scientifique in 1942
Open Cycle OTEC:
Open cycle OTEC is very similar to the closed cycle
one.
The only difference is that an open cycle OTEC does
not use intermediate fluid
The sea water is the fluid that pushes the turbine.
The warm sea water on the ocean surface is turned
into low-pressure vapor under a partly vacuumed
environment.
Open Cycle OTEC:
This low-pressure vapor can then push the turbine.
Later, the vapor will be cooled down and turned into
desalinated water by the colder water deeper into the
ocean.
Hybrid Cycle OTEC
• Hybrid Cycle OTEC is a theoretical method of maximizing
the use of ocean thermal energy.

There are two concepts:

The first one is to use a closed cycle OTEC to generate
electricity to create the necessary low-pressure
environment for the open cycle OTEC.
The second concept is to integrate two open cycle OTEC
(one is used to create the vacuumed environment) so that
there will be twice the amount of the original desalinated
water.
Other than electricity generation, what else can
an OTEC plant be used for?

open cycle and hybrid cycle OTEC plants can also

produce desalinated water, which can be used for
irrigation and human consumption.
A closed cycle OTEC plant can also act as a chemical
treatment plant.
What are the advantages of OTEC?

The variety of products and services are the major

advantage of OTEC plants.
Ocean thermal is also relatively clean and will not
produce more pollutants that contribute to global
warming.
What are the disadvantages of OTEC?

Despite the advantages of temperature moderation,

the OTEC plants can alter and maybe damage the
surrounding ecosystem.
Also, pollution can be caused by closed cycle OTEC if
intermediate chemicals leak into the ocean.
Conclusion:
In this case the OTEC plant is free to drift in ocean
areas with a high temperature differences, the power
being used to split sea water into liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen.
The hydrogen In some cases where it is economic, the
oxygen too, is offloaded to shuttle tankers which take
the product to energy-hunger countries.
So, in time, the entire world can benefit from OTEC,
not just tropical and sub-tropical ares.
THANK Q