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Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion An Alternative Power Source

Although it is not widely known among the general population, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion has a long history of development. French engineer Jacques Arsene d’Arsonval originally developed the idea of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion in 1881. The first OTEC plant was constructed in Cuba in 1930 by d’Arsonval’s student, Georges Claude. Using a low pressure turbine, the plant generated 22kW of electricity.

The potential energy production from OTEC is tremendous and deserves additional exploration. At this point the greatest hurdle for OTEC is practical implementation. The processes and technology presently used to drive OTEC are costly; however, further experimentation will bring the cost of using OTEC down.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion can be accomplished by means of three different methods. Closed cycle, or Anderson cycle, OTEC utilizes a liquid with a low boiling point, ammonia for example, as an intermediate fluid. Warm water from the ocean’s surface is pumped into a reaction chamber along with the intermediate fluid; where it causes the intermediate fluid to boil. The resultant vapor is used to spin a turbine which produces electricity. The vapor of the intermediate fluid is then cooled with cold sea water from the depths of the ocean.

Open cycle, or Claude cycle, OTEC is much the same as closed cycle; however, open cycle does not employ the use of an intermediate liquid. The sea water is actually used to spin the turbine in an open cycle OTEC plant. Placing warm sea water in a low pressure causes it to boil. The steam produced can be used to drive a low pressure turbine that is attached to an electrical generator. The vapor is then cooled with water from the ocean’s depths.

A noteworthy point is the fact the sea water leaves the salt and all other impurities behind when it turns to steam. After cooling the steam, the water can be used for crop irrigation and even human drinking water. In a sense, an open cycle OTEC plant is a humongous water distillery that produces electricity.

At this point, Hybrid Cycle OTEC is only a theory. It proposes finding optimum usage of the thermal energy in the ocean’s waters. It begins with closed cycle OTEC to generate the electricity used to create the necessary vacuum for open cycle OTEC. At this point two open cycles are employed, such that.

Closed cycle OTEC is not only valuable in producing electricity, it is also valuable in producing large amounts of hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen is used to fuel rocket engines and other industrial purposes. All forms of OTEC pump cold water from the depths of the ocean to facilitate their process. This water can also be used for air conditioning and refrigeration. Additionally, the surrounding seas are used to heat the cold water that has been used to cool the flash vapor, so it can be recycled into the system after it has been sufficiently heated by the sun. Fish farming and various other aquaculture projects can be performed in these waters.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is multi-faceted to the extent, that with time, it may prove to be the most versatile source of alternative energy.

Renewable & Alternative Energy Resources: http://www.alternativeenergybase.com

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