Jimmy Barnett
OTEC Introduction
OTEC uses the oceans natural thermal gradient to
OTEC Facts
23 million square miles of
Types of OTEC
Closed-Cycle
Boils a fluid with low
boiling point with warm
surface water
Fluid is vaporized,
expanding vapor turns a
turbine
Deep, cool ocean water
pumped to cool the
vapor and condense it
Vapor is liquidized then
recycled through the
system
Types of OTEC
Open-Cycle
Warm ocean water is
placed in a lowpressure container to
boil it
Expanding steam
turns turbine
attached to a turbine
Cold ocean water is
pumped up to cool
the steam and turn it
back into a liquid
Types of OTEC
Hybrid-Cycle
Combines both open
and closed cycles
Warm surface water
is turned into steam
That steam is used
to vaporize the fluid
to power the turbine
History
History Continued
1980 - the U.S department of Energy (DOE)
built OTEC 1, a test site for closed- cycle
OTEC heat exchangers installed on board a
converted U.S. Navy tanker.
1981 - japan demonstrated a shore-based,
100-kWe closed- cycle plant in the Republic
of Nauru in the Pacific Ocean.
1984 - scientists at the Department Of
Energy developed a vertical-spout
evaporator to convert warm seawater into
low-pressure stream for open-cycle plants.
1993 - an Open-cycle OTEC plant at
keahole Point Hawaii produced 50,000
watts of electricity during a net powerproducing experiment.
1994 - the Uehara cycle was developed
with an efficiency of 5 to 6%
2002 - SEA solar developed a design for a
100MW plant-ship that they proposed to
the US Navy in 2004.
marine biolife and marine ecosystem from these displacements are not fully
understood. What we do know is that from to high of levels of phosphorus and
nitrogen, it could create algae, which will in turn pollute the ocean. Red algae is
dangerous, producing toxins that can kill marine organisms, taint shellfish,
cause skin irritations, and even foul the air.
Positive Effects
Direct
A clean and green source of renewable energy
Indirect
Air conditioning (spent cold seawater from a plant can chill fresh water in a heat
exchanger or flow directly into a cooling systems) (The Natural Energy Laboratory
has used it for several years)
Fresh water from closed and hybrid cycles (1000 liters of seawater creates 5 liters of
freshwater)
Chilled-soil agriculture (through underground pipes surrounding soil is cooled
helping plants survive where they normally cant) (The Natural Energy Laboratory
garden with over 100 fruits and vegetables that cant survive in Hawaii)
Unintended
Deep seawater that is sucked up is full of nutrients from organic matter that sunk
from the surface which can be used to help aquaculture farms (Hawaii, lobsters and
salmon healthier)
Negative Effects
Direct
Changing ocean temperatures (can be eliminated with appropriate spacing of plants)
Need for other forms of electricity will decrease causing loss of jobs and money
Indirect
Possible changes in the deep ocean environment from pumping and harvesting
nutrients
Unintended
OTEC could divert the course of storms (slightest changes in surface temperature can
steer a storm)
May help unwanted life to grow
Very costly upfront investment needed
Costly maintenance on the pipes and equipment
Future Predictions
Operations such as OTEC Plant in Hawaii, Mini
Our Predictions
By 2015 we predict
OTEC
Experts in oceanic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59MptHscxY
Bibliography
History of OTEC, Offshore Infrastructure Association, Inc. 2010
<http://www.offinf.com/history.htm>
Ocean thermal energy conversion. 2010
<http://www.123eng.com/seminar/Ocean%20thermal%20energy%20conversion.pdf>
OTEC Overview, L.A. Vega, 1999 <http://www.otecnews.org/otec-articles/oceanthermal-energy-conversion-otec-by-l-a-vega-ph-d/>
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia
Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web. 01 Dec.
2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/424415/ocean-thermal-energyconversion>.
Ocean thermal energy conversion OTEC. Lockheed Martin, 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/OTEC/>
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. Breath On The Wind, 23 Sep. 2011. Web. 28 Nov.
2011. <http://cleantechnica.com/2011/09/23/ocean-thermal-energy-conversion/>
The Potential Impact of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion on Fisheries. NOAA
Technical Report NMFS 40. June 1986. <http://spo.nwr.noaa.gov/tr40opt.pdf>
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. Energy Savers, 9 Feb. 2011.
<http://www.energysavers.gov/renewable_energy/ocean/index.cfm/mytopic=50010>