Alcan's ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) program

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States)

OSTI ID:5407522

Hron, V; Fitzpatrick, N P ^[1]; Hay, E ^[2]; Johnson, F A ^[3]

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1. Alcan International Ltd., Kingston, Research and Development Centre, P.O. Box 8400, Kingston, Ontario K7L 5L9 (CA)
2. Nisymco, 22 Stephenson, Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec H9A 2V9 (CA)
3. GEC-Marconi Research Centre, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9HN (GB)

Since 1985 Alcan has been operating equipment at a test site at the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii at Keahole Point near Kona in Hawaii. Segments of aluminum heat exchangers are exposed to surface sea water at 27{degrees} C and to water from 2000 ft down coming in at 7{degrees} C. Progress was such that in 1988 Alcan contracted GEC to design a 250 kW pilot facility. The cold deep water, suitable for air conditioning, is rich in nutrients and the hierarchy of mariculture products one might select is outlined. This paper reports that closed-cycle OTEC may be economical, practical and capable of having a significant impact upon world energy needs. It can be implemented on a small scale using revenues derived from fresh water production and mariculture.

• OSTI ID: 5407522
• Journal Information: International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States), Vol. 1:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
DEMONSTRATION PLANTS
AIR CONDITIONING
ALUMINIUM
AQUACULTURE
CLOSED-CYCLE SYSTEMS
ECONOMICS
FRESH WATER
HAWAII
HEAT EXCHANGERS
SEAWATER
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
CONVERSION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONVERSION
FEDERAL REGION IX
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
TEMPERATURE RANGE
USA
WATER
140800* - Solar Energy- Ocean Energy Systems