Operational experience of the OC-OTEC experiments at NELH
The Solar Energy Research Institute, under funding and program direction from the US Department of Energy, has been operating a small-scale test apparatus to investigate key components of open- cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OC-OTEC). The apparatus started operations in October 1987 and continues to provide valuable information on heat-and mass-transfer processes in evaporators and condensers, gas sorption processes as seawater is depressurized and repressurized, and control and instrumentation characteristics of open-cycle systems. Although other test facilities have been used to study some of these interactions, this is the largest apparatus of its kind to use seawater since Georges Claude`s efforts in 1926. The information obtained from experiments conducted in this apparatus is being used to design a larger scale experiment in which a positive net power production is expected to be demonstrated for the first time with OC-OTEC. This paper describes the apparatus, the major tests conducted during its first 18 months of operation, and the experience gained in OC-OTEC system operation. 13 refs., 8 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 10102113
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-253-3480; CONF-890436-10; ON: DE89000877
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 11. annual American Society of Mechanical Engineers solar energy conference,San Diego, CA (United States),2-5 Apr 1989; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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