Thermoelectric Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6114186· OSTI ID:6114186

A novel thermoelectric OTEC concept is proposed and compared with the ammonia closed-cycle designs. The thermoelectric OTEC is a much simpler system which uses no working fluid and therefore requires no pressure vessel, working fluid pumps, or turbogenerator. These components are replaced by power modules which are heat exchangers integrated with thermoelectric generators. The thermoelectric OTEC offers several potential advantages including: simpler and more easily mass-produced components; higher reliability system performance through the use of a high level of redundancy and long-lived, solid-state thermoelectric generators; greater safety for crew and environment by elimination of the pressurized working fluid; and the possibility of lower system costs. These comparisons are discussed and plans for future work are presented.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 6114186
• Report Number(s): SERI/TP-35-254
• Resource Relation: Conference: 6. OTEC conference, Washington, DC, USA, 19 Jun 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
COST
DESIGN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
MARKET
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
SAFETY
THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
ammonia closed-cycle
thermoelectric OTEC
140800* - Solar Energy- Ocean Energy Systems
300301 - Thermoelectric Generators- Design & Development