Open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion system

Patent · Tue Feb 19 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5360287

Wittig, J M

An improved open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion system is described including a flash evaporator for vaporizing relatively warm ocean surface water and an axial flow, elastic fluid turbine having a vertical shaft and axis of rotation. The warm ocean water is transmitted to the evaporator through a first prestressed concrete skirtconduit structure circumferentially situated about the axis of rotation. The unflashed warm ocean water exits the evaporator through a second prestressed concrete skirt-conduit structure located circumferentially about and radially within the first skirt-conduit structure. The radially inner surface of the second skirt conduit structure constitutes a cylinder which functions as the turbine's outer casing and obviates the need for a conventional outer housing. The turbine includes a radially enlarged disc element attached to the shaft for supporting at least one axial row of radially directed blades through which the steam is expanded. A prestressed concrete inner casing structure of the turbine has upstream and downstream portions respectively situated upstream and downstream from the disc element. The radially outer surfaces of the inner casing portions and radially outer periphery of the axially interposed disc cooperatively form a downwardly radially inwardly tapered surface. An annular steam flowpath of increasing flow area in the downward axial direction is radially bounded by the inner and outer prestressed concrete casing structures. The inner casing portions each include a tranversely situated prestressed concrete circular wall for rotatably supporting the turbine shaft and associated structure.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4189647
• OSTI ID: 5360287
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800* -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
BUILDING MATERIALS
CONCRETES
CONVERSION
DESIGN
ENERGY CONVERSION
EVAPORATION
EVAPORATORS
FLASHING
MACHINERY
MATERIALS
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PIPES
POWER PLANTS
POWER SYSTEMS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
STEAM TURBINES
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY