Ocean thermal energy conversion: a review
The OTEC principle is discussed along with general system and cycle types, specific OTEC designs, OTEC applications, and the ocean thermal resource. The historic development of OTEC is briefly reviewed, and the status of French, Japanese, EUROCEAN, and US programs is assessed. US efforts are detailed and DOE's strategy outlined with OTEC-1 and Mini-OTEC information. Power system components of the more technically advanced closed-cycle OTEC concept are discussed. These include: heat exchangers, corrosion and biofouling countermeasures, working fluids, ammonia power systems, and on-platform seawater systems. Several open-cycle features are also discussed. A critical review is presented of the ocean engineering aspects of OTEC power systems. Major subsystems such as platform, cold water pipe, mooring system, dynamic positioning system, power transmission cable system are assessed for their relationships with the ocean environment and with each other. Nine available studies of OTEC costs are reviewed. Tentative comparisons are made between OTEC and traditional fuel costs, and OTEC products and markets are considered. Possible environmental and social effects of OTEC development are discussed. International, national, and local laws regulating OTEC plants and OTEC energy products are reviewed. Tax incentives, attitudes of the utilities, and additional legislative needs are considered. (LEW)
- Research Organization:
- Hawaii Univ., Manoa (USA). Hawaii Natural Energy Inst.
- OSTI ID:
- 5517629
- Report Number(s):
- HNEI-81-03; ON: DE82901167
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AMMONIA
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
CABLES
CLOSED-CYCLE SYSTEMS
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
CONSTRAINTS
CONVERSION
CORROSION PROTECTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC CABLES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FLUIDS
FOULING
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEGAL ASPECTS
MARINE RISERS
MOORINGS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PIPES
POSITIONING
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVIEWS
SEAWATER
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
TAXES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WATER
WORKING FLUIDS