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Title: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) power system development: utilizing advanced high performance heat transfer techniques. Final technical progress report, August 1-December 11, 1978

Abstract

The objectives of the program are: (1) development of a preliminary design for the full-sized power system module to be used in the 100 MWe OTEC Demonstration Plant by 1984 to demonstrate operational performance and to project economic viability; (2) preliminary design for a proof-of-concept 5 MWe (nominal pilot plant, (Test Article); (3) preliminary design for proof-of-concept 1 MWe scaled heat exchangers (Test Articles); and (4) preparation of a Phase II hardware and support plan (proposal) for the scaled test articles. Status of the program is described. (WHK)

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
TRW Systems and Energy, Redondo Beach, CA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5697899
Report Number(s):
SAN-1570-1
DOE Contract Number:
EG-77-C-03-1570
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS; DEMONSTRATION PLANTS; DESIGN; HEAT EXCHANGERS; PILOT PLANTS; PLANNING; POWER RANGE 1-10 MW; POWER RANGE 10-100 MW; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; FUNCTIONAL MODELS; POWER PLANTS; SOLAR POWER PLANTS; 140800* - Solar Energy- Ocean Energy Systems

Citation Formats

Not Available. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) power system development: utilizing advanced high performance heat transfer techniques. Final technical progress report, August 1-December 11, 1978. United States: N. p., 1978. Web. doi:10.2172/5697899.
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Not Available. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) power system development: utilizing advanced high performance heat transfer techniques. Final technical progress report, August 1-December 11, 1978. United States. doi:10.2172/5697899.
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Not Available. Mon . "Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) power system development: utilizing advanced high performance heat transfer techniques. Final technical progress report, August 1-December 11, 1978". United States. doi:10.2172/5697899. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5697899.
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@article{osti_5697899,
title = {Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) power system development: utilizing advanced high performance heat transfer techniques. Final technical progress report, August 1-December 11, 1978},
author = {Not Available},
abstractNote = {The objectives of the program are: (1) development of a preliminary design for the full-sized power system module to be used in the 100 MWe OTEC Demonstration Plant by 1984 to demonstrate operational performance and to project economic viability; (2) preliminary design for a proof-of-concept 5 MWe (nominal pilot plant, (Test Article); (3) preliminary design for proof-of-concept 1 MWe scaled heat exchangers (Test Articles); and (4) preparation of a Phase II hardware and support plan (proposal) for the scaled test articles. Status of the program is described. (WHK)},
doi = {10.2172/5697899},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Dec 11 00:00:00 EST 1978},
month = {Mon Dec 11 00:00:00 EST 1978}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/5697899
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  • The objective of this project is the development of a preliminary design for a full-sized, closed cycle, ammonia power system module for the 100 MWe OTEC Demonstration Plant. In turn, this Demonstration Plant is to demonstrate, by 1984, the operation and performance of an ocean thermal power plant having sufficiently advanced heat exchanger design to project economic viability for commercial utilization in the late 1980's and beyond. Included in this power system development are the preliminary designs for a proof-of-concept pilot plant and test article heat exchangers which are scaled in such a manner as to support a logically sequential,more » relatively low-cost development of the full-scale power system module. The conceptual designs are presented for the Demonstration Plant power module, the proof-of-concept pilot plant, and for a pair of test article heat exchangers. Costs associated with the design, development, fabrication, checkout, delivery, installation, and operation are included. The accompanying design and producibility studies on the full-scale power system module project the performance/economics for the commercial plant. This section of the report describes the full-size power system module, and summarizes the design parameters and associated costs for the Demonstration Plant module (prototype) and projects costs for commercial plants in production. The material presented is directed primarily toward the surface platform/ship basic reference hull designated for use during conceptual design; however, other containment vessels were considered during the design effort so that the optimum power system would not be unduly influenced or restricted. (WHK)« less

  • ;
    The Power System Development Project, Phase I, is to develop conceptual and preliminary designs utilizing state-of-the-art heat exchanger concepts for (1) the full sized (25 MWe nominal) closed-cycle ammonia power system module for the 100 MWe demonstration plant; and (2) the scaled 5 MWe (nominal) proof-of-concept power system and the 1 MWe heat exchangers (evaporator and condenser), representative of the 25 MWe design. The major issues for conceptual design are: heat exchanger thermal size and material, tube water-side fouling countermeasures, heat transfer enhancement technique, power system module power output size and availability and reliability, internal/external module configurations, and busbar powermore » cost. The salient findings are given.« less

  • ; ; ; ...
    The development of the OSCAR program (OTEC Steady-state and Control System Analysis Routines) to perform dynamic simulations for arbitrarily configured OTEC plants is described. The design goals for OSCAR are presented, and details about the initial plant equipment models are given. These models have two features: relative simplicity but with enough complexity to permit adequate simulation over a wide range of operating conditions. The most significant new work on modeling is for evaporators and condensers, and these results are given in detail. One unit model is not yet included, the turbine model. After presenting the models in some detail, themore » design details established to date for OSCAR are presented. These details show the expected structure of OSCAR and indicate what each part is to do. The design is not yet frozen. The approach represents the next generation of several earlier and existing efforts at designing and implementing simulation systems. As such it has features which generalize many features of earlier designs to make the system easier to implement and use while still giving greater flexibility in use. The appendix presents the more detailed aspects of the evaporator and condenser modeling.« less

  • The primary purpose of the heat transfer testing program was to substantiate the overall heat transfer coefficients being used for OTEC heat exchanger design. The lack of published test data for flat-plate condensation and evaporation of freon under conditions similar to those encountered in an OTEC heat exchanger, mandated that such a program be conducted. Three different test set-ups were developed to obtain data concerning working fluid side film coefficients, water side film coefficients and overall heat transfer coefficients.

  • ; ;
    Materials and processes have been selected and design information obtained for plastic ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) heat exchangers as the result of a program comprising five types of laboratory experiments. Tests to evaluate the chemical resistance of seven commercially available thermoplastics to sea water and several possible working fluids were conducted with emphasis placed on compatibility with ammonia. Environmental rupture tests involving exposure of stressed specimens to sea water or liquid ammonia indicated that the high density polyethylene (HDPE) is the best suited candidate and produced an extrapolated 100,000 hour failure stress of 1060 psi for HDPE. Long termmore » durability tests of extruded HDPE plate-tube panel confirmed that plastic heat transfer surface is mechanically reliable in an OTEC environment. Thermal conductivity measurements of acetylene black filled HDPE indicated that conductivity may be increased by 50% with a 35% by weight filler loading. The permeability coefficient measured for liquid ammonia through HDPE was higher than previous estimates. Test showed that the rate can be significantly reduced by sulfonation of HDPE. A review of biofouling mechanisms revealed that the permeable nature of the plastic heat exchanger surface may be used to control primary biofouling form formation by allowing incorporation of non-toxic organic repellents into the plastic. A preliminary design and fabrication development program suggests that construction of an ammonia condenser test unit is feasible using currently available materials and manufacturing techniques.« less