Cold water pipe (CWP) model feasibility test. Final report
The current concept in energy extraction from the temperature difference between ocean surface water and deep water, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), requires a lengthy, large-diameter pipe (about 2000 to 3000 feet long) to reach the deep water. The pipe diameter ranges from 6 feet for proposed early test systems, to 60 or even 100 feet for large, commercial power generation systems. The pipe must be designed to resist collapsing pressures produced by water temperature and density differences, and the reduced pressure required to induce flow up the pipe. Other design considerations include the external-drag effect on the pipe due to ocean currents, and the wave-induced motions of the platform to which the pipe is attached. Various approaches to the pipe construction have been proposed, including aluminum, steel, concrete, and fiberglass. More recently, a flexible pipe construction involving the use of rubber-coated nylon fabric has been proposed. The results are presented of a scaled flexible cold water pipe (CWP) model test program performed by Bell to demonstrate the feasibility of this flexible pipe approach. The test program was funded by the Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity (NORDA). A scale model of a length of a CWP was fabricated from lightweight elastomer-coated material, and tested.
- Research Organization:
- Bell Aerospace Textron, New Orleans, LA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5765647
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-101681/5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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MARINE RISERS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
SCALE MODELS
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
LOW TEMPERATURE
NYLON
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
PIPES
RUBBERS
TESTING
CONVERSION
ELASTOMERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
STRUCTURAL MODELS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
140800* - Solar Energy- Ocean Energy Systems