Open-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) research: progress summary and a design study
In 1980, the Westinghouse Corporation completed an extensive Claude open-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OC-OTEC) system design study. Since that time, the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) has produced concepts and data bases that have reduced the technical uncertainties associated with the evaporator and condenser design and performance, seawater sorption kinetics and gas removal systems, low pressure turbine design with novel materials, and low cost system containment and structural design. This paper describes an integrated system design case study using the improved data base and summarizes an assessment of the relative thermodynamic performance of advanced technologies, drawing parallels with Claude's early work in the 1930s. Projections from these latest advances imply that OC-OTEC systems can be cost effective in sizes less than 10 MW/sub e/. Analyzing the research needs for OC-OTEC systems reveals that an experimental facility integrating all essential components of a system is required. This paper describes a facility for conducting advanced research and verifying cycle feasibility in terms of performance, reliability, and cost. The thermodynamic performance of this integrated design is projected using an analytical system model incorporating the highly coupled component interactions.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst. (SERI), Golden, CO (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 6283690
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-252-2331; CONF-841201-20; ON: DE85000504
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ASME winter annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, 9 Dec 1984; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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