Solar Technology Assessment Project. Volume VII. A review of OTEC

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6352430

Yuen, P C

The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) principle is discussed along with general system and cycle types, specific OTEC designs, applications, and the ocean thermal resource. the historic development and present status of OTEC are reviewed. Power system components of the more technically advanced closed-cycle OTEC concept are discussed: heat exchangers, corrosion and biofouling countermeasures, working fluids, ammonia power systems, and on-platform seawater sytems. Several open-cycle features are also discussed. A critical review of the ocean engineering aspects of the OTEC power system is presented. Major subsystems such as platform, cold water pipe, mooring system, dynamic positioning system and 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, and tentative comparisons are made between OTEC and traditional fuel costs. OTEC products and markets are considered. Possible environmental and social effects of OTEC development are discussed. International and national laws regulating OTEC plants are reviewed, specifically, the United Nations Third Conference on the Law of the Sea and the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980. Coast Guard regulations, OSHA laws, and state and local government regulations are also considered as well as attitudes of the utilities. (LEW)

• Research Organization: Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral (USA); Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA). Hawaii Natural Energy Inst.
• DOE Contract Number: FC02-79CS30278
• OSTI ID: 6352430
• Report Number(s): DOE/CS/30278-T6; ON: DE81029008
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800* -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
CABLES
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
CONVERSION
CORROSION PROTECTION
COST
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRIC CABLES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOULING
HEAT EXCHANGERS
LEGAL ASPECTS
MOORINGS
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
PIPES
POSITIONING
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
REVIEWS
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WORKING FLUIDS