Floating ocean thermal power plants and potential products

Conference · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · J. Hydronaut.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6897747

Dugger, G L; Olsen, H L; Shippen, W B; Francis, E J; Avery, W H

An overview is presented of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). Claude's basic open-cycle scheme for OTEC is contrasted with the closed Rankine cycle. Oceans are discussed in relation to natural solar energy collection and thermal storage. A conceptual design is presented for ocean thermal energy conversion. Turbine technology for OTEC applications is discussed. Fabrication and development of the cold-water pipe (CWP) for an OTEC plant will be a challenging engineering/logistics problem. For 100 MWe net power output, a CWP of 12-18 m diameter will be needed to pump approximately 8 million gpm of sea water through the condensers. Approximate costs estimates for power production for OTEC plants are included. The production of ammonia is discussed as being important in the manufacture of fertilizers at a tropical OTEC plant. Other potential products are aluminum, magnesium, and liquid hydrogen fuel. Another possibility would be to ship coal or a carbonate to the platform and use the GH/sub 2/ produced there to make synthetic oil, methane, or methanol.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD
• OSTI ID: 6897747
• Report Number(s): CONF-7504148-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: J. Hydronaut.; (United States) Journal Volume: 9:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090320 -- Inorganic Hydrogen Compound Fuels-- Preparation-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800* -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
AMMONIA
CAPITALIZED COST
COST
DESIGN
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HYDRAULIC TURBINES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MACHINERY
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY