Ocean-thermal plant would be costly but fuel would be free and limitless

Journal Article · Mon Sep 05 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Energy Res. Rep.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7295439

Commercialization of ocean thermal power plants is hampered more by capital costs than by a lack of technology. At twice the cost of a nuclear plant, ocean thermal-energy conversion (OTEC) developers must choose a standard design for power plants, design appropriately sized heat exchangers, and solve corrosion problems. OTEC's potential to utilize an inexhaustible free fuel supply with little environmental impact at a low operating cost will encourage a solution to the problem of capital costs. Based on concepts known since 1881, several companies are pursuing research programs and making feasibility studies with government support. ERDA, for example, is funding an ammonia-drive turbine concept. The diffuse energy in warm water will require efficiences as low as 2.5 to 3 percent, but this will help to minimize environmental effects. Offshore plants could transmit electricity directly to land, while mid-ocean plants could be used to synthesize ammonia for fuel or fertilizer. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7295439
• Journal Information: Energy Res. Rep.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Res. Rep.; (United States) Vol. 3:16; ISSN ERRED
• 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-)
AMMONIA
CAPITAL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMERCIALIZATION
CONVERSION
CORROSION
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FERTILIZERS
FINANCING
FUELS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
PATENTS
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION