Open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion system

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863502

Wittig, J Michael ^[1]

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1. West Goshen, PA

An improved open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion system including a flash evaporator for vaporizing relatively warm ocean surface water and an axial flow, elastic fluid turbine having a vertical shaft and axis of rotation. The warm ocean water is transmitted to the evaporator through a first prestressed concrete skirt-conduit structure circumferentially situated about the axis of rotation. The unflashed warm ocean water exits the evaporator through a second prestressed concrete skirt-conduit structure located circumferentially about and radially within the first skirt-conduit structure. The radially inner surface of the second skirt conduit structure constitutes a cylinder which functions as the turbine's outer casing and obviates the need for a conventional outer housing. The turbine includes a radially enlarged disc element attached to the shaft for supporting at least one axial row of radially directed blades through which the steam is expanded. A prestressed concrete inner casing structure of the turbine has upstream and downstream portions respectively situated upstream and downstream from the disc element. The radially outer surfaces of the inner casing portions and radially outer periphery of the axially interposed disc cooperatively form a downwardly radially inwardly tapered surface. An annular steam flowpath of increasing flow area in the downward axial direction is radially bounded by the inner and outer prestressed concrete casing structures. The inner casing portions each include a transversely situated prestressed concrete circular wall for rotatably supporting the turbine shaft and associated structure. The turbine blades are substantially radially coextensive with the steam flowpath and receive steam from the evaporator through an annular array of prestressed concrete stationary vanes which extend between the inner and outer casings to provide structural support therefor and impart a desired flow direction to the steam.

• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-03-1473
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4189647
• OSTI ID: 863502
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

cycle
ocean
thermal
energy
conversion
improved
including
flash
evaporator
vaporizing
relatively
warm
surface
water
axial
flow
elastic
fluid
turbine
vertical
shaft
axis
rotation
transmitted
prestressed
concrete
skirt-conduit
structure
circumferentially
situated
unflashed
exits
located
radially
inner
skirt
conduit
constitutes
cylinder
functions
outer
casing
obviates
conventional
housing
enlarged
disc
element
attached
supporting
row
directed
blades
steam
expanded
upstream
downstream
portions
respectively
surfaces
periphery
axially
interposed
cooperatively
form
downwardly
inwardly
tapered
annular
flowpath
increasing
downward
direction
bounded
structures
transversely
circular
wall
rotatably
associated
substantially
coextensive
receive
array
stationary
vanes
extend
casings
provide
structural
support
impart
desired
rotatably supporting
ocean thermal
skirt-conduit structure
desired flow
annular array
outer casing
ocean water
relatively warm
tapered surface
radially inward
radially inwardly
outer surfaces
structural support
flow direction
outer periphery
turbine blade
outer housing
thermal energy
inner surface
outer surface
energy conversion
turbine blades
radially inner
prestressed concrete
axial direction
axial flow
surface water
steam flow
radially outer
radially directed
annular steam
ocean surface
structure located
vertical shaft
warm ocean
cycle ocean
substantially radial
circular wall
element attached
flash evaporator
stationary vane
associated structure
/290/60/