Open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion system structure

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863605

Wittig, J Michael ^[1]

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1. West Goshen, PA

A generally mushroom-shaped, open cycle OTEC system and distilled water producer which has a skirt-conduit structure extending from the enlarged portion of the mushroom to the ocean. The enlarged part of the mushroom houses a toroidal casing flash evaporator which produces steam which expands through a vertical rotor turbine, partially situated in the center of the blossom portion and partially situated in the mushroom's stem portion. Upon expansion through the turbine, the motive steam enters a shell and tube condenser annularly disposed about the rotor axis and axially situated beneath the turbine in the stem portion. Relatively warm ocean water is circulated up through the radially outer skirt-conduit structure entering the evaporator through a radially outer portion thereof, flashing a portion thereof into motive steam, and draining the unflashed portion from the evaporator through a radially inner skirt-conduit structure. Relatively cold cooling water enters the annular condenser through the radially inner edge and travels radially outwardly into a channel situated along the radially outer edge of the condenser. The channel is also included in the radially inner skirt-conduit structure. The cooling water is segregated from the potable, motive steam condensate which can be used for human consumption or other processes requiring high purity water. The expansion energy of the motive steam is partially converted into rotational mechanical energy of the turbine rotor when the steam is expanded through the shaft attached blades. Such mechanical energy drives a generator also included in the enlarged mushroom portion for producing electrical energy. Such power generation equipment arrangement provides a compact power system from which additional benefits may be obtained by fabricating the enclosing equipment, housings and component casings from low density materials, such as prestressed concrete, to permit those casings and housings to also function as a floating support vessel.

• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-03-1473
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4210820
• OSTI ID: 863605
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

cycle
ocean
thermal
energy
conversion
structure
mushroom-shaped
otec
distilled
water
producer
skirt-conduit
extending
enlarged
portion
mushroom
houses
toroidal
casing
flash
evaporator
produces
steam
expands
vertical
rotor
turbine
partially
situated
center
blossom
expansion
motive
enters
shell
tube
condenser
annularly
disposed
axis
axially
beneath
relatively
warm
circulated
radially
outer
entering
flashing
draining
unflashed
inner
cold
cooling
annular
edge
travels
outwardly
channel
included
segregated
potable
condensate
human
consumption
processes
requiring
purity
converted
rotational
mechanical
expanded
shaft
attached
blades
drives
generator
producing
electrical
power
generation
equipment
arrangement
provides
compact
additional
benefits
obtained
fabricating
enclosing
housings
component
casings
density
materials
prestressed
concrete
permit
function
floating
support
vessel
motive steam
annularly disposed
ocean thermal
skirt-conduit structure
ocean water
rotor axis
producing electrical
relatively warm
turbine rotor
arrangement provides
outer portion
cooling water
electrical energy
thermal energy
energy conversion
power generation
radially outwardly
radially outward
radially inner
prestressed concrete
outer edge
radially outer
mechanical energy
additional benefits
relatively cold
warm ocean
inner edge
support vessel
enlarged portion
cycle ocean
distilled water
flash evaporator
compact power
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