Open-Cycle OTEC System Performance Analysis

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5112457· OSTI ID:5112457

An algorithm developed to calculate the performance of Claude-Cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems is described. The algorithm treats each component of the system separately and then interfaces them to form a complete system, allowing a component to be changed without changing the rest of the algorithm. Two components that are subject to change are the evaporator and condenser. For this study we developed mathematical models of a channel-flow evaporator and both a horizontal jet and spray director contact condenser. The algorithm was then programmed to run on SERI's CDC 7600 computer and used to calculate the effect on performance of deaerating the warm and cold water streams before entering the evaporator and condenser, respectively. This study indicates that there is no advantage to removing air from these streams compared with removing the air from the condenser.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 5112457
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-631-692
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
POWER SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
ALGORITHMS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
EVAPORATORS
FLASHING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
TURBINES
VAPOR CONDENSERS
CONDENSERS
CONVERSION
ENERGY CONVERSION
EVAPORATION
MACHINERY
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TURBOMACHINERY
solar energy
ocean thermal energy conversion
open-cycle systems
power systems
systems analysis
algorithms
computer calculations
computer codes
evaporators
flashing
mathematical models
ocean thermal power plants
performance
turbines
vapor condensers
140800* - Solar Energy- Ocean Energy Systems