Otec
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
Abstract
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), to me, is the developing worlds answer to OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). We will no longer have to depend on oil supplies from other countries. OTEC is an efficient, clean process, which utilizes the difference in temperatures between the oceans surface and its depths to produce energy. The ocean thermal energy conversion process works something like a refrigerator in reverse. The warm surface waters vaporize a refrigerant and the vapour is then used to drive a turbine. The refrigerant vapour is then condensed back into a liquid after being cooled by cold water brought up from the ocean depths. This technology is best applied in the tropics like India, because the sun heats the ocean surface to comparably high temperatures, creating the highest temperature differentials between surface and depths, which translates into the largest potentials of energy production. This paper describes the status of the various ocean thermal energy technologies, with emphasis placed on those with a near-term potential and applicability in large numbers.
1. Introduction
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology is based on the principle that energy can be extracted from two reservoirs at different temperatures. A temperature difference as low as 20°C can be exploited effectively to produce usable energy. Temperature differences of this magnitude prevail between ocean waters at the surface and at depths up to 1000 meters in many areas of the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical latitudes between 24 degrees north and south of equator. This thermal gradient—the fact that the ocean 's layers of water have different temperatures—is effectively used to drive a power-producing cycle. The oceans are thus a vast renewable resource, with the potential to help us produce billions of watts of electric power. This potential is estimated to be about 1013
Abstract
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), to me, is the developing worlds answer to OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). We will no longer have to depend on oil supplies from other countries. OTEC is an efficient, clean process, which utilizes the difference in temperatures between the oceans surface and its depths to produce energy. The ocean thermal energy conversion process works something like a refrigerator in reverse. The warm surface waters vaporize a refrigerant and the vapour is then used to drive a turbine. The refrigerant vapour is then condensed back into a liquid after being cooled by cold water brought up from the ocean depths. This technology is best applied in the tropics like India, because the sun heats the ocean surface to comparably high temperatures, creating the highest temperature differentials between surface and depths, which translates into the largest potentials of energy production. This paper describes the status of the various ocean thermal energy technologies, with emphasis placed on those with a near-term potential and applicability in large numbers.
1. Introduction
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology is based on the principle that energy can be extracted from two reservoirs at different temperatures. A temperature difference as low as 20°C can be exploited effectively to produce usable energy. Temperature differences of this magnitude prevail between ocean waters at the surface and at depths up to 1000 meters in many areas of the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical latitudes between 24 degrees north and south of equator. This thermal gradient—the fact that the ocean 's layers of water have different temperatures—is effectively used to drive a power-producing cycle. The oceans are thus a vast renewable resource, with the potential to help us produce billions of watts of electric power. This potential is estimated to be about 1013
References: 1. Website www.wikipedia.com under title heading “OTEC” [Brief Overview] 2. Website www.google.com under search keyword “OTEC + cycle + papers” [Original Technical Papers of above mentioned scientists]