| Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
| |
| | ocean is turned into a low-pressure vapor
|
| was conceived of by the French engineer
| |
| | under the constraint of a vacuum. The
|
| Jacques D'Arsonval in 1881. However, at
| |
| | low-pressure vapor is released in a
|
| the time of this writing the Natural
| |
| | focused area and it has the power to
|
| Energy Laboratory of Hawaii is home to
| |
| | drive the turbine. To cool down the vapor
|
| the only operating experimental OTEC
| |
| | and create desalinated water for human
|
| plant on the face of the earth. OTEC is a
| |
| | consumption, the deeper ocean's cold
|
| potential alternative energy source that
| |
| | waters are added to the vapor after it
|
| needs to be funded and explored much more
| |
| | has generated sufficient electricity.
|
| than it presently is.
| |
| | Hybrid Cycle OTEC is really just a theory
|
| The great hurdle to get over with OTEC
| |
| | for the time being. It seeks to describe
|
| implementation on a wide and practically
| |
| | the way that we could make maximum usage
|
| useful level is cost. It is difficult to
| |
| | of the thermal energy of the ocean's
|
| get the costs down to a reasonable level
| |
| | waters. There are actually two
|
| because of the processes presently
| |
| | sub-theories to the theory of Hybrid
|
| utilized to drive OTEC. Ocean thermal
| |
| | Cycling. The first involves using a
|
| energy would be very clean burning and
| |
| | closed cycling to generate electricity.
|
| not add pollutants into the air. However,
| |
| | This electricity is in turn used to
|
| as it presently would need to be set up
| |
| | create the vacuum environment needed for
|
| with our current technologies, OTEC
| |
| | open cycling. The second component is the
|
| plants would have the capacity for
| |
| | integration of two open cyclings such
|
| disrupting and perhaps damaging the local
| |
| | that twice the amount of desalinated,
|
| environment.
| |
| | potable water is created than with just
|
| There are three kinds of OTEC.
| |
| | one open cycle.
|
| Closed Cycle OTEC uses a low-boiling
| |
| | In addition to being used for producing
|
| point liquid such as, for example,
| |
| | electricity, a closed cycle OTEC plant
|
| propane to act as an intermediate fluid.
| |
| | can be utilized for treating chemicals.
|
| The OTEC plant pumps the warm sea water
| |
| | OTEC plants, both open cycling and close
|
| into the reaction chamber and boils the
| |
| | cycling kinds, are also able to be
|
| intermediate fluid. This results in the
| |
| | utilized for pumping up cold deep sea
|
| intermediate fluid's vapor pushing the
| |
| | water which can then be used for
|
| turbine of the engine, which thus
| |
| | refrigeration and air conditioning.
|
| generates electricity. The vapor is then
| |
| | Furthermore, during the moderation period
|
| cooled down by putting in cold sea water.
| |
| | when the sea water is surrounding the
|
| Open Cycle OTEC is not that different
| |
| | plant, the enclosed are can be used for
|
| from closed cycling, except in the Open
| |
| | mariculture and aquaculture projects such
|
| Cycle there is no intermediate fluid. The
| |
| | as fish farming. There is clearly quite
|
| sea water itself is the driver of the
| |
| | an array of products and services that we
|
| turbine engine in this OTEC format. Warm
| |
| | could derive from this alternative energy
|
| sea water found on the surface of the
| |
| | source.
|