BE.

Mechnical Engineering

Module No 5. OCEAN ENERGY

Non Conventional Energy Sources

Introduction to OTEC The oceans cover a little more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface. This makes them the world's largest solar energy collector and energy storage system. On an average day, 60 million squ are kilometers (23 million square miles) of tropical seas absorb an amount of solar radiation equal in heat content to about 250 billion barrels of oil. If less than one -tenth of one percent of this stored solar energy could be converted into electric powe r, it would supply more than 20 times the total amount of electricity consumed in the United States on any given day.

OCEAN ENERGY

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

OTEC, or ocean thermal energy conversion, is an energy technology that converts solar radiation to electric power. OTEC systems use the ocean's natural thermal gradientthe fact that the ocean's layers of water have different temperaturesto drive a power-producing cycle. As long as the temperature between the warm surface water and the cold deep water differs by about 20C (36F), an OTEC system can produce a significant amount of power. The oceans are thus a vast renewable reso urce, with the potential to help us produce billions of watts of electric power. This potential is estimated to be about 10
13

watts of

base load power generation, according to some experts. The cold, deep seawater used in the OTEC process is also rich in n utrients, and it can be used to culture both marine organisms and plant life near the shore or on land. The economics of energy production today have delayed the financing of a permanent, continuously operating OTEC plant. However, OTEC is very promising as an alternative energy resource for tropical island communities that rely heavily on imported fuel. OTEC plants in these markets could provide islanders with much-needed power, as well as desalinated water and a variety of marine culture products.

OCEAN ENERGY

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

Figure: OTEC plant

OCEAN ENERGY

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

What is OTEC? OTEC or Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is an energy technology, which uses the oceans natural temperature gradient to drive a turbine, which is connected to a generator. It is desirable that the temperature difference between the warm surface water and the cold deep water be at least 20 0C (680F).

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC): A system that utilizes the temperature difference between the seawater at the surface and at depths. Closed-cycle OTEC: Uses a working fluid in a closed cycle. Open-cycle OTEC: Uses steam flashed from the warm seawater as the working fluid which is condensed and exhausted.

The Basic Process

OTEC systems rely on the basic relationship between pressure (P), temp erature (T) and volume (V) of a fluid, which can be expressed by the following equation:
PV T

a constant

where pressure, temperature and the volume of a fluid can be Closely controlled by manipulating the other two variables.

Hence the differential in temperature of the fluid can be used to create a n increase in pressure in another. The increase in pressure is utilized to generate mechanical work. There are basically three types of OTEC systems developed that can utilize sea water temperature differentials they are: a closed-cycle, an open-cycle and a hybrid-cycle. Electricity Production
OCEAN ENERGY 5 Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

Two basic OTEC system designs have been demonstrated to generate electricity: Closed cycle and Open cycle. 1. Closed-Cycle OTEC System a. In the closed-cycle OTEC system, warm seawater vaporizes a working fluid, such as ammonia, flowing through a heat exchanger (evaporator). b. The vapor expands at moderate pressures and turns a turbine coupled to a generator that produces electricity. c. The vapor is then condensed in another heat exchanger (condenser) using cold seawater pumped from the ocean's depths through a cold -water pipe. d. The condensed working fluid is pumped back to the evaporator to repeat the cycle. The working fluid remains in a closed system and circulates continuously.

Figure: Closed Cycle OTEC plant

OCEAN ENERGY

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

2. Open-Cycle OTEC System a. In an open-cycle OTEC system, warm seawater is the working fluid. b. The warm seawater is "flash" -evaporated in a vacuum chamber to produce steam at an absolute pressure of about 2.4 kilopascals (kPa). c. The steam expands through a low -pressure turbine that is coupled to a generator to produce electricity.

Figure: Open Cycle OTEC plant d. The steam exiting the turbine is condensed by cold seawater pumped from the ocean's depths through a cold -water pipe. e. If a surface condenser is used in the system, the condensed steam remains separated from the cold seawater and provides a supply of desalinated water.

OCEAN ENERGY

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

3. Hybrid OTEC System

a. A hybrid cycle combines the features of both the closed -cycle and opencycle systems. b. In a hybrid OTEC system, warm seawater enters a vacuum chamber where it is flash-evaporated into steam, which is similar to the open -cycle evaporation process. c. The steam vaporizes the working fluid of a closed -cycle loop on the other side of an ammonia vaporizer.

Figure: Hybrid OTEC plant

d. The vaporized fluid then drives a turbine that produces electricity. e. The steam condenses within the heat exchanger and provides desalinated water.

OCEAN ENERGY

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

PLANT DESIGN AND LOCATION The location of a commercial OTEC plant has to be in an en vironment that is stable enough for an efficient system operation. The temperature differential at the site has to be at least 20 C (68 F). Generally the natural ocean thermal gradient necessary for OTEC operation is found between latitudes 20 degrees nort h and 20 degrees south. Land-based OTEC plants do not require a sophisticated mooring system, lengthy power cables and more extensive maintenance as required with open ocean environment. In addition, the land-based sites allow OTEC to be associated with i ndustries such as agriculture and those needing cooling and desalinated water. The offshore or floating OTEC plant is another option. There are a number of difficulties associated with such a facility as it is difficult to stabilise the platform. The need for lengthy cables to deliver power and extra transportation to access the plant are added expenses. The plant is also more susceptible to damage especially during storms.
0 0

OCEAN ENERGY

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

ADVANTAGES OF OTEC 1. OTEC uses clean, abundant, renewable and natu ral resources to produce electricity. 2. Research indicates that there are little or no adverse environmental effects from discharging the used OTEC water back to the ocean at prescribed depths. 3. As well as producing electricity, OTEC systems can produce fres h water and cold water for agricultural and cooling purposes. 4. The use of OTEC also assists in reducing the dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity.

DISADVANTAGES OF OTEC 1. One of the disadvantages of land -based OTEC plants is the need for a 3 km long cold water pipe to transport the large volumes of deep seawater required from a depth of about 1000 m. The cost associated with the cold water pipe represents 75% of the costs of current plant designs. Studies show that OTEC plants smaller than 50 MW cannot compete economically with other present energy alternatives. A 50 MW plant will require 150 m 3/s of cold water thus, the 3 km long cold water pipeline has to be at least 8 m in diameter. 2. Another disadvantage of a land -based plant would be the di scharging of the cold and warm seawater. This may need to be carried out several hundred metres offshore so as to reach an appropriate depth before discharging the water to avoid any up dwelling impact on coastal fringes (i.e., fish, reef, etc). The arrangement also requires additional expense in the construction and maintenance. 3. To minimise construction costs of the cold water and discharge pipes, a floating OTEC plant could be an option. However, the costs associated with the maintenance and mooring faci lity of such a structure is of significance.

OCEAN ENERGY

10

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

4. Further to the structural needs of the OTEC plant there is also energy required for pumping the sea water from depths of about 1000 m. Meeting the energy requirements for the OTEC plants operation is a factor to be noted as the need to install diesel generators may arise.

OCEAN ENERGY

11

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

Refrigeration and Air -Conditioning The cold [5C (41F)] seawater made available by an OTEC system creates an opportunity to provide large amounts of cooling to ope rations that are related to or close to the plant. Salmon, lobster, abalone, trout, oysters, and clams are not indigenous to tropical waters, but they can be raised in pools created by OTEC pumped water; this will extend the variety of seafood products for nearby markets. Likewise, the low -cost refrigeration provided by the cold seawater can be used to upgrade or maintain the quality of indigenous fish, which tend to deteriorate quickly in warm tropical regions. The cold seawater delivered to an OTEC plant can be used in chilled-water coils to provide air-conditioning for buildings. It is estimated that a pipe 0.3 -meters in diameter can deliver 0.08 cubic meters of water per second. If 6C water is received through such a pipe, it could provide more than eno ugh air-conditioning for a large building. If this system operates 8000 hours per year and local electricity sells for 5-10 per kilowatt-hour, it would save $200,000 -$400,000 in energy bills annually (U.S. DOE 1989).

OCEAN ENERGY

12

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

Mineral Extraction Not yet exploited to its full potential is the opportunity OTEC could provide to mine ocean water for its 57 elements dissolved in solution. In the past, most economic analyses showed that mining the ocean for trace elements dissolved in solution would be unprofit able because so much energy is required to pump the large volume of water needed and because it is so expensive to separate the minerals from seawater. However, because OTEC plants will already be pumping the water economically, the only problem to solve i s the cost of the extraction process. The Japanese recently began investigating the concept of combining the extraction of uranium dissolved in seawater with wave -energy technology. They found that developments in other technologies (especially materials sciences) were improving the viability of mineral extraction processes that employ ocean energy.

OCEAN ENERGY

13

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

Benefits of OTEC We can measure the value of an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant and continued OTEC development by both its economic and non economic benefits. OTEC's economic benefits include these: 1. Helps produce fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol 2. Produces base load electrical energy 3. Produces desalinated water for industrial, agricultural, and residential uses 4. Is a resource for on-shore and near-shore mariculture operations 5. Provides air-conditioning for buildings 6. Provides moderate-temperature refrigeration 7. Has significant potential to provide clean, cost -effective electricity for the future. OTEC's non economic benefit s, which help us achieve global environmental goals, include these: 1. Promotes competitiveness and international trade 2. Enhances energy independence and energy security 3. Promotes international sociopolitical stability 4. Has potential to mitigate greenhouse ga s emissions resulting from burning fossil fuels. In small island nations, the benefits of OTEC include self -sufficiency, minimal environmental impacts, and improved sanitation and nutrition, which result from the greater availability of desalinated water and mariculture products.

OCEAN ENERGY

14

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik

Non Conventional Energy Sources

OCEAN ENERGY

15

Vaibhav Vithoba Naik