OCEANIC

LAYERED
STRUCTURE
a steep temperature gradient in a body of water
marked by a layer above and below which the
water is at different temperatures.
As depth increases, the ocean water becomes
colder, due to the accumulation of ice-cold water
that has melted from the polar regions.

Because of its higher density, this cold water

flows along the bottom of the ocean from the
poles towards the equator, displacing the lower-
density water above. These two phenomena
provide for a layered oceanic structure in deep,
tropical oceans with a reservoir of warm water at
the surface and a reservoir of cold water deeper
in the ocean.
WORKING
PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPLE: RANKINE CYCLE
First, warm water from the ocean surface is
pumped through a heat exchanger. In the
heat exchanger, the heat that is exchanged
from the seawater to the working fluid
causes the working fluid to vaporize. This
vaporized working fluid is expanded in a
turbine that is connected to a generator that
generates electricity. Thereafter, cold
seawater, pumped through a second heat
exchanger, condenses the vapor into a
liquid, so it can be reused.
working fluid
lower boiling point and a higher vapor
pressure than water should used to power
a turbine that generates electricity.
A typical choice of working fluid is AMMONIA, which
has superior transport properties and is easily available
at low cost. Also, the extensive operational experience
with ammonia in refrigeration systems and its proven
safety record make it the preferred choice of various
working fluids, such as propane and other refrigerants.
The working fluid is contained in a closed
system, at relative low operating pressures
and temperatures. Much lower than in for
instance fossil fuel or nuclear power plants.

Nonetheless, sealing of the

components that contain the working
fluid needs to be taken care of, but
reliable solutions are readily available.
EFFICIENCY
a heat engine gives greater efficiency when run
with a large temperature difference
The temperature difference between the surface
and deep water of the ocean is greatest in
the tropics, although still a modest 20 to 25 C. It is
therefore in the tropics that OTEC offers the
greatest possibilities.
The energy consumption of an OTEC
cycle is dominated by the seawater
pumps. These pumps and other
auxiliary equipment consume roughly
20% of the total electricity produced.
The remaining 80% is net power and
can then be supplied to the grid.
Withdrawal and Discharge Water

10-20 billion gallons of warm surface

water and cold water from depths
around 1000 meters would be used
each day.

The discharged water would be

cooler, denser, and higher in nutrients
because of the differing compositions
of the deep cold water the receiving
waters
Impingement/Entainment
Some organisms would get trapped in the intake screen
(impingement) and organisms small enough to pass through
the intake screen would end up trapped in the system
(entrained).
OTEC systems have cables emitting electromagnetic
fields in the process of bringing the generated
electricity to shore.
The physical platform of
the system could attract or
deter organisms
Biocides
A biocide is defined as a chemical substance or
microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or
exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by
chemical or biological means

OTEC facilities would emit an amount of noise pollution

 If less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all the solar
energy trapped in the oceans could be converted into
electric power , it would supply more than 20 times the
total electricity the United States consumes everyday

15 to 25 times smaller than from fossil-fueled electric

power plants
98 nations and territories with OTEC resources within their nautical
economical zone.

(source: OTEC Foundation)

 Saga, Japan - Xenesys & Saga University,
30 kW - operational since 1980

Gosung, Korea - KRISO - 20 kW,

operational since 2012

Runion Island, France DCNS, 15 kW -

operational since 2012

Kumejima, Japan - Xenesys & Saga

University, 100 KW - operational since
2013

Hawaii, US - Makai Ocean Engineering,

105 kW - operational since 2015
 Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India - DCNS - 20 MW
Bahamas, USA Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation (OTE) 10 MW
Cabangan, Philippines - Bell Pirie Power Corp - 10 MW
Curaao, Kingdom of the Netherlands - Bluerise - 0.5 MW
Hawaii, USA Makai Ocean Engineering 1 MW[26][27][28]
Kumejima, Japan - Xenesys & Saga University - 1 MW
Maldives - Bardot Ocean - 2 MW [29]
Martinique, France Akuoa Energy & DCNS 10,7 MW
Sri Lanka - Bluerise - 10 MW
Tarawa Island, Kiribati [KRISO] 1 MW [33]
US Virgin Islands - Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation (OTE) 8 &
15 MW
 OTEC Zambales is a 10-MW pre-commercial power plant to be sited
ten (10) km off the coast of Zambales, Philippines facing the South
China Sea. 1300 hectares of sea has been awarded by the government
to explore, develop, build and operate a power plant.

The offshore power block will be housed on a ship shaped platform

similar in size to a small tanker. The electricity generated will be
transported to Cabangan via a subsea power cable.

From there 10 km of overhead power cable will deliver the electricity

to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines' transmission
substations (69kV and 230 kV lines) in Botolan, Zambales. These lines
supply the island of Luzon including the urban areas of Manila.

Source: http://bellpirie.com/theproject.html
Source: http://bellpirie.com/theproject.html
Production of clean drinking water
2-megawatt OTEC plant could produce about 4,300 cubic
metres (150,000 cu ft) of desalinated water each day.
Energy efficient air-conditioning of local buildings (also
known as Sea Water Air Conditioning, or SWAC)
cold seawater can be used in combination with Seawater
District Cooling
Agriculture
the cold seawater can be used in agriculture to cool soil or
greenhouses
Aquaculture
cold seawater from the deep ocean is rich in nutrients, such as
phosphates and nitrates and is virtually free of pathogen.