OCEAN ENERGY

INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION

As we know approximate 70% of Earth is covered with water (ocean and

lakes). This wide area of water absorbs solar radiations and its upper surface is
heated up, it act as a solar collector. This is one of the form of Solar energy and is
known as Ocean Thermal Energy, and the conversion of this ocean thermal energy
into usefull electricity is called ocean thermal energy Conversion process. In short
form it is known as OTEC.

This difference in temperature between upper and lower level of water is

called as temperature gradient. Upper surface of sea can be at least 250C hotter
than the deeper sea water. This temperature gradient can be utilized to generate
electrical power with the help of heat engine.

This is one of the form of solar energy and is known as ocean thermal
energy, and conversion of this ocean energy into usefull electricity is called Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) process. This process of OTEC requires
warm water from surface and cold water from the depth to act as heat source and
heat sink respectively for a heat engine.

HOW DOES OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION CREATE

ELECTRICAL ENERGY?

Easiest way to understand ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is by

looking at the three primary types of OTEC plant: (1) open-cycle, (2) closed-cycle,
and (3) hybrid.

All three plants make use of a “heat engine” – a device placed between deep,
cold ocean water and shallow, warmer water. As heat flows from the warm water
to the cold water, the heat engine uses the energy of the transfer to drive a
generator that creates electricity.

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I. Open-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

(Or Claude Cycle System)

In the open cycle system warm surface water of sea is evaporated in a

chamber which is maintained at high vacuum. Vapours generated in this way are
used to derive low pressure turbine mechanically coupled to generator. The steam
exhausted from the turbine is condensed using cold sea water available in the
depth. Thus no heat exchanger is required. A direct contact between the exhaust
steam and cold water spray makes a heat exchanger. When the ocean water turns to
steam, it leaves behind its salt and other contaminants. The steam is then exposed
to cold ocean water, condensing it into fresh water for drinking or irrigation.

T-S Diagram:

In this T-S diagram warm surface water is at position 1. From 1 to 2 hot

water is admitted in to evaporator. Steam is generated from 2 to 3. From 3 to 5
steams is expanded in the turbine. From 5 to 6 is the process of condensation in

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direct contact condenser. Point 1 is the source temperature of warm water and
point 7 is the sink temperature of deep cold water.

II. Closed-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Warm surface seawater is pumped through a heat exchanger that vaporizes a

fluid with a low boiling point (e.g., ammonia, freon). The expanding vapour turns a
turbo-generator (turbine generator set) to produce electricity. After passing through
the turbine, vapours are condensed by cold sea water. This condensate is pumped
back to the evaporator.

In this system warm water vaporizes ammonia, which after passing through
turbine condensate through cold sea water and then recycled. At all times ammonia
remains in closed cycle and remains in circulation.

Diagram of a closed cycle OTEC plant

III. Hybrid-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

A hybrid cycle combines the features of both the closed-cycle and open-
cycle systems. In a hybrid OTEC system, warm seawater enters a vacuum chamber
where it is flash-evaporated into steam, as in the open-cycle evaporation process.
This steam is used to vaporize the ammonia (working fluid of a closed-cycle loop)
as in the case of closed loop system. The vaporized fluid then drives a turbine to
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produce electricity. The steam condenses within the heat exchanger and provides
desalinated water.

The electricity produced by the system can be delivered to a utility grid or

used to manufacture methanol, hydrogen, refined metals, ammonia, and similar
products.

 HEAT ENGINE

A heat engine performs the conversion of heat energy to work by exploiting

the temperature gradient between a hot "source" and a cold "sink". Heat is
transferred to the sink from the source, and in this process some of the heat is
converted into work. The theoretical maximum efficiency of any heat engine is
defined by the Carnot Cycle. Examples of everyday heat engines include: the
steam engine, the diesel engine, and the gasoline (petrol) engine in an automobile.
All of these familiar heat engines are powered by the expansion of heated gases.
The general surroundings are the heat sink, providing relatively cool gases which
when heated, expand rapidly to drive the mechanical motion of the engine.

 Carnot Cycle

It is the most efficient existing cycle capable of converting a given amount of

thermal energy into work or, conversely, creating a temperature difference (e.g. for
refrigeration) by doing a given amount of work.

Every thermodynamic system exists in a particular thermodynamic state.

When a system is taken through a series of different states and finally returned to
its initial state, a thermodynamic cycle is said to have occurred. In the process of
going through this cycle, the system may perform work on its surroundings,
thereby acting as a heat engine. A system undergoing a Carnot cycle is called a
Carnot heat engine, although such a 'perfect' engine is only theoretical and cannot
be built in practice.

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 The Carnot cycle consists of the following steps:

1. Reversible isothermal expansion of the gas at the "hot" temperature,

TH. During this step, the expanding gas causes the piston to do work on the
surroundings. The gas expansion is driven by absorption of heat from the
high temperature reservoir.
2. Reversible adiabatic expansion of the gas. For this step we assume the
piston and cylinder are thermally insulated, so that no heat is gained or lost.
The gas continues to expand, doing work on the surroundings. The gas
expansion causes it to cool to the "cold" temperature, TC.
3. Reversible isothermal compression of the gas at the "cold" temperature,
TC. Now the surroundings do work on the gas, causing heat to flow out of
the gas to the low temperature reservoir.
4. Reversible adiabatic compression of the gas. Once again we assume the
piston and cylinder are thermally insulated. During this step, the
surroundings do work on the gas, compressing it and causing the
temperature to rise to TH. At this point the gas is in the same state as at the
start of step 1.