Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion – Using the Ocean As an Alternative Source of Energy
October 15th, 2009 |
In 1881, a French engineer named Jacques D’Arsonval envisioned Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion or OTEC. On the other hand, the only known operating experimental OTEC plant was in the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion has the possibility of becoming one of the sources of energy. To achieve its goal OTEC needs the financial support and researches much more than its current state. The main obstacle that hinders the OTEC implementation is the cost. Bringing down the cost to a more reasonable level is not that easy because of the method, which is used to drive OTEC. Ocean thermal energy is considered safe to the environment. It also prevents pollutant into the air. Nevertheless, Ocean thermal Energy Conversion would need to be set of contact with our present technologies because if not, OTEC plants have the ability of disturbing or merely damaging the local environment. There are three types of OTEC such as Closed Cycle OTEC, Open Cycle OTEC and Hybrid Cycle OTEC.
Closed Cycle OTEC utilizes a low-boiling point liquid. An example for this liquid is the propane. Propane works as an intermediate fluid. The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plant drives the temperate seawater into the reaction compartment then boils the intermediate fluid. The outcome of intermediate fluid vapor driving the turbine of the engine is electricity. After which, the vapor is cooled down by placing in cold seawater.
Open Cycle OTEC is almost similar to closed cycling. However, in the Open Cycle it doesn’t use intermediate fluid. Open Cycle OTEC uses seawater to drive off the turbine engine. It uses a vacuum to convert temperate seawater into a low-pressure vapor. The low-pressure vapor is free into a particular area and creating enough power to drive the turbine. To create desalinated water and cool down the vapor, an additional deeper ocean’s cold waters are placed to the vapor after it has created enough electricity.
Lastly the Hybrid Cycle OTEC, however at this moment it is just speculation. Hybrid Cycle explores to illustrate the approach that it is possible to make the utmost usage of the thermal energy from the ocean’s waters. In fact, under the speculation of Hybrid Cycling there are two sub-theories. First, it associates with the use of closed cycling to create electricity. The electricity generated was then used to create the vacuum environment required for Open Cycling. Second, is a combination of two Open Cycling, in order that twice the amount of desalinated or potable water is created in only one Open Cycle.
Furthermore, as a source of electricity, a Closed Cycle OTEC plant has the potential of treating chemicals. On the other hand, OTEC plants, both open cycling and close cycling can be used for driving up cold deep seawater, which later on used for refrigeration and air condition. In addition, when the plant is enclosed by seawater, the surrounding can also be used for mariculture and aquaculture development like fish agriculture. In fact, there are different manufactured goods and services that can be developed from this alternative source of energy.
The author loves to write on complex and interesting subjects like this. He is also interested in other topics such as a Wamsutta Sheet Set. In fact, he only sleeps on Wamsutta Sheets.
