Introduction To Thermal Ocean Energy Conversion

Introduction to
Thermal Ocean
Energy
Conversion
The oceans possess vast, untapped sources of thermal energy that
can be harnessed to generate electricity. Thermal Ocean Energy
Conversion (TOEC) is a technology that utilizes the temperature
difference between the warm surface waters and the cold, deep
ocean waters to drive a heat engine and produce clean, renewable
power.
Principles of OTEC
(Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion)
1. OTEC utilizes the temperature difference between the
warm surface waters and the cold deep ocean waters to
generate electricity or produce other useful products like
fresh water.
2. The Rankine cycle is the most common thermodynamic
cycle used in OTEC systems, where a working fluid is
evaporated by the warm surface water and then condensed
by the cold deep water to drive a turbine and generate
electricity.
3. Key design factors for OTEC systems include the
GeeksforGeeks
Key Components of an OTEC System
A typical OTEC system consists of several
crucial components, including a warm
surface water intake, a cold deep-water
intake, a heat exchanger, a turbine, and a
generator. These work together to harness
the temperature difference between the
warm surface water and the cold deep
ocean water to generate electricity.
Types of OTEC
Based on Working Fluid
Open Cycle
Closed Cycle
Seawater plays the role of heat
heat from the seawater is used to
source, working fluid, sink and
vaporize the working fluid.
coolant.
Hybrid Cycle
Historical Development of OTEC Technology
1. The concept of using ocean thermal energy to generate electricity was first proposed in the late 18th century
by French physicist Jacques Arsene d'Arsonval.
2. The first experimental OTEC plant was built in Cuba in 1930 by French engineer Georges Claude, but it only
produced a small amount of power.
3. 🌊 In the 1970s, the oil crisis sparked renewed interest in OTEC, leading to the development of several pilot
plants in places like Hawaii and the Philippines.
Advantages and Disadvantages of OTEC
Advantages Vast Resource Byproducts Disadvantages
OTEC harnesses the The global potential OTEC systems can The high initial capital
temperature difference for OTEC is immense, produce valuable costs and technical
between warm surface as tropical oceans byproducts, such as complexity of OTEC
waters and cold deep contain an abundance fresh water, marine systems can make
waters to generate of warm surface waters biomass, and even them challenging to
electricity, a renewable and cold deep waters, hydrogen, further implement, especially
and sustainable energy providing a vast, enhancing the in developing regions
source. It has a small untapped energy economic and with limited resources.
environmental resource. environmental benefits. Additionally, the
footprint and can remote and offshore
provide a continuous, locations of OTEC
reliable power supply. plants can pose
Site Selection and
Environmental
Considerations
• Ocean Depth
• Distance from the shore
• Temperature Gradient
• optimal capital investment.
Technological Advancements in OTEC
Computer Improved Heat Automated Integrated OTEC

Modeling and Exchangers Maintenance Systems
Simulation
New heat exchanger Advancements in Integrating OTEC with
Sophisticated computer technologies with underwater robotics and complementary
simulations help enhanced thermal sensor technologies technologies like
optimize OTEC system efficiency and durability enable remote desalination and
designs, evaluate have boosted the monitoring and aquaculture maximizes
performance, and performance and autonomous the utilization of thermal
identify areas for viability of OTEC maintenance of OTEC gradients and boosts
Economic Feasibility and
Challenges
1 Cost Considerations
OTEC systems require significant upfront capital investments for
construction, maintenance, and operations, which can impact
economic viability.
2 Energy Efficiency
The thermal efficiency of OTEC systems is relatively low
compared to other renewable energy sources, which can affect
overall cost-effectiveness.
Global OTEC Projects and Initiatives
Hawaii Japan
The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Japan has been a pioneer in OTEC research, with
Authority (NELHA) operates one of the world's projects like the Experimental OTEC Plant on the
largest OTEC research facilities, testing new island of Nauru demonstrating the technology's
technologies and exploring commercial viability. potential.
India France
India's National Institute of Ocean Technology France's Overseas Territories, such as Martinique
(NIOT) has been actively developing OTEC and Reunion Island, have hosted OTEC pilot
systems and exploring deployment opportunities plants, leveraging their tropical environments to
along its tropical coastlines. advance the technology.
Future Prospects and
Research Directions
Exciting advancements in OTEC technology hold immense
promise for the future. Researchers are exploring innovative heat
exchanger designs, turbine improvements, and efficient energy
storage solutions to enhance OTEC's viability and scalability.
Alongside technological breakthroughs, policy initiatives and

international collaborations aim to address the economic and
logistical challenges of OTEC deployment. As costs decrease and
public-private partnerships grow, widespread adoption of this
renewable energy source could transform coastal communities
worldwide.
Tidal Energy:
Harnessing the
Power of the Tides
Tidal energy is a renewable power source that harnesses the

natural rise and fall of tides to generate electricity. This clean,
predictable energy has immense potential to meet growing global
energy demands.
Tidal Energy Applications
Electricity Generation Powering Blue Economy

Tidal energy is primarily used to generate clean, Tidal energy can also support emerging ocean
renewable electricity for the grid. industries like aquaculture and mining.
Reliable Power Environmental Benefits

Tidal energy is more predictable than wind or Tidal energy is a zero-emission renewable
solar, providing consistent power. resource with minimal environmental impact.
Tidal Power Potential Estimation
Garrett and Cummins derived the maximum tidal power that could be obtained from
a small bay connected to a large body of water. They obtained a useful metric for the
power available from the potential energy inside the bay at high tide compared to
low tide. If this energy is released over one tidal cycle, the average rate of power
generation is-
Introducing turbines as a resistance at the mouth of the bay, they derive an

expression for the average power generated by this resistance for a linear
and a quadratic friction law. For linear friction, there is a closed form
solution given by--
where δ1 = r1LAω/(gE)
For quadratic friction, the average power generated takes the form--
where δ2 = r2LA2ω2a/(gE2)
CONTD…
The energy flux 1/2ρu3 can be averaged over the cross section of the bay
entrance and over a tidal period to give--
For the formulation of the Energy Flux over a tidal period , The basic equations
considered here are the 3-dimensional shallow water equations. These equations
are derived from the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations by using the
hydrostatic assumption and the Boussinesq approximation.
For incompressible flows the continuity equation (incompressibility constraint) is
The momentum equation expressed in nonconservative form is

Operation graph of a TPP
Current Tidal Power Plants in India
• Sagar Islands, West Bengal
• Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat
• Diu, Union Territory

Introduction To Thermal Ocean Energy Conversion

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction To Thermal Ocean Energy Conversion

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction To Thermal Ocean Energy Conversion

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction to

Computer Improved Heat Automated Integrated OTEC

Alongside technological breakthroughs, policy initiatives and

Tidal energy is a renewable power source that harnesses the

Electricity Generation Powering Blue Economy

Reliable Power Environmental Benefits

Introducing turbines as a resistance at the mouth of the bay, they derive an

For incompressible flows the continuity equation (incompressibility constraint) is

The momentum equation expressed in nonconservative form is

• Sagar Islands, West Bengal

• Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat

• Diu, Union Territory

You might also like