Energy Savers: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Alternative Energy from the Ocean
Although by modern standards ‘Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion’ is relatively old, it was discovered back in the late 19th century, it is still relatively unknown and a barely used branch of energy generation. Despite how old it is, the only operational plant on the planet (at the time of writing) is in Hawaii. OTEC is a potential alternative energy source that needs to be funded and explored much more than it presently is but it is the expense that is the greatest problem. The financial support needed to implement this should not be limited to how cheaply it can be done as the processes presently utilised to drive OTEC call for a realistic evaluation. However, as it presently would need to be set up with our current technologies, OTEC plants would have the capacity for disrupting and perhaps damaging the local environment. Earth4energy gives detailed explanations about how money is saved not just for the present but for a lifetime, and the time spent in setting up the unit turns out be an informative, enlightening experience, that makes an engineer out of everyone.
Three types of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion exist:
Propane which is an example of a low-boiling point liquid is what the “Closed Cycle OTEC” uses to act as an intermediate fluid. The intermediate fluid is boiled after the warm sea water is pumped by the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plant into the reaction chamber. Electricity is then generated when the turbine of the engine is pushed by the vapors of the intermediate fluid. Cold sea water is then used to cool down the vapor.
When the ‘Open Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy’ system is used it is similar to it’s cousin the Closed Cycle except that no gas to form the intermediate liquid is present. With this method it is just the pressure of the sea that turns the turbines. Warm sea water found on the surface of the ocean is turned into a low-pressure vapor under the constraint of a vacuum. By cleverly releasing this vapor into a highly focused area, it is possible for it to pump the rotate the turbines. After the vapor has generated sufficient electricity, the deeper ocean’s cold waters are then added and used to produce desalinated water for human consumption and also to cool down the vapors.
“Hybrid Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion” is really just a theory for the time being. The theory attempts to explain how we can utilise the worlds oceans to provide energy for the planet. Two sub-theories are actually contained in the theory of Hybrid Cycling. Of the theories involved, the first one discusses the use of a closed cycling which will then be the way to create the vacuum environment needed for open cycling to generate electricity. The incorporation of two open cyclings which can produce twice the amount of desalinated, potable water as compared to that of just one open cycle is the main concept of the second component.
Another benefit of the closed cycle plant is to treat chemicals and not just as an energy source. Moreover, refrigeration and air conditioning are other areas to which the used of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plants with both open cycling and close cycling kinds can be very beneficial by pumping up cold deep sea water. In addition, the enclosed area filled with sea water that surrounds the plant during the moderation period can be used for mariculture and aquaculture projects such as fish farming. This is a energy source that even after all this time is only just starting to be taken seriously and investigate and it is obvious that many benefits can be derived from the oceans this way.
