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
WORKING
PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPLE: RANKINE CYCLE
First, warm water from the ocean
surface is pumped through aheat
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
working fluid
lower boiling point and a higher
vapor pressure than water should
used to power aturbinethat
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
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
Nonetheless,
power plants. sealing of the
components that contain the
working fluid needs to be taken
care of, but reliable solutions
are readily available.
EFFICIENCY
aheat enginegives greater
efficiency when run with a
largetemperaturedifference
The temperature difference between the
surface and deep water of the ocean is
greatest in thetropics, although still a
modest 20 to 25C.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.
Environmental
impact
 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 fieldsin the process of
bringing the generated electricity to shore.
Thephysical
platformof the
systemcould
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 ofnoise

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

(source: OTEC Foundation)

 OTEC plants in operation
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
 OTEC plants under development
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
Related
Technologies
Production of clean drinking water
2-megawatt OTEC plant could produce about
4,300 cubic metres (150,000cuft) 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.