Ocean Thermal Energy

Conversion
Module 1
Prof. Dr. Helmers and Prof. Dr. Bradl
Students: Camila Neves
Yasmini Dopico

Index
The new order
The new sources
The Oceans
The Technology
The Benefits
The Challenge
The World
Brazil
The Environmental Impacts
Bibliography
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

The new order:

Scarcity of
Fossil
Resources
Populatio
n Growth

Growth
in Energy
Demand

Search for
New Sources
of Energy
Increase in
Emission
of
Pollutants

Ocean Thermal Energy

Conversion

The new sources:

Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Geothermal Energy
Hidroelectrical Energy
Oceans Energy
Nuclear Energy
Biomass Energy
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

The Oceans:
70% of the earths surface

60 million km absorb the equivalent heat of 250 billion

barrels of oil per day

If less than 0.01% of the energy was converted, it would feed

more than 20 times the energy consumption per day in the
United States.
Globally, the theoretical potential of EO was estimated more
than 100,000 TWh / year (as a reference, the global
consumption of electricity is about 16,000 TWh / year)
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

Source: Solar Energy Research

Institute

The ocean:

Wave Power: 76
Tidal Power: 48
Salinity Gradient Energy: 3
Ocean Thermal Energy
Convertion: 8
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

The tecnology:
The OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Convertion)
uses the temperature difference between the
hot surface water in tropical areas (26-28 C)
and the cold water from deep water (4-6 C) for
circulating a fluid present in one vertical duct of
at least 1 km in height. The boiling fluid
expands and moves the turbine that converts
the mechanical motion into electricity.

Ocean Thermal Energy

Conversion

Figure 1: Typical vertical

temperature variation with
depth. Source: Xenesys Inc.
Figure 2: Change in the
temperature gradient
between the surface water
and 1 km depth. Source:
Xenesys Inc
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

The system:

Closed
Cycle
Otec

Hybrid
Cycle
Open
Cycle

Ocean Thermal Energy

Conversion

Benefits

The Benefits:

Ocean Thermal Energy

Conversion

Production of
hydrogen, ammonia
and methanol
Production of
electricity
Desalination of
water
refrigeration
Reduction of
emissions from
burning fossil fuels
Availability of
nutrients in surface

The Challenge
The costs of applying this

energy source are too

high and also OTEC
plants have very low
efficiency.
In comparison with the
plants of fossil fuels:
turns around 3-4% X
38% (HINDRICH, 2002).
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

Costs of OTEC Japan Modified:

TAKAHASHI, 1999

The World:
1935
22
BRAZIL

NOWADAYS: 13MW (Hawaii, Guam, Diego Garcia...) x 22,5MW

(China Hydroeletrical power plant)
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

Brazil:

In 1881, Jacques Arsene d'Arsonval was the

first to propose this type of energy. Georges

Claude, a pupil of Jacques d'Arsonval built the
first OTEC plant in the Bay of Matanza in Cuba
(1930). In 1935, Claude constructed another
plant in Brazil OTEC, but both were destroyed
by weather and waves.

Ocean Thermal Energy

Conversion

The Environmental
Impacts:

Removal and
discharge of
water

Water suction
Biocide
treatments
Other potential
impacts
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion

The impacts of the disposal of the large volume of water in

the ocean need further study.
The discharged water is cooler, more dense and rich in
nutrients, other than the receiving waters.
The introduction of more water could cause a nutrient
imbalance in marine biota of the surface
Organisms can be dragged into the suction pipe through the
cold water, which can lead them to death

To keep the efficiency of heat exchangers may be used

biocides such as chlorine, which can lead various organisms
to death and may cause an imbalance.

The electromagnetic field created by wires that conduct

electricity to the coast can affect the navigation and the
behavior of marine organisms.
The presence of the platform and mooring lines can cause
interference in the habitat of organisms.
The noise generated from an OTEC plant can also have an
impact on marine mammals.

Bibliography:
HARVEY, L. D. D. (2010) Energy and the New

Reality 2: Carbon-free Energy Supply.

JADHAV, S. M., KALE, R. G. (2005) OCEAN
THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION in National
Seminar on Alternative Energy Sources VPMs
Polytechnic, Thane.
Solar Energy Research Institute. (November
1989). Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: An
Overview. SERI/SP-220-3024. Golden, CO:
Solar Energy Research Institute; 36 pp.
Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion