
French engineer Jacques D’Arsonval was the first to conjure up the idea of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) in 1881. Sadly only one place in the world is actually running a plant using and studying this technology and that is The Natural Energy Laboratory on the island of Hawaii. When energy has to be discussed, the only barrier that can never be avoided in its implementation at the most effective level is the expense. Ocean thermal energy, which has a very clean burning manner compared to any other sources, adds no pollutants into the air. The other stumbling block is the potential damage they can cause on a local level even if they produce little or no pollution.
There are three kinds of OTEC:
The first of these is referred to as ‘closed cycle OTEC’ which requires the use of a gas that has a low boiling point like propane for example. Warm sea water is pumped into the Ocean Thermal Energy Plants reaction chamber which heats up the gas (propane) to the point where it turns into a liquid. Electricity is then generated when the turbine of the engine is pushed by the vapors of the intermediate fluid. Once this process has been completed, the resultant liquid is converted back to it’s gas state by using cold sea water to cool it.
The primary difference between the Closed Cycle and the Open Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion methods is that the Open Cycle doe not require the use of the intermediate liquid. In this kind of OTEC format, the main driver of the engine’s turbine is the sea water itself. 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. To cool down the vapor and create desalinated water for human consumption, the deeper ocean’s cold waters are added to the vapor after it has generated sufficient electricity.
“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. The theory of Hybrid Cycling involves two sub-theories. 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 second part of the theory is the combining of two open cycle plants that can create double the amount of drinking water that one open cycle plant would.
In addition to being used for producing electricity, a closed cycle OTEC plant can be utilized for treating chemicals. 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. We certainly can derive an array of products and services by using this alternative energy source.