Ocean Thermal Energy

1. Ocean Thermal Energy Mauriana T & Marcus W

2. Description • A marine renewable energy technology that uses the temperatures in the ocean to convert solar radiation into electric power. • OTEC can produce products such as potable water, hydrogen, and ammonia. The cold water can also be used for other commercial products such as water air conditioning and aquaculture • There are three types of OTEC: Closed-Warm surface seawater is pumped through a heat exchanger that vaporizes and the expanding vapor turns a turbo-generator to produce electricity. Open-Warm seawater is placed in a low-pressure container, where it boils. The expanding steam drives a turbine attached to an electrical generator Hybrid-Warm seawater enters a vacuum, where it is flash-evaporated into steam . The heat of the steam vaporizes ammonia, and the vaporized ammonia drives a turbine to produce electricity

3. How It Works • It uses the temperature difference between the deep cold water and warmer surface water to generate electricity. • The device is placed between deep, cold ocean water and shallow, warmer waterand as heat flows from the warm water to the cold water, the heat engine uses the energy to drive a generator that creates electricity.

4. Who would most likely use it and what Regions would benefit • Pacific Islanders would most likely use it • OTEC plants can produce more power where the temperature difference between warm and cold ocean water is greatest. This generally occurs within 20° north and south of the equator, so the tropics regions would benefit.

5. Average Cost For Set Up • It didn’t give an exact price but it said around $50 million and more becausethe initial cost of building power plants makes OTEC generated electricity more expensive than conventional alternatives. • They are not using it because the very high pricing.

6. Pros and Cons