DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AJIET, MANGALORE
OTE Power Plant Development
In 1882, D'Arsonval suggested that it is possible generate power based on the ocean thermal
energy, by utilising the energy in the warm surface water of the ocean and rejecting heat to the
colder water of the lower layer.
The first attempt to utilize the OTE was made in 1926 by G. Claude, a French scientist. He
constructed a 40 kW land-based OTEC power plant near Cuba. In his plant, a part of the warm
surface water was converted into steam in a low-pressure flash evaporator operating at a high
vacuum. In the flash evaporating process, sensible (heat) energy in the water gets converted
into latent energy. The steam produced in the evaporator was expanded in a turbine and
subsequently condensed by direct contact with the cold sea water piped from the lower layer
in the ocean.
However, Claude's system to utilize the OTE for power generation was not successful, mainly
due to reasons like corrosive nature of the sea water (corrosion resistance materials were
expensive), the pressure was low as water was evaporated at low temperature, high pumping
work required for operations, requirement of very large turbine, and conveying the cold sea-
water to the power plant over a long distance.
Thus, Claude's experiment demonstrated that the OTE power plant will inherently require
large components, have a relatively low power output, and operate at a high vacuum when the
working fluid is water.
Ocean Thermal Power Conversion (OTEC)
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is an energy technology, which uses the ocean‘s natural
temperature gradient to drive a turbine, which is connected to a generator.
It is desirable that the temperature difference between the warm surface water and the cold
deep water be at least 20 ℃(68 F).
The Basic Process
PV = RT
Working cycle - Rankine cycle
Where pressure, temperature and the volume of a fluid can be closely controlled by
manipulating the other two variables
Hence the differential in temperature of the fluid can be used to create an increase in pressure
in another. The increase in pressure is utilised to generate mechanical work. The most
commonly used heat cycle for OTEC to date is the Rankine cycle, using a low-pressure turbine
ENERGY ENGINEERING MODULE 4 NOTES
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AJIET, MANGALORE
Rankine cycle
Pump: Compression of the fluid to high pressure using a pump (this takes work) (Figure 2:
Steps 1 to 2)
Boiler: The compressed fluid is heated to the final temperature (which is at boiling point),
therefore, a phase change occurs—from liquid to vapor. (Figure 2: Steps 2 to 3)
Turbine: Expansion of the vapor in the turbine. (Figure 2: Steps 3 to 4)
Condenser: Condensation of the vapor in the condenser (where the waste heat goes to the
final heat sink (the atmosphere or a large body of water (ex. lake or river). (Figure 2: Steps 4
to 1).
Ocean Thermal Power Conversion (OTEC) types
1. Closed-cycle
2. Open-cycle
3. Hybrid-cycle
ENERGY ENGINEERING MODULE 4 NOTES
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AJIET, MANGALORE
Closed-cycle OTEC System or Anderson Cycle
The closed-cycle system uses a working fluid, such as ammonia/freon, pumped around a closed
loop,It has three components: a pump, turbine and a pair of heat exchanger (evaporator and
condenser). Warm seawater passing through the evaporator converting the ammonia/freon
liquid into high-pressure ammonia/freon vapour.
The high pressure vapour is then fed into an expander where it passes through and rotates a
turbine connected to a generator. Low-pressure ammonia/freon vapour leaving the turbine is
passed through a condenser, where the cold seawater cools the ammonia/freon, returning the
ammonia/freon back into a liquid
Open-Cycle OTEC System or Claude Cycle
ENERGY ENGINEERING MODULE 4 NOTES
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AJIET, MANGALORE
The open-cycle system is generally similar to the closed-cycle system and uses the same basic
components. The open-cycle system uses the warm seawater as the working fluid. The warm
seawater passing through the evaporator is converted to steam, which drives the
turbine/generator. After leaving the turbine, the steam is cooled by the cold seawater to form
desalinated water. The desalinated water is pure fresh water for domestic and commercial use.
Advantages of OTEC
1. OTEC uses clean, renewable, natural resources. Warm surface seawater and cold water
from the ocean depths replace fossil fuels to produce electricity.
2. Suitably designed OTEC plants will produce little or no carbon dioxide or other polluting
chemicals.
3. OTEC systems can produce fresh water as well as electricity. This is a significant
advantage in island areas where fresh water is limited.
4. There is enough solar energy received and stored in the warm tropical ocean surface layer
to provide most, if not all, of present human energy needs.
5. The use of OTEC as a source of electricity will help reduce the state's almost complete
dependence on imported fossil fuels
Disadvantages of OTEC
1. OTEC-produced electricity at present would cost more than electricity generated from
fossil fuels at their current costs.
2. OTEC plants must be located where a difference of about 20º C occurs year round. Ocean
depths must be available fairly close to shore-based facilities for economic operation.
Floating plant ships could provide more flexibility.
3. No energy company will put money in this project because it only had been tested in a
very small scale.
4. The power developed is not continuous.
5. Transmission costs are high.
ENERGY ENGINEERING MODULE 4 NOTES
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AJIET, MANGALORE
6. Cost per unit of power generated is high.
7. Sea water corrosion problem is severe.
Problems Encountered in Harnessing OTE
1) The sea water is more corrosive, thus the life of the plant is less.
2) The water can be evaporated (in a flash evaporator) at low temperatures only, thus the
corresponding pressure is low, thus only smaller outputs are possible.
3) Much pumping work is required to remove the non- condensable gases.
4) The specific volume is more due to low pressure and temperature. This necessitates a large
turbine.
5) The plants have to be based at lands, some distance away from the OTE source. This
requires long pipelines to convey cold sea water to the power plant.
6) Due to low output and large components the cost of the OTE power plant is high.
7) The plant requires expensive and large size structures for installation and operation.
Theory Question Bank
1. How hydel plants are classified?Explain Pumped hydro storage with neat sketch(DEC
2018/JAN 2019, FEB/MARCH 2022)
2. Define i. Hydro graph ii. Flow Duration Curve [Link] tank (DEC 2018/JAN 2019)
3. Classify hydroelectric power plants
4. Explain the necessity of using components like surge tanks, gates and valves in hydel
power station(DEC 2019/JAN 2020)
5. With a neat sketch explain pumped storage plant (JUNE/JULY 2019)
6. With a neat sketch explain closed cycle OTEC System(Anderson cycle)(JUNE/JULY
2019)
ENERGY ENGINEERING MODULE 4 NOTES