Alternative Energy From The Ocean

OTEC or Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion may sound initially like a new branch of science but in fact it is old - dating back to 1881. However, at the time of this writing the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii is home to the only operating experimental OTEC plant on the face of the earth. The expenditure needed to finance OTEC as a potential alternative energy source demands more serious investigation than ever before. It is difficult to get the costs down to a reasonable level because of the processes presently used to drive OTEC. However, as it presently would need to be set up with our current technologies, OTEC plants would have the capacity for disrupting and perhaps damaging the local environment.

Two date only three forms of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion techniques are available:

Propane which is an example of a low-boiling point liquid is what the “Closed Cycle OTEC” uses to act as an intermediate fluid. The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plant pumps the warm sea water into the reaction chamber and boils the intermediate fluid. rotates large turbines. Cold sea water then reverses the process, reducing the temperature of the liquid, turning it back into a gas.

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. To turn the warmer surface sea water into a low pressure vapor, it is pumped into a vacuum. Despite its low pressure, by employing specialised equipment is able to generate enough pressure to turn the turbines. After the vapor has generated sufficient electricity, the deeper ocean's cold waters are then added and used to produce desalinated water for human consumption and also to cool down the vapors.

“Hybrid Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion” is really just a theory for the time being. It seeks to describe the way that we could make maximum usage of the thermal energy of the ocean's waters. There are actually two sub-theories to the theory of Hybrid Cycling. 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 component is the integration of two open cyclings such that twice the amount of desalinated, potable water is created than with just one open cycle.

Another benefit of the closed cycle plant is to treat chemicals and not just as an energy source. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plants both open cycling and close cycling kinds, are also able to be utilized for pumping up cold deep sea water which can then be used for refrigeration and air conditioning. Furthermore, during the moderation period when the sea water is surrounding the plant, the enclosed area can be used for mariculture and aquaculture projects such as fish farming. This is a energy source that even after all this time is only just starting to be taken seriously and investigate and it is obvious that many benefits can be derived from the oceans this way.