OTEC POWER PLANT

ABSTRACT Oceans cover more than 70% of earths surface, making them the worlds largest solar collectors. The suns heat warms the surface of water a lot more than the deep ocean water and this temperature difference creates thermal energy. Ocean can produce two types of energy: thermal energy from the suns heat and mechanical energy from the tides and waves. Ocean thermal energy is used for many applications including electricity generation.

In a solar enhanced ocean thermal energy conversion power plant (Solar & OTEC) the temperature of working fluid is increased by using solar collectors placed in between the evaporator and turbine which increases the efficiency when compared to conventional OTEC power plant. Here a novel solution for improving the operating time of solar enhanced OTEC power plant during the low-sunshine hours, especially during night time is proposed. Design of an effective heat storage media is proposed in which the heat is stored during daytime in the form of latent heat of phase change materials for use during low sunshine hours.

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

OTEC or Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is an energy technology that converts solar radiation to electric power. OTEC systems use the ocean's natural thermal gradientthe fact that the ocean's layers of water have different temperatures to drive a power producing cycle. As long as the temperature between the warm surface water and the cold deep water differs by about 20C (36F), an OTEC system can produce a significant amount of power, with little impact on the surrounding environment. The distinctive feature of OTEC energy systems is that the end products include not only energy in the form of electricity, but several other synergistic products. The principle design objective was to minimize plan cost by minimizing plant mass, and taking maximum advantage of minimal warm and cold water flows. Power is converted to high voltage DC, and is cabled to shore for conversion to AC and integration into the local power distribution network. The oceans are thus a vast renewable resource, with the potential to help us produce billions of watts of electric power.

1.1 Ocean Energy

Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth's surface, making them the world's largest solar collectors. The sun's heat warms the surface water a lot more than the deep ocean water, and this temperature difference creates thermal energy. Just a small portion of the heat trapped in the ocean could power the world. Most people have been witness to the awesome power of the world's oceans. For least a thousand years, scientists and inventors have watched ocean waves explode against coastal shores, felt the pull of ocean tides, and dreamed of harnessing these forces. But it's only been in the last century that scientists and engineers have begun to look at capturing ocean energy to make electricity. The ocean can produce two types of energy: thermal energy from the sun's heat, and mechanical energy from the tides and waves. Ocean thermal energy is used for many applications, including electricity generation. Ocean mechanical energy is quite different from ocean thermal energy.

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Even though the sun affects all ocean activity, tides are driven primarily by the gravitational pull of the moon, and waves are driven primarily by the winds. As a result, tides and waves are sporadic sources of energy, while ocean thermal energy is fairly constant. Also, unlike thermal energy, the electricity conversion of both tidal and wave energy usually involves mechanical devices.

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CHAPTER 2 OCEANTHERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION

OTEC or Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a process which utilizes the heat energy stored in the tropical ocean. The world's oceans serve as a huge collector of heat energy. OTEC plants utilize the difference in temperature between warm surface sea water and cold deep sea water to produce electricity. Thermal energy conversion is an energy technology that converts solar radiation to electric power. OTEC systems use the ocean's natural thermal gradientthe fact that the ocean's layers of water have different temperaturesto drive a power-producing cycle. As long as the temperature between the warm surface water and the cold deep water differs by about 20C, an OTEC system can produce a significant amount of power. The oceans are thus a vast renewable resource, with the potential to help us produce billions of watts of electric power. This potential is estimated to be about 1013 watts of base load power generation, according to some experts. The cold, deep seawater used in the OTEC process is also rich in nutrients, and it can be used to culture both marine organisms and plant life near the shore or on land. OTEC produce steady, base-load electricity, fresh water, and air-conditioning options.

Fig 2.1: Ocean thermal energy conversion

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OTEC requires a temperature difference of about 36 deg F (20 deg C). This temperature difference exists between the surface and deep seawater year round throughout the tropical regions of the world. To produce electricity, we either use a working fluid with a low boiling point (e.g. ammonia) or warm surface sea water, or turn it to vapor by heating it up with warm sea water (ammonia) or de-pressurizing warm seawater. The pressure of the expanding vapour turns a turbine and produces electricity.

2.1 Plant Design and Location Commercial OTEC facilities can be built on Land or near the shore Platforms attached to the shelf Moorings or free-floating facilities in deep ocean water

Land-based and near-shore are more advantageous than the other two. OTEC plants can be mounted to the continental shelf at depths up to 100 meters, however may make shelf-mounted facilities less desirable and more expensive than their land-based counterparts. Floating OTEC facilities with a large power capacity, but has the difficulty of stabilizing and of mooring it in very deep water may create problems with power delivery. Commercial ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plants must be located in an environment that is stable enough for efficient system operation. The temperature of the warm surface seawater must differ about 20C (36F) from that of the cold deep water that is no more than about 1000 meters (3280 feet) below the surface. The natural ocean thermal gradient necessary for OTEC operation is generally found between latitudes 20 deg N and 20 deg S.

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CHAPTER 3 TYPES OF ELECTRICITY CONVERSION SYSTEMS

There are three types of electricity conversion systems: closed-cycle, open-cycle, and hybrid. Closed-cycle systems use the ocean's warm surface water to vaporize a working fluid, which has a low-boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapor expands and turns a turbine. The turbine then activates a generator to produce electricity. Open-cycle systems actually boil the seawater by operating at low pressures. This produces steam that passes through a turbine/generator. And hybrid systems combine both closed-cycle and open-cycle systems.

3.1 Closed-Cycle OTEC In the closed-cycle OTEC system, warm sea water vaporizes a working fluid, such as ammonia, flowing through a heat exchanger (evaporator). The vapor expands at moderate pressures and turns a turbine coupled to a generator that produces electricity. The vapor is then condensed in heat exchanger (condenser) using cold seawater pumped from the ocean's depths through a coldwater pipe. The condensed working fluid is pumped back to the evaporator to repeat the cycle. The working fluid remains in a closed system and circulates continuously.

Fig 3.1: Closed cycle OTEC

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The heat exchangers (evaporator and condenser) are a large and crucial component of the closedcycle power plant, both in terms of actual size and capital cost. Much of the work has been performed on alternative materials for OTEC heat exchangers, leading to the recent conclusion that inexpensive aluminum alloys may work as well as much more expensive titanium for this purpose.

3.2 Open-Cycle OTEC The open cycle consists of the following steps: (i) flash evaporation of a fraction of the warm seawater by reduction of pressure below the saturation value corresponding to its temperature (ii) expansion of the vapor through a turbine to generate power; (iii) heat transfer to the cold seawater thermal sink resulting in condensation of the working fluid; and (iv) compression of the non-condensable gases (air released from the seawater streams at the low operating pressure) to pressures required to discharge them from the system .

Fig 3.2: Open cycle OTEC

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3.3 Hybrid OTEC System Another option is to combine the two processes together into an open-cycle/closed-cycle hybrid, which might produce both electricity and desalinated water more efficiently. In a hybrid OTEC system, warm seawater might enter a vacuum where it would be flash-evaporated into steam, in a similar fashion to the open-cycle evaporation process.

Fig 3.3: Hybrid OTEC System

The steam or the warm water might then pass through an evaporator to vaporize the working fluid of a closed-cycle loop. The vaporized fluid would then drive a turbine to produce electricity, while the steam would be condensed within the condenser to produced desalinated water

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CHAPTER 4 A NOVEL IMPROVEMENT TO SOLAR ENHANCED OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION POWER PLANT

4.1 Operation during Low Sunshine Hours

In a closed cycle OTEC power plant, the working fluid exchanges the heat at the evaporator which expands over the turbine with an overall generating efficiency of 2-3%. If the temperature of the working fluid is enhanced by using an intermediate low cost evacuated tube type solar collectors, it is found that the thermal efficiency is increased to 12-15% .But during off-sunshine hours ( night time) the effect of solar enhancement becomes negligible since there is no effective solar radiation available. Due to this there is a decline in the temperature of the working fluid (NH3) which reduces its efficiency as well as its operating time drastically. This limitation can be overcome by having a heat storage media which stores heat during day time. This stored heat can be efficiently utilized during night time. One of the efficient methods for storing heat is in the form of latent heat, in which heat is stored at a constant temperature. The materials employing this latent heat storage phenomenon are known as phase change materials. These phase change materials are specifically designed for heat storage with a flexible range of melting points and latent heat which are available for all kinds of heat storage applications.

4.2 Heat storage

There are many methods by which heat can be stored. It can be stored by increasing the temperature of a material i.e. in the form of sensible heat , or it can be stored at a constant temperature i.e. in the form latent heat. The use of sensible heat storage is not advisable when temperature in the system is to be maintained constant. In this application, latent heat storage is preferred since the temperature of the working fluid is to be maintained constant. Apart from this, heat can also be stored by hindering the natural convection process, or it can also be stored in the crushed rocks. But these heat storage methods are not as effective as compared to latent

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heat storage since the quantitative amount of heat stored using these methods is much less than the heat stored using the phenomenon of latent heat. The latent heat storage occurs with a phase change or transition, and the materials employing this latent heat storage with a phase change are termed as phase change materials. Phase change materials have high heat of fusion which is favourable for any kind of heat storage applications. Phase change materials ( PCMs ) have three types of phase transitions i.e. from solid to liquid, liquid to gas or solid to gas and vice versa. Solid to liquid phase transition is preferred since liquid-gas phase transitions are not suitable for use in thermal storage due to the large volumes or high pressures required to store the materials when they are in their gaseous phase. A separate PCM heat storage unit is integrated with this solar enhanced OTEC power plant where it stores the heat during day time and acts as a heat reservoir for the operation of the plant during low sunshine hours i.e. especially during night time.

4.3 Solar Enhanced OTEC With PCM Module

Fig 4.1 Solar Enhanced OTEC with PCM

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Fig 4.1 shows the improved design of an ordinary solar enhanced OTEC plant for its working in low sunshine hours. The working fluid in this modified process is taken as ammonia. During daytime, With the intake of the hot surface water from the ocean above the thermocline into the evaporator (exchanger)with valves 3, 4, 7, 6 closed and 1,2, 5 ,8open, the ammonia in the closed cycle exchanges the heat at the evaporator from the surface water and is raised to a temperature of 30-35C. The temperature of ammonia is further increased by 15-20C by using a low cost evacuated tube or flat plate solar collector array in order to increase its efficiency. This is then expanded over the turbine and is condensed back to the original operating pressure and temperature using a surface condenser. The cold water in the condenser is taken below the thermocline where the temperature is from 5-8C. Simultaneously, the PCM unit gets thermally charged up directly to a temperature of 45-55C by using a simple parabolic trough collector. The charging fluid (NH3) pumping costs can be reduced to certain extent by having a simple solar stirling engine pump in parallel with the parabolic trough. During night time or low sunshine hours, the effect of solar collector ceases causing a decline in working fluid temperature and hence the efficiency. At this stage, with valves 3, 4, 6, 7 open and 1, 2, 5, 8, valve at the outlet of solar collector closed, the working fluid is pumped to the PCM module which regains heat from the storage unit so that it reaches its workable heat content and temperature. This is then expanded over the turbine which is coupled to the generator. Thus by storing adequate amount of heat during daytime, the plant is made to run for a longer time during night-time. 4.4Comparative Analysis of PCMs to be Employed PCMs are of three types i.e. organic, inorganic and eutectics. Organic PCMs are classified into paraffins, non paraffins and fatty acids. Inorganic paraffins are classified into salt hydrates and metal hydrates. Eutectics are the combination of organic and inorganic. Organic paraffins have the advantage of high heat of fusion and better chemical stability but they have low thermal conductivity at solid phase and are bit costly for usage. Non paraffins have a no. of advantages over paraffins like sharper phase change but are highly inflammable. Inorganic salt hydrates have very flexible melting points and latent heat of fusion. Since these salt hydrates contain water of
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crystallization, repeated phase transitions causes segregation which makes them inoperative for further use. Inorganic metallic compounds have very high melting point which makes them inappropriate for the proposed design. Eutectics have the combined properties of organic and inorganic PCMs and have a sharper melting point similar to a pure substance.

4.5 A Detailed study to Select the Suitable PCMs for the Heat Storage Module Table 4.1: Organic PCMs: Paraffins

Material n-Teracosane n-Hexacosane n-Pentacosane n-Heptacosane

Melting Point C 51 56.3 54 59

Latent heat kJ/kg 255 255 238 236

Table 4.2: Organic PCMs: Non Paraffins

Material Methyl behenate Methyl Eicosanate 9-Heptadecanone Bee wax

Melting Point C 52 45 51 61.8

Latent heat kJ/kg 234 230 213 177

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Table 4.3: Inorganic PCMs: Salt hydrates Material LiC2H3O2.2H2O Melting Point C 58 Latent heat kJ/kg 251-377

CH3COONa.3H2O

58

270-290

Na2S2O3 .5H2O

48

209

MgSO4.7H2O

48.4

202

Fe(NO3)3 .9H2O

47

155-190

Na(NO3)2 .6H2O

53

158

Table 4.4: Eutectics Material Composition w% Melting Point V Mg(NO3)2.6H2O + NH4NO3 61.5+38.4 52 Latent heat kJ/kg 125.5

Mg(NO3)2.6H2O+MgCl2.6H2O

58.7+41.3

59

132.2

Mg(NO3)2.6H2O+Al(NO3)2.9H2O

53+47

61

148

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Since eutectics have the combined properties organic and inorganic materials, and the tendency to segregate is almost zero. And since it has volumetric storage density above organic PCMs, the employability of eutectics in the present proposed design is preferred. These are the materials which can be employed for the latent heat storage with respect to the working fluid taken. To be more precise, These PCMs are available commercially with their commercial names manufactured by different manufacturers. There are various manufacturers for example, TEAP, EPS Ltd, Witco, Rubitherm, Climator, Cristopia Mitsubishi chemical.

Table 4.5: Commercially available PCM

Name

Melting Point C

Latent heat Manufacturer kJ/kg 324 242 Climator Mitsubishi Chemical

C 48 STL 55

48 55

STL 47

47

221

Mitsubishi Chemical

E 58 RT 54 RT 42 RT 54

58 54 42 54

226 179 174 135

EPS Ltd Rubitherm Rubitherm Rubitherm

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4.6 PCM HEAT EXCHANGER MODULE After selecting the suitable PCM from the comparative analysis done above, a modified version of straight tube PCM heat exchanger module is developed. Though many encapsulation techniques are developed, here PCM is encapsulated within long cylindrical capsules sealed from both the ends.

Fig. 4.1: PCM Heat exchanger module There will be a large no. of cylindrical PCM capsules in which each capsule is separated with a minimal distance for the passage of working/charging fluid ammonia as shown in fig.7. The capsules are designed with a least possible diameter so that it leads for a better thermal conductivity and better heat distribution in the working fluid. Each modified straight tube PCM heat exchanger module is thermally insulated to avoid any heat loss.

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Since the heat is to be utilized all along the night-time, a large quantity of heat is to be stored during the day time. For this large heat demand, a no. of PCM heat storage modules are required. These PCM modules will be connected to end to end successively to meet the heat storage demand. The need for connecting them successively is, when the heat capacity of one of the module decreases, the net required heat will be balanced with the latter connected heat storage module.

Fig.4.2: PCM Heat exchanger module Fig.7 shows the end to end connection of a 2- module PCM heat exchanger. We can have a Nmodule PCM heat exchanger where N is to be chosen according to the heat storage demand.

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CHAPTER 5
BENEFITS OF OTEC We can measure the value of an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant and continued OTEC development by both its economic and no economic benefits. OTECs economic benefits include the: Helps produce fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol Produces base load electrical energy Produces desalinated water for industrial, agricultural, and residential uses Is a resource for on-shore and near-shore Mari culture operations Provides air-conditioning for buildings Provides moderate-temperature refrigeration Has significant potential to provide clean, cost-effective electricity for the future. Fresh Water-- up to 5 liters for every 1000 liters of cold seawater. Food--Aquaculture products can be cultivated in discharge water.

OTECs number of economic benefits helps us achieve global environmental goals, include these: Promotes competitiveness and international trade Enhances energy independence and energy security Promotes international sociopolitical stability Has potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions resulting from burning fossil fuels.

In small island nations, the benefits of OTEC include self-sufficiency, minimal environmental impacts, and improved sanitation and nutrition, which result from the greater availability of desalinated water and Mari culture products. 5.1. Disadvantages

OTEC plant construction and operation may affect commercial and recreational fishing. Fish will be attracted to the plant, potentially increasing fishing in the area. Enhanced productivity due to redistribution of nutrients may improve fishing. However, the losses of inshore fish eggs
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and larvae, as well as juvenile fish, due to impingement and entrainment and to the discharge of biocides may reduce fish populations. The net effect of OTEC operation on aquatic life will depend on the balance achieved between these two effects. Other risks associated with the OTEC power system are the safety issues associated with steam electric power generation plants: electrical hazards, rotating machinery, use of compressed gases, heavy material-handling equipment, and shop and maintenance hazards. 5.2. Applications Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems have many applications or uses. OTEC can be used to generate electricity, desalinate water, support deep-water Mari culture, and provide refrigeration and air-conditioning as well as aid in crop growth and mineral extraction. These complementary products make OTEC systems attractive to industry and island communities even if the price of oil remains low.The electricity produced by the system can be delivered to a utility grid or used to manufacture methanol, hydrogen, refined metals, ammonia, and similar products. The cold [5C (41F)] seawater made available by an OTEC system creates an opportunity to provide large amounts of cooling to operations that are related to or close to the plant. Likewise, the low-cost refrigeration provided by the cold seawater can be used to upgrade or maintain the quality of indigenous fish, which tend to deteriorate quickly in warm tropical regions. The developments in other technologies (especially materials sciences) were improving the viability of mineral extraction processes that employ ocean energy.

5.3. Economic consideration

The economics of energy production today have delayed the financing of a permanent, continuously operating OTEC plant. However, OTEC is very promising as an alternative energy resource for tropical island communities that rely heavily on imported fuel. OTEC plants in these markets could provide islanders with much-needed power, as well as desalinated water and a variety of Mari culture products. In considering the economics of OTEC, it is appropriate to determine if multiple-product systems, e.g., electricity, desalinated water, Mari culture, and air conditioning (AC) systems yield higher value by, for example, decreasing the equivalent cost of electricity.
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Because Mari culture operations, as in the case of AC systems, can only use a relatively minute amount of the seawater required for the thermal plants they should be evaluated independent of OTEC. It is recommended that OTEC be considered for its potential impact in the production of electricity and desalinated water and that Mari culture and AC systems, based in the use of deep ocean water, be considered decoupled from OTEC. Comparing production costs of electricity and desalinated water can identify scenarios under which OTEC should be economical, relative to conventional technology. 5.4. Worlds only Open cycle OTEC System

Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR) has been a leader in the continuing effort to extract energy from the ocean and other renewable systems. PICHTR has developed sustainable systems through its Engineering Systems group including the design, construction, and operation of the world's only Open Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OC-OTEC) system located at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) at Keyhole Point on the Big Island of Hawaii. Table 5.1: Some Major OTEC Power Plants in World Location Abidjan, Ivory cost Hawai,U S A Republic of Nauru,Central pacific Tokunoshima, Japan Bali, Indonesia Jamaica, West Indies Tahiti, Central Pacific Republic of Nauru-central Pacific Year 1956 1981 1981 1982 proposed proposed proposed proposed Capacity in KW 7000 1000 100 527 230 1580 5000 2500

Kalashakharapattnam, Tamilnadu, India Andhra Pradesh, India

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100000 100000
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5.5 Impact of OTEC on Environment OTEC power plants have some negative impacts on the natural environment, but overall they are a relatively clean, non-polluting source of electricity when compared to conventional options such as fossil fuels or nuclear power. Cold water released at the ocean's surface will release trapped carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, but emissions are only about 4-7% of those from a fossil fuel power plant. Discharging the cold water at the oceans' surface could change local concentrations of nutrients and dissolved gases. However, this could be minimized by discharging the cold water at depths of greater than 50 m. 5.6 Cost Of OTEC At the present time, despite the fact that OTEC systems have no fuel costs and can produce useful by-products, the high initial cost of building such power plants makes OTEC generated electricity more expensive than conventional alternatives. As such, OTEC systems at the present time are restricted to experimental and demonstration units. Island nations which currently rely on expensive, imported fossil fuels for electrical generation are the most promising market for OTEC.More experience in building OTEC power plants and standardized plant designs could bring OTEC costs down in the future. Heightened world concern over environmental issues such as global warming could also hasten the development of OTEC as a practical source of electricity.

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6 CONCLUSION OTEC has tremendous potential to supply the worlds energy. It is estimated that, in an annual basis, the amount solar energy absorbed by the oceans is equivalent to at least 4000 times the amount presently consumed by humans. For an OTEC efficiency of 3 percent, in converting ocean thermal energy to electricity, we would need less than 1 percent of this renewable energy to satisfy all of our desires for energy. OTEC offers one of the most compassionate power production technologies, since the handling of hazardous substances is limited to the working fluid (e.g., ammonia), and no noxious byproducts are generated. Through adequate planning and coordination with the local community, recreational assets near an OTEC site may be enhanced. OTEC is capital-intensive, and the very first plants will most probably be small requiring a substantial capital investment. Given the relatively low cost of crude oil and of fossil fuels in general, the development of OTEC technologies is likely to be promoted by government agencies. Conventional power plants pollute the environment more than an OTEC plant would and, as long as the sun heats the oceans, the fuel for OTEC is unlimited and free.

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7 REFERENCE

[1] Electrical India-September 2011 [2] A Novel Improvement to Solar Enhanced Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Power Plant for its Operation during low Sunshine hours T.Praveen Kumar#1, M. Chandra Sekhar#2,J Siddhartha#3 ,I.S Chandra Kumar#4 # Centre for Research and Development, School of Electrical Sciences, K.L.E.F University, Green Fields, Vaddeswaram (P.O), Guntur (district), Andhra Pradesh (state), India- 522502 [3] G.D Rai, Non conventional energy sources, Khanna publishers, 4th ed. vol. 3 2006, pp. 501510. [4] D. Sharma , Kazunobu Sagara, latent heat storage materials and systems a review, International journal of green energy,vol 2,2005, pp. 1-56.

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