Ocean Thermal Energy For Alternate Energies

Ocean thermal energy conversion is a system of energy conversion that occurs due to differences in surface temperature and below the ocean into electrical energy. The biggest potential for ocean thermal energy conversion power plant located on the equator. You see, throughout the year in equatorial sea surface temperatures range between 25-30 ° C, while temperatures at the bottom of the sea fell 5-7 ° C at a depth of more than 500 meters.
There are two cycles of ocean thermal energy conversion, ie Rankine cycle open and closed Rankine cycle. As power plants, ocean thermal energy conversion open Rankine cycle turbines require very large diameter to produce a power greater than 1MW, while the component that is available has not been possible to produce that much power, another alternative is a closed Rankine cycle working fluid with ammonia or freon.
Based on the location of the placement of heat pumps, ocean thermal energy conversion can be classified into three types, ocean thermal energy conversion terrestrial platform, floating ocean thermal energy conversion permanent basis, and ocean thermal energy conversion of a floating vessel.
Ocean thermal energy conversion tool land base is primarily located on land, only a fraction of equipment that juts into the sea. The advantages of this system is its more stable and easier maintenance. Disadvantages of this type of system requires a steep coastal state, that does not require a long cold water pipe.
Status of ocean thermal energy conversion technologies of this kind of new at the pilot stage with a capacity of 100 W and the working fluid is Freon-TEPSCO conducted by Japan, with pilot sites in the Islands, Nauru. Also built research and development center ocean thermal energy conversion of land foundation (STF) located in Hawaii.
For floating ocean thermal energy conversion permanent basis, required fastening systems and submarine transmission systems, so that the main problems in fastening systems and undersea transmission technology is expensive. This species is still in early stages of research and development.
Ocean thermal energy conversion of a floating vessel to operate freely because they are built on the ship. Usually the electrical energy generated to produce a variety of materials are ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, and others.
Status of ocean thermal energy conversion technology is a new type of pilot stage, with the name Mini OTEC plant with a capacity of 50 kW with pilot sites in the sea of ​​Hawaii. Mini OTEC generating clean power 10 kW to 15 kW. In addition, at the same place ocean thermal energy conversion operates under the name OTEC1 with a capacity of 1 MW.