11-05-2012, 04:15 PM
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems
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Introduction
Renewable Ocean Energy:
Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth's surface, making them the world's largest solar collectors.
What is OTEC
OTEC systems use the ocean's natural thermal gradient—the fact that the ocean's layers of water have different temperatures—to drive a power-producing cycle.
In deep tropical waters ocean surface temperature can be as high as 27 ℃; and at depths as close as 1000 ft below the surface, temperature can be as low as 4 ℃.
An OTEC system application case
Hydrogen can be produced via electrolysis using electricity generated by the OTEC process.
Stored hydrogen can then be transported and used to power fuel cells.
Conclusions
Beneficial factors that should be taken into account include OTEC's status as a renewable resource (with no combustion or waste products or limited fuel supply), and the possibility of combining it with solar energy, aquaculture, refrigeration and air conditioning, hydrogen production.
The main challenges include the cost of production, transportation, and distribution, relative to other energy sources and fuels.