Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Escola Politcnica
Disciplina: Energia e Meio Ambiente
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Module 1Prof. Dr. Helmers and Prof. Dr. BradlStudents: Camila
NevesYasmini Dopico
1Ocean Thermal Energy ConversionIndexThe new orderThe new
sourcesThe OceansThe TechnologyThe BenefitsThe ChallengeThe
WorldBrazilThe Environmental ImpactsBibliography
Ocean Thermal Energy ConversionThe new order:
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The new sources:Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The Oceans:Ocean Thermal Energy ConversionSource: Solar Energy
Research Institute
The ocean:Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The tecnology:The OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Convertion) uses
the temperature difference between the hot surface water in
tropical areas (26-28 C) and the cold water from deep water (4-6 C)
for circulating a fluid present in one vertical duct of at least 1
km in height. The boiling fluid expands and moves the turbine that
converts the mechanical motion into electricity.Ocean Thermal
Energy Conversion
Figure 1: Typical vertical temperature variation with depth.
Source: Xenesys Inc.
Figure 2: Change in the temperature gradient between the surface
water and 1 km depth. Source: Xenesys IncOcean Thermal Energy
Conversion8Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The system:
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The Benefits:Ocean Thermal Energy ConversionThe Challenge
The costs of applying this energy source are too high and also
OTEC plants have very low efficiency.In comparison with the plants
of fossil fuels: turns around 3-4% X 38% (HINDRICH, 2002).Ocean
Thermal Energy ConversionCosts of OTEC Japan Modified: TAKAHASHI,
1999
The World:
221935 BRAZILOcean Thermal Energy ConversionNOWADAYS: 13MW
(Hawaii, Guam, Diego Garcia...) x 22,5MW (China Hydroeletrical
power plant)
Brazil:
In 1881, Jacques Arsene d'Arsonval was the first to propose this
type of energy. Georges Claude, a pupil of Jacques d'Arsonval built
the first OTEC plant in the Bay of Matanza in Cuba (1930). In 1935,
Claude constructed another plant in Brazil OTEC, but both were
destroyed by weather and waves.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The Environmental Impacts:Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Bibliography:HARVEY, L. D. D. (2010) Energy and the New Reality
2: Carbon-free Energy Supply.JADHAV, S. M., KALE, R. G. (2005)
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION in National Seminar on Alternative
Energy Sources VPMs Polytechnic, Thane.Solar Energy Research
Institute. (November 1989). Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: An
Overview. SERI/SP-220-3024. Golden, CO: Solar Energy Research
Institute; 36 pp.Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
