Module-5

1. Principle of Ocean Thermal Energy

Conversion (OTEC)

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a method that uses

the temperature difference between the warm surface seawater
(about 25°C) and the cold deep seawater (about 5°C) to generate
electricity.

1. Closed-Cycle OTEC (like a closed loop)

🟢 Working fluid: A special liquid like ammonia (ammonia is used
if the temperature is lower) or propane (Propane or similar liquids are
used if the surface water is warm) that boils easily.
Steps:
1. Warm seawater heats this fluid → the fluid boils and turns into
gas/vapor.
2. The gas spins a turbine → turbine runs a generator → we get
electricity.
3. Then we cool the gas using cold deep seawater → it becomes
liquid again.
4. The liquid is sent back to start the cycle again.
👉 The fluid is reused again and again (that’s why it's called
"closed").

2. Open-Cycle OTEC (no special fluid)

🟦 Here, only seawater is used (no ammonia or propane).
Steps:
1. Take warm seawater, and put it into a low-pressure tank.
2. In low pressure, the water boils and becomes steam.
3. This steam runs a turbine → produces electricity.
4. Then, cold seawater is used to cool the steam and turn it back
into water.
5. This water is fresh (no salt) – so we also get drinking water!
💧
……………………………………………………………………….

2. The basic Rankine cycle

What is the Rankine Cycle?

The Rankine cycle is a process used to make electricity using heat.
It has 4 main steps:
 1. Heating a fluid
2. Using the vapor to spin a turbine
3. Cooling the vapor back to liquid
4. Pumping the liquid back to start again
This cycle is used in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
systems.

🧊 What does OTEC use?

In the ocean:
 The top water is warm (like 25°C)
 The deep water is cold (like 5°C)
We use this temperature difference to run the Rankine cycle and
make electricity.

🔁 Parts of the Rankine Cycle

1. Evaporator – Heats the fluid and turns it into gas
2. Turbine Expander – Gas spins the turbine → electricity
3. Condenser – Cools the gas back into liquid
4. Pump – Pushes the liquid back to start
5. Working Fluid – The liquid that moves around (like
ammonia or propane in closed cycle)

✅ Working of the Rankine Cycle (step-by-step)

👉 Step 1: Evaporation
  Warm ocean water goes to the evaporator (a heating part).
 A fluid pump pushes the liquid working fluid into
the evaporator.
 The warm water heats the fluid → the fluid boils and
turns into vapor.
👉 Step 2: Expansion in Turbine
 The vapor goes to the turbine expander.
 Vapor spins the turbine, which is connected to a generator.
 Generator produces electricity.
👉 Step 3: Condensation
 The vapor then goes into a condenser.
 Cold deep seawater cools the vapor.
 Vapor turns back into liquid.
👉 Step 4: Pumping the Liquid
 A pump sends the liquid back to the evaporator.
 The cycle repeats again and again.

💡 Why does the cycle keep working?

Because the temperature difference between:
 Warm surface water and
 Cold deep water
is large enough to boil and condense the fluid again and
again.
This is how continuous power is generated using the Rankine cycle
in OTEC.
…………………………………………………………………………

3. Applications of OTEC
"A sea plant not only gives electricity, but also gives fuel (hydrogen),
water to drink, food to eat (fish and crops), cool air to relax, and
chemical products to sell!"

1. ⚡ Electricity
 This is the main use.
 The machine (OTEC plant) uses the heat difference in
ocean water to make electricity.
 But sending electricity from ocean to land using long wires
is very costly.
 So instead, we can use this electricity for other nearby
useful things.
2. 💨 Hydrogen Production
 OTEC electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and
oxygen (this is called electrolysis).
 Hydrogen is a clean fuel, and very useful.
 So, OTEC helps in making green hydrogen fuel.

3. G Making Ammonia and Methanol

  The electricity made from OTEC can also be used to make
chemicals like ammonia and methanol.
 These are useful in fertilizers and fuel.
 We can send them to the land by ship or pipe.

4. 💧 Freshwater (Desalination)
 In some OTEC plants, we get freshwater by removing salt
from seawater.
 This is very useful for:
o Drinking
o Farming
o Industries

5. 🐟 Fish Farming (Aquaculture)

 Deep ocean water is cold and full of nutrients.
 This water helps in growing fish and marine plants.
 We can create fish farms near OTEC plants — and earn money!

6. 🪴 Chilled Soil Agriculture

 The cold deep water from the sea can be sent through pipes
underground.
 This makes the soil cool.
 When roots stay cool and leaves feel warm air, plants
grow better.
  We can grow a lot of food, and the crops may be more
valuable than electricity!

7. ❄️ Air Conditioning
 The cold water from the ocean can be used like a natural AC.
 We can cool buildings using that water instead of using
electric ACs.
…………………………………………………………………………
❌ Disadvantages:
1. High cost of setting up and generating electricity.
2. Complex design and location limits – needs at least 20°C
temperature difference year-round.
3. Low public acceptance due to high initial cost.
4. Can cause disturbance to marine ecosystems.
5. Lower efficiency if temperature difference is small.
…………………………………………………………………………

4. Power Associated with Sea Waves

Sea waves carry both kinetic and potential energy. According to
linear wave theory, the total energy per meter of wave crest is:

Where:
 ρ = density of seawater
 g = gravitational acceleration
  a = amplitude of the wave (a = H/2, where H = wave height)

1.3 Wave Energy Availability

Using the above formula, it is seen that:
 Higher wave height (H) = more power
 Longer wave period (T) = more energy
In practical terms, the available wave energy is around: P≈0.4
kW/m of wave front

…………………………………………………………………………

5. Floating OTEC power plant

✅ Floating OTEC Power Plant – Easy Explanation

A floating OTEC power plant is a special type of power station
that is built on a ship or platform in the middle of the sea.
Why in the sea?
Because in deep parts of the ocean:
 The top water is warm, and
  The bottom water is cold
➡️This temperature difference is needed to make electricity
using the OTEC method.

💰 Why build a floating plant instead of on land?

 On land, we need to bring cold water from deep ocean using
long, sloping pipes — this is very expensive.
 But in a floating plant, it’s already on deep water, so we
can just put a straight vertical pipe down.
➡️Saves cost on pipes.

⚠️ But there’s a problem...

 The plant is in the ocean, but people live on land.
 So, we need to send the electricity back to land using
underwater cables.
 These cables are very expensive and not efficient.

💡 What’s the solution?

Instead of sending electricity, the plant uses the electricity to:
 Split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis.
 Hydrogen is a fuel and can be stored or transported easily.

🔧 Cold Water Pipe Design – Land vs Floating

 Companies like Lockheed have designed floating
OTEC systems with huge vertical pipes.
  Example:
o Floating plant → pipe is 1000 meters long, straight down.
o Land plant → pipe must be sloped, so it becomes 3 times
longer.
…………………………………………………………………………
1. Terminator Devices
 Positioned perpendicular (straight) to the direction of waves.

 Have one fixed and one moving part (like a piston).

 Wave motion moves the part up and down, which

pressurizes air or oil to run a turbine and generate

electricity.
 🔸 Example: Oscillating Water Column (OWC)

o 2. Attenuator Devices
 Positioned parallel (alongside) the wave direction.
 Made of long floating sections connected with hinges.
 These segments move up and down with waves, which powers
hydraulic pumps.
 🔸 Example: Pelamis Wave Converter
o Looks like a sea snake that floats and bends with waves.
o The movement is converted into electricity.
o 3. Point Absorber Devices
 Small floating devices that move up and down at a single
point.
 Can absorb wave energy from any direction.
 The motion is used to run a built-in turbine generator.
  🔸 Example: AquaBuOY
o Moves with wave height changes and powers a generator.
✅ 4. Overtopping Device
Think of a bucket filled with water.
 Waves fill a tank (like a dam).
 Water is then let out through turbines — this turns the
turbines and generates electricity.
o Examples:
 Salter Duck – moves like a duck and uses that motion.
 Wave Dragon – has arms and a ramp to collect water.
✅ 5. Pendulum System
Think of a door swinging back and forth.
 A big flap swings inside a concrete box when waves hit it.
 The swinging motion is used to pump oil and make electricity.
✅ 6. TAPCHAN (Tapered Channel)
Think of a funnel.
 Waves go into a narrow channel.
 They become taller and flow into a tank on top.
 Water falls down through a turbine to make electricity.
✅ 7. Bristol Cylinder Think of
a floating pipe.
 This pipe moves with the waves.
 It is connected to machines that convert the back-and-forth
motion into electricity.
Oscillating water column

🌊 Imagine This:
Think of a big box that is placed partly inside the sea.
 The bottom of the box is open – so sea water can come in and
go out.
 The top part of the box has air trapped inside it.

💨 Now What Happens?

When a wave comes, the sea water enters the box and pushes the
air up.
When the wave goes away, the water level goes down, and the air
gets pulled back in.
So now you have air going in and out of the box again and again.

⚙️ Then What?
There is a turbine (fan) placed at the top of the box.
When the air moves in and out, it spins the turbine.
That spinning turbine is connected to a machine (generator) that
makes electricity ⚡

💡 One Special Thing:

The turbine is called a Wells turbine.
It is special because it keeps spinning in one direction, even if the
air is going in or out.