Experimental studies on a closed cycle demonstration OTEC plant working on small temperature difference

Faizal, Mohammed and Ahmed, Mohammed R. (2013) Experimental studies on a closed cycle demonstration OTEC plant working on small temperature difference. Renewable Energy, 51 . pp. 234-240. ISSN 0960-1481

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Abstract

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology utilizes the temperature difference between the warm surface water and deep cold water of the ocean to operate a heat engine to generate electricity. An experimental study was carried out on a newly designed closed cycle demonstration OTEC plant with the help of temperature and pressure readings before and after each component. An increase in the warm water temperature increases the heat transfer between the warm water and the working fluid, thus increasing the working fluid temperature, pressure, and enthalpy before the turbine. The performance is better at larger flowrates of the working fluid and the warm water. It is found that the thermal efficiency and the power output of the system both increase with increasing operating temperature difference (difference between warm and cold water inlet temperature). Increasing turbine inlet temperatures also increase the efficiency and the work done by the turbine. The efficiency and the power output increase with increasing ratio of warm water to cold water flowrates. A maximum efficiency of about 1.5 % was achieved in the system. The findings from this work can contribute to the development of OTEC technologies.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), Closed cycle OTEC Thermal efficiency, Demonstration OTEC plant
Subjects:	T Technology > TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Engineering and Physics
Depositing User:	M. Rafiuddin Ahmed
Date Deposited:	18 Apr 2013 23:36
Last Modified:	06 May 2025 23:41
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/5674

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