5.4.6.

Open Cycle OTEC

System
In an open OTEC System, the cold water is used to reduce the pressure in the part of the
System so that the warm surface water actually get boiled into a vapour at 80°F. The warm
ocean water is converted into steam in an evaporator. The steam drives steam-turbine generator
to deliver electrical energy. Aspecially designed steam turbine drives the electrical generator.
The water vapour travelsfrom high-pressure warm side of thesystem through a turbine to
drive a generator and into the low-pressure cold side of the system. Then, the vapour condenses
into desalinated water. Steam is condensed in a contact condenser and condensate is discharged
into sea by an open cycle OTEC. The big advantage of open system OTEC is that the
desalinated water effluent has multiple yses especially drinking water and it can increase the
economic efficiency by over 30%.
 Renewable Energy Technalogios
|6.44
admited
Working:
from ocean surface (at about 26°C) is
Warm water
In an open cycle OTEC, vacuum pressure by means of a vacuum
pumn
evaporator is maintained at
the evaporator. The
of water reduces and mnore steam is generated
the boiling point
At low vacuum pressures, special steam turbine and the remaining water
enters into a
Steam generated in the evaporator converts thermal energy into
into the sea. Steam-turbine
from evaporator is discharged comparatively at low pressure and high
leaving the evaporator is
mechanical energy. Steam plants. The steam admitted in stearm
conventional power
specific volumes as compared to to the condenser. Exhaust steam
from
turbine rotor and it is exhausted efi
turbine drives the steam
discharged in the ocean at 7°C. Cold water from deep sea is admitted
turbine is condensed and
of cold water is about 15°C.
into the condenser. The temperature Cner

efficiency can be increased slightly with modified open cycle OTEC system. They em
The
are as follows:

Controlled flash-steam evaporator is used instead of a conventional type of

(i)
evaporator
condenser.
(ii) Contact condenser is replaced by a surface W
produce both electrical
(ii) The open cycle OTEC can be used as a cogeneration cycle to
power and fresh water.
Electrical
A Vaccum pump
power
Steam Electric
generator
Dissolved gases &air evaporator
From Pump
Ocean surface Steam
turbine
Warm water 260C

To Un evaporated water 220C

Ocean Direct contact
condenser

Pump
From 150c
Ocaan deep110c Cold water 13°c
To Discharge
from condenser
Ocean

Figure 5.32 Open cycle OTEC powerplant

 mal Energy
Linitations
1.
of open
cycle OTECSystemt:
Turbine is
2. The
cost ofphysical
plant is
ly large.
3. It can high. of mass and volume.
allow a very large flow of ocean
oc water in terms
4. The plant is
subjected to ocean storms, high waves, etc.
5.4.7.Closed
In a
Cycle OTEC System
closed cycle OTEC system rather than boiling water to make steam, one of several
refrigerants which have a low boiling point is used. Ammonia or Butane or Freon is usedas a

refrigerant.
water. The
The refrigerant boils and it creates a vapour when exposedto the warmth of surface
generate electrical
Vapour of the working fluid drives a vapour turbine generator to
GEY. Ihen, the refrigerant condenses and losses the pressure when exposed to cold
temperature from deep water.
In a closed cycle OTEC plant, the working fluid is circulated in the cycle comprising of
heat exchanger, vapour turbine, surface condenser and liquid vapour pressuriser.
Working:
Warm water inlet 27°C Electrical
poweroutput
From-Ocean
High pressure NH3 vapour
24°C
Heat exchanger
water/NH3 HP-NH3 Liquid
Liquid NH3 pump
NH3
Turbine
H Generator
200C YSpent
water NH3 condenser
To-Ocean NH3 - Low pressure
Liquid vapour
NHg
10°C
To-Ocean Cold water oulet
|Cold water inlet
6°C
From-Ocean
Figure 5.33 Closed cycle OTEC plant
The working fluid (ammonia, NH;) is circulated through the closed cycle comprising of
the following components.
1. Evaporator
 5.46 Renewable Eergy Technologies

2. Vapour turbine (Turbogenerator)

3. Vapour condenser
4. Liquid pressurizer.
The working fluid extracts heat from the warm ocean water and it is vapourised. The
vapour having themal energy is expanded in the vapour turbine. This vapour turbine drives
the electrical generator rotor and thus, the power is produced.
The expanded vapour from the turbine is condensed in thecondenser. Liquefied working
fluid is passed through pressuriser into the evaporator. The working fluid is circulated again
and again through the closed cycle to generate power continuously.