127 results about "Ocean thermal energy conversion" patented technology

A process for producing synthetic hydrocarbons that reacts carbon dioxide, obtained from seawater of air, and hydrogen obtained from water, with a catalyst in a chemical process such as reverse water gas shift combined with Fischer Tropsch snthesis. The hydrogen is produced by nuclear reactor electricity, nuclear waste heat conversion, ocean thermal energy conversion, or any other source that is fossil fuel-free, such as wind or wave energy. The process can be either land based or sea based.

An integrated platform to house an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system that utilizes: (i) a cold water circuit consisting of a way of receiving and distributing the cold water from the cold water pipe (CWP) to vertical conduits housing the condensers into collectors that discharge via large pumps into open discharge channels connected to the discharge water pipe (DWP); (ii) a surface water circuit consisting of a way of collecting and distributing the surface water to vertical conduits housing the evaporators to surface water collectors that discharge via large pumps into the same discharge channels connected to the DWP; (iii) means of adjusting the buoyancy of the integrated platform by adding water as ballast into floatation chambers in the hull surrounding the discharge channels or in a plurality of either vertical or horizontal flotation chambers to provide protection to the CWP and DWP and stability to the integrated platform. By adjusting the buoyancy of the platform such that the collectors are about level with the sea level, pumping requirements are minimized.

An open-ocean fish-growing platform has a submersible cage structure for growing fish, an antenna for receiving positioning signals transmitted from an external source, a position-correction apparatus for calculating a position error signal from a target geostatic position, and an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system for generating electric power for thruster units to maintain the cage structure in the target geostatic position. The OTEC system inducts colder ocean water from a deeper ocean depth for driving its heat exchange cycle, and is also of hybrid type using a fuel-fired unit as a heat source. The cold water effluent from the OTEC system is directed into the cage for flushing wastes generated by the growing fish. The self-positioning, self-powered open-ocean platform enables unmanned, extended marine deployment in deeper ocean waters without the need for tethering or anchoring to the ocean floor.

A submarine cold water pipe water intake system of an ocean thermal energy conversion power plant is installed at a cold water inlet of a power boat, and the cold water pipe includes: a water intake head; a water intake pipe formed by connecting composite pipes in a series, and each composite pipe is formed by arranging a plurality of wavy inner pipes sequentially into a tubular shape; a connecting pipe formed by engaging an outer pipe and an inner pipe, and an inner pipe of the connecting pipe being connected to the cold water inlet of the power boat, and an end of the outer pipe of the connecting pipe is connected to a connecting portion of the water intake pipe.

An offshore power generation structure comprising a submerged portion having a first deck portion comprising an integral multi-stage evaporator system, a second deck portion comprising an integral multi-stage condensing system, a third deck portion housing power generation equipment, cold water pipe; and a cold water pipe connection. The heat exchangers in the evaporator and condenser systems include a multi-stage cascading heat exchange system. Warm water conduits in the first deck portion and cold water conduits in the second deck portion are integral to the structure of the submerged portion of the offshore platform.

An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system is disclosed. The OTEC system generates electrical energy based on a difference in the temperatures of the water from a surface region of a body of water and a thermal mass whose temperature is based on the temperature of water from a deep water region of the body of water. The thermal mass attains a desired temperature while it is positioned in the deep water region, with which it is thermally coupled. The present invention uses a bulk transport vessel to carry the thermal mass from the deep water region to a depth where it can be thermally coupled with the OTEC system.

An offshore floating platform having at least one buoyant column with an upper end extending above a sea surface, a lower end submerged below the sea surface, and at least one keel tank disposed at the lower end. A deck is supported at the upper end the column. An ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system is integrated with the platform in which heat is extracted from warm sea surface waters to vaporize a liquid working fluid and heat is rejected to cold water from lower depths of the sea to condense the vaporized working fluid. At least one turbine and power generator is disposed on the deck, at least one evaporator is disposed on the platform beneath the deck, and at least one condenser is disposed on the seabed or platform or keel tank a distance beneath the evaporator.

A combined OTEC and steam system having an OTEC power generation system including a multistage condensing system in fluid communication with a cold water system and a steam system comprising a steam condenser, wherein the steam condenser is in fluid communication with the cold water system.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems and methods utilizing the systems are disclosed for producing a useable form of energy utilizing warm surface seawater and cold seawater from depths up to 2 miles below the surface and utilizing a multi-component working fluid. The systems and methods are designed to maximize energy conversion per unit of cold seawater, the limited resource, achieving relative net outputs compared to a Rankine cycle using a single component fluid by at least 20% and even as high as about 55%.

The invention provides an ocean thermal energy conversion method and an ocean thermal energy conversion device. The method comprises the following steps of: heating a low-boiling-point working medium by using hot seawater on a surface of ocean; evaporating the low-boiling-point working medium; feeding into a turbine to push a turbo generator set to work for power generation; condensing working medium gas which is exhausted from the turbine into liquid by using cold seawater on a deep layer of the ocean; heating by using the hot seawater; feeding into the turbine to make the working medium gasevaporated; pushing the turbo generator set to work for the power generation; cyclically executing the steps; and continuously carrying out power generation. Power is generated by using ocean surfacewind power, a heat pump device is driven by the power, the temperature of the working medium is further raised by using a medium of the heat pump device, and the volume expansion ratio of the workingmedium is improved; and the temperature of the cold seawater is further reduced by using the medium of the heat pump device, the working medium exhausted gas is condensed by using the low-temperatureseawater, and a condensing effect of the working medium exhausted gas is improved. The method and the device improve the efficiency of closed cycle generation of ocean thermal energy conversion, realize the comprehensive utilization of ocean thermal energy and wind energy, have an important practical value, provide environment-friendly energy sources, and are easy to use and promote in large scale.

An ocean thermal energy conversion assembly includes a ship having support tubes connected between a lower part and a top deck of the ship so as to define an open space. A passage is defined through the lower part and an annular connector is connected to a lower end of the passage. A plurality of rods extend from a top of the annular connector and are pivotably connected to the annular connection portion. A transmission pipe is connected to an underside of the annular connector. A hollow damper is connected to an outer periphery of the annular connector and an outer periphery of the hollow damper is engaged with an inner periphery of a bottom opening in a lower end of the passage. A top cover seals a top opening of the passage and has a wave-elimination way which communicates with holes in the top cover.

A system or methodology for converting thermal energy obtained from solar thermal, photovoltaic, geothermal or industrial waste heat into electrical power is disclosed. The energy efficient way of transferring two steams of liquid solutions containing different concentrations of ionic species is disclosed. The combination of thermal gradient in addition to concentration gradient to improve efficiency, reduce or avoid fouling is disclosed. This invention describes a method of efficient ion migration from concentrated stream to dilute stream thereby improving DC power generation process. The utilization of solar thermal energy from solar collector or concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) generator system or solar thermal power generation (CSP) system provides the additional driving force for ions transport from concentrated stream to dilute stream, apart from the concentration grading to generating power. The thermal power is also used to bring back the diluted steam to original concentration in the reverse Electro dialysis system. The utilization of CPV process heat or solar or waste heat for bringing back the dilute stream into the concentrated stream for next operation of ions gradient power generation is also disclosed in this invention.

A high efficiency OTEC system for the efficient and low-cost production of energy and potable water through ocean thermal energy conversion. The high efficiency OTEC system utilizes a working fluid such as ammonia with a standard Rankine cycle. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a heat exchanger which includes a fluid transfer assembly, a pump, a first heater, a turbine and a generator. The fluid transfer assembly utilizes a condenser conduit to condense working fluid by transferring the fluid to the cold depths of the ocean before returning to the warm surface through an insulated return conduit. The working fluid is vaporized through use of the first heater before entering a turbine connected to a generator to produce energy. In some embodiments, a second heater may be added to the system for production of potable water. In further embodiments, a third heater may be provided for additional heating capabilities.

A solar cell floats over a body of saline water. A submerged fresh water collection system underlies the cell. A partial vacuum is created in the solar cell for drawing water vapor from the cell to the collection system. Water vapor is condensed in a condenser disposed between the cell and the collection system. Heat generated by the condensation of water vapor is utilized to heat the salt water, which rises upwardly to replace the salt water vaporized in the cell. The fresh water from the fresh water collection system is routed under the cell such that it becomes thermally enriched. The thermally enriched fresh water is provided to a power generator to improve efficiency.