Offset Staved Cold Water Pipe for OTEC Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) power plants face low thermodynamic efficiency, high construction and operating costs, and environmental challenges due to the need for large heat exchange surfaces, long cold water intake pipes, and stability issues in dynamic ocean environments, limiting their commercial viability.
Innovation Solution
A floating OTEC power plant with a multi-stage heat engine and an offset staved cold water pipe design that integrates heat exchange compartments and water conduits into the platform, reducing parasitic loads and construction costs, and using modular components for efficient energy extraction and minimal environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large heat exchange surfaces are used to maximize heat transfer between sea water and working fluid, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-stage heat engine where heat exchangers are arranged in nested configurations, with multiple heat exchange surfaces positioned concentrically to maximize heat transfer area within a compact volume, resolving the contradiction between large heat exchange area and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional planar heat exchanger arrangements to three-dimensional radial and concentric heat exchange surfaces, utilizing vertical and radial dimensions to pack larger heat transfer areas into a smaller footprint, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Productivity
If long cold water intake pipes are used to access deep ocean water, then cold water supply is improved, but construction costs and stability issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the long cold water intake pipe into multiple modular sections that can be assembled in stages, with each section being more manageable in terms of construction and installation, reducing overall construction costs while maintaining the required pipe length for deep ocean water access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible or articulated joint designs in the cold water intake pipe system, allowing the pipe to dynamically adjust to ocean movements and platform heave, thereby reducing structural requirements and construction costs while ensuring continuous cold water supply
3Ease of operation
If conventional segmented pipe construction is used for cold water intake, then assembly is simplified, but frictional losses and structural integrity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the cold water intake pipe, combining materials with low friction coefficients and high structural integrity, thereby reducing frictional losses while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized composite sections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent minimizes the number of joints and connection points in the cold water intake pipe by using longer individual pipe sections and streamlined connection mechanisms, reducing the cumulative frictional losses at joints while maintaining assembly simplicity
4Adaptability or versatility
If floating platform is used for offshore OTEC installation, then deployment flexibility is improved, but wave-induced instability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs ballast systems and counterweight arrangements in the floating platform design, positioning heavy components low in the structure to lower the center of gravity and reduce wave-induced instability, thereby maintaining deployment flexibility while improving platform stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible membrane structures and tensioned surface designs in the floating platform, allowing the platform to dynamically respond to wave forces while maintaining structural integrity, thus preserving deployment flexibility while mitigating instability through controlled flexibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances overall efficiency, reduces construction and operating costs, and minimizes environmental footprint by optimizing energy transfer and reducing wave-induced instability, making OTEC power plants more commercially viable and environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
The pipe can be designed to have neutral or near-neutral buoyancy, reducing the need for heavy support structures
Implementation Method 2
integrates heat exchange compartments and water conduits into the platform
Implementation Method 3
The OTEC process uses the temperature difference between surface and deep sea tropical waters to drive a heat engine to produce electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
An offshore power generation structure comprising a submerged portion having heat exchange sections, power generation sections, a cold water pipe and a cold water pipe connection. The cold water pipe comprises a plurality of offset first and second staved portions.