Abstract
In this project, the design of a new variant of OTEC called OTWEC (Ocean Thermal-Water Energy Conversion) is being developed. It operates based on the Rankine cycle and can produce desalinated water and electrical energy using the thermal gradient between a geothermal anomaly and seawater. The municipality of Ensenada faces water scarcity issues, and energy demand projections exceed the installed capacity, making it necessary to consider renewable energy sources. Due to the water and energy needs in the city of Ensenada, this project proposes harnessing the thermal gradient between the thermal waters of Playa La Jolla and the surface seawater of the Pacific Ocean to produce desalinated water and electrical energy through an OTWEC-OC. To achieve this, data on the temperature gradient and flow rate of the thermal waters, as well as the average temperature of the surface seawater, are utilized to conduct the mass and energy balance of the plant. This allows for the sizing of water and electricity supply to the city, estimation of greenhouse gas emissions reduction compared to other types of plants, and assessment of potential environmental impacts of the plant.