Open-Cycle
Open-Cycle
An OTEC system in which warm, surface seawater is the working fluid.
Open-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion systems use seawater directly, rather than a working fluid, to generate electricity. Warm surface water is placed under low pressure, distilling the water to a freshwater vapor which can be used to drive an electrical generator. The steam is then exposed to cold, deep seawater and condenses into freshwater. There are alternate open cycle processes that do not result in desalination as well.