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OTEC

Capturing energy using temperature gradients across water depths.

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology converts solar energy stored in the layers of the tropical and subtropical oceans. Thermal heat engines use the temperature difference between the sun-warmed surface water and cold water in the deep ocean. The temperature difference between surface waters and deeper water can reach over 25oC in summer months, although usually this temperature difference exists only over water with depths of 1,000 m or greater. Many different OTEC archetypes have been investigated, some on floating offshore platforms and some built onshore with pipelines to transport the water to and from the ocean. Each system uses one or a combination of thermodynamic processes to turn the temperature difference into mechanical energy. Both the open-cycle and closed-cycle plants use cold water pumped from the deep ocean to condense a working fluid. An ancillary benefit is that the condensate is freshwater that can have other uses such as agriculture and potable drinking water.

Photo: Okinawa Prefecture Industrial Policy Division

Marine Energy Documents Related to OTEC

Tethys Engineering is a knowledge hub that contains documents and resources about the technical aspects of marine energy development. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Engineering Knowledge Base associated with OTEC.

Total: 534

Title Author Date Type of Content Technology Collection Method Engineering
An economic and environmental assessment of transporting bulk energy from a grazing ocean thermal energy conversion facility Gilmore, E., Blohm, A. , Sinsabaugh, S. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Materials
Energy budget of the thermal gradient in the Southern Brazilian continental shelf Souza, R. , Marques, W. Journal Article OTEC Field Data, Modeling
Investigation of the potential of R717 blends as working fluids in the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) Yang, M., Yeh, R-H. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Materials, Performance
Marine Energy and Technologies - Possibilities of Exploiting the Adriatic Sea in Croatia Zvonimir, G., Giorgio, G., Nastia, D. Conference Paper Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Modeling
Multi-objective optimization of an open-cycle, ocean thermal energy conversion system with desalinization Hernández-Romero, I., Zavala, V., Flores-Tlacuahuac, A. Journal Article OTEC, Open-Cycle Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
Ocean Thermal Extractable Energy Visualization Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors Report OTEC Modeling
OTEC Potential in the Indonesian Seas Syamsuddin, M., Attamimi, A., Nugraha, A. Journal Article OTEC Field Data Hydrodynamics
3 E (Energy, Exergy and Economic) multi objective optimization of a novel solar assisted ocean thermal energy conversion system for integrated electricity and cooling production Rami, Y., Allouhi, A. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
4E analyses and multi-objective optimization for an innovative solar-ocean thermal energy conversion/air conditioning system Tian, Z., Zou, X., Zhang, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
A Combined Cooling and Power System Based on Guohai Cycle Zhang, Y., Bian, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Performance
A global cross-resource assessment of offshore renewable energy Spalding, J., White, C., Ross, L. Journal Article Current, Tidal, Ocean Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
A modeling study of ocean thermal energy conversion resource and potential environmental effects around Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Park, K., Yang, Z., Copping, A. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
A new hybrid ocean thermal energy conversion–Offshore solar pond (OTEC–OSP) design: A cost optimization approach Straatman, P., van Sark, W. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle
A New Integrated Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion-Based Trigeneration System for Sustainable Communities Hasan, A., Dincer, I. Journal Article OTEC Performance
A New Seafloor Hydrothermal Power Generation Device Based on Waterproof Thermoelectric Modules Xie, K., Wu, S., Yang, C. Journal Article OTEC Lab Data, Modeling Performance, Structural
A nonlinear nonconvex minimum total heat transfer area formulation for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems Moore, F. , Martin, L. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Performance
A novel Carnot-based cycle for ocean thermal energy conversion Semmari, H., Stitou, D. , Mauran, S. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Performance
A novel modelling approach to the identification of optimum sites for the placement of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plant: application to the tropical island climate of Mauritius Doorga, J., Gooroochurn, O., Motah, B. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Control
A Novel Ocean Thermal Energy Driven System for Sustainable Power and Fresh Water Supply Ma, Q., Zheng, Y., Lu, H. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
A novel radial self-rectifying air turbine for use in wave energy converters Falcao, A., Gato, L., Nunes, E. Journal Article Oscillating Water Column, OTEC Performance, Structural
A novel working fluid for building air-conditioning and ocean thermal energy conversion Lee, H., Kim, H., Jung, D. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Materials, Performance
A performance study of R717 and R22 as the working fluid for OTEC plant Chan, W., Chiong, M. Conference Paper OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Materials, Performance
A preliminary assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion resources Nihous, G. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle Modeling
A Preliminary Investigation of the Effect of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Effluent Discharge Options on Global OTEC Resources Nihous, G. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
A resource assessment of southeast Florida as related to ocean thermal energy Leland, A. Thesis OTEC Field Data
A review of energy extraction from wind and ocean: Technologies, merits, efficiencies, and cost Rehman, S., Alhems, L., Alam, M. Journal Article Current, Tidal, Ocean Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Performance
A review of geographic information system (GIS) and techno economic (TE) software tools for renewable energy and methodology to develop a coupled GIS-TE software tool for marine renewable energy (MRE) O’Connell, R., Murphy, J., McAuliffe, F. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Field Data, Modeling
A Review of Offshore Renewable Energy in South America: Current Status and Future Perspectives Shadman, M., Roldan-Carvajal, M., Pierat, F. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Field Data Hybrid Devices
A review of research on the closed thermodynamic cycles of ocean thermal energy conversion Liu, W., Xu, X., Chen, F. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle
A review of synthetic fiber moorings for marine energy applications Davies, P., Johanning, L., Weller S. Conference Paper Current, Wave, OTEC Materials, Mooring
A simple eddy kinetic energy model for simulations of the oceanic vertical mixing: Tests at station Papa and long‐term upper ocean study site Gaspar, P. , Grégoris, Y., Lefevre, J. Journal Article Current, OTEC Modeling Performance
A solar-ocean-wind energy conversion system for power, hydrogen and freshwater production: Energy, exergy and exergoeconomic study and multi-criteria optimization Khan, M. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hybrid Devices
A study of OTEC application on deep-sea FPSOs Song, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle Performance
A Study on Coupled Behavior Analysis and Position Keeping System for OTEC Plantship and Cold Water Pipe Ryoya, H., Utsunomiya, T. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
A study on the feasibility of using solar radiation energy and ocean thermal energy conversion to supply electricity for offshore oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea Zereshkian, S., Mansoury, D. Journal Article OTEC Field Data, Modeling
A thermal engine for underwater glider driven by ocean thermal energy Yang, Y., Wang, Y., Ma, Z. Journal Article OTEC Lab Data, Modeling Materials, Performance
A transient model for clean electricity generation using Solar energy and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) - case study: Karkheh dam - southwest Iran Dezhdar, A., Assareh, E., Keykhah, S. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
A unique ocean and solar based multigenerational system with hydrogen production and thermal energy storage for Arctic communities Temiz, M., Dincer, I. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
Abrasion and Cavitation Erosion Resistance of Multi-Layer Dip Coated Sol-Gel Coatings on AA2024-T3 Hegde, M., Kavanagh, Y., Duffy, B. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Field Data Materials
Accelerating Energy Innovation for the Blue Economy The Economist Intelligence Unit Report Current, Tidal, Wave, OTEC
Adaptive Control of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) System: Controller Design and Countermeasure for Bursting Phenomena in System Identification Nakamura, M. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Lab Data, Modeling Control
Advancements in sustainable desalination with ocean thermal energy: A review Hu, Z., Chen, Y. Journal Article OTEC
Advances in Hawaii’s Ocean Energy RD&D Gill, A., Rocheleau, R. Conference Paper Wave, OTEC
Alcan's ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) program Hron, V., Fitzpatrick, N., Hay, E. Journal Article OTEC, Open-Cycle
Alternative Markets for Ocean Energy Ocean Energy Systems Report Current, Wave, OTEC
An Application of Ocean Mining Technology: Deep Ocean Water Utilization Otsuka, K., Ouchi, K. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Performance, Structural
An assessment of Florida's ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) resource VanZwieten, J., Rauchenstein, L., Lee, L. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
An assessment of global Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion resources under broad geographical constraints Rajagopalan, K., Nihous, G. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
An assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion as an advanced electric generation methodology Heydt, G. Journal Article OTEC
An assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion resources and climate change mitigation potential Nickoloff, A., Olim, S., Eby, M. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Displaying 1 - 50 of 534 results