Skip to main content

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: 565

Title Author Date Type of Content Technology Collection Method Engineering
Pre-expansion ejector absorption power cycle for ocean thermal energy conversion Yi, S., Zhang, Z., Peng, W. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Bibliometric analysis for ocean renewable energy: An comprehensive review for hotspots, frontiers, and emerging trends Hu, H., Xue, W., Jiang, P. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Harnessing Ocean Thermal Energy from Offshore Locations in Pakistan Using an Organic Rankine Cycle Haroon, M., Ayub, A., Sheikh, N. Conference Paper OTEC, Closed-Cycle Performance
Thermoelectric Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: A Computational Optimization Yu, J., Asthagiri, A. Presentation OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Performance, Structural
Optimization Design of the Organic Rankine Cycle for an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System Yang, X., Liu, Y., Chen, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Performance
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
Identification of nonparametric thermodynamic model and optimization of ocean thermal energy conversion radial inflow turbine Liu, Y., Xue, Y., Chen, Y. Journal Article OTEC Performance, Structural
Study on improving the storage efficiency of ocean thermal energy storage (OTES) unit by using fins Li, S., Zhang, Y., Zhou, Z. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
Seawater desalination through reverse osmosis driven by ocean thermal energy conversion plant: Thermodynamic and economic feasibility Liponi, A., Baccioli, A., Vera, D. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Ocean energy applications for coastal communities with artificial intelligence: a state-of-the-art review Zhou, Y. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Control, Grid Integration, Performance
Investigation of a low-pressure flash evaporation desalination system powered by ocean thermal energy Wang, L., Ma, X., Kong, H. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
Reliability Evaluation of Power Systems Containing Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Power Plants Nasiriani, K., Ghaedi, A., Nafar, M. Journal Article OTEC, Open-Cycle Modeling Grid Integration
Construction of a state-space model with multiple flow rate inputs for an OTEC plant using Rankine cycle Matsuda, Y., Suyama, D., Sugi, T. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Performance
Coupled response characteristics of cold water pipe and moored ship for floating OTEC plant Hisamatsu, R., Utsunomiya, T. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hydrodynamics, Mooring, Performance, Substructure
Control strategy of load following for ocean thermal energy conversion Li, D., Fan, C., Zhang, C. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Control, Performance
Unlocking the Potential of Marine Energy Using Hydrogen Generation Technologies Thorson, J., Matthews, C., Lawson, M. Report Current, Tidal, Ocean Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Operation Control and Performance Analysis of an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System Based on the Organic Rankine Cycle Yang, X., Liu, Y., Chen, Y. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Control, Performance
Theoretical assessment of the available power from the marine energy sources in Mexico García-Santiago, E., Mendoza, E., Silva, R. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Economic Viability Analysis for an OTEC Power Plant at San Andrés Island Herrera, J., Sierra, S., Hernández-Hamón, H. Journal Article OTEC, Open-Cycle
An External Ocean Thermal Energy Power Generation Modular Device for Powering Smart Float Zhang, H., Ma, X., Yang, Y. Journal Article OTEC Hydrodynamics, Performance
Harvesting Energy from Ocean: Technologies and Perspectives Khan, M., Khan, H., Aziz, M. Journal Article Current, Tidal, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC Performance
Performance improvement of ocean thermal energy conversion organic Rankine cycle under temperature glide effect Zhang, J., Zhang, X., Zhang, Z. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Materials, Performance
Extracting energy from ocean thermal and salinity gradients to power unmanned underwater vehicles: State of the art, current limitations, and future outlook Jung, H., Subban, C., McTigue, J. Journal Article Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Conversion of a Redundant Drillship to a Floating OTEC Platform Brown, M., Brown, G. Conference Paper OTEC, Closed-Cycle Hybrid Devices, Hydrodynamics, Performance
Site Selection for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plants (OTEC): A Case Study in Panama Lopez, G., de los Angeles Ortega Del Rosario, M., James, A. Journal Article OTEC
Investigation of the potential of R717 blends as working fluids in the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) Yang, M-H., Yeh, R-H. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Performance
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
An Assessment of the Financial Feasibility of an OTEC Ecopark: A Case Study at Cozumel Island Tobal-Cupul, J., Garduño-Ruiz, E., Gorr-Pozzi, E. Journal Article OTEC
Colombian Caribbean Bathymetry for an OTEC System Location Herrera, J., Hernández-Hamón, H., Fajardo, L. Journal Article OTEC Field Data, Modeling
Upscaling scenarios for ocean thermal energy conversion with technological learning in Indonesia and their global relevance Langer, J., Quist, J., Blok, K. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Review of enhancement for ocean thermal energy conversion system Abbas, S., Alhassany, H., Vera, D. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Lab Data, Modeling Hydrodynamics, 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
Compression-assisted absorption refrigeration using ocean thermal energy Hu, Z., Wan, Y., Zhang, C. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Is bigger always better? Designing economically feasible ocean thermal energy conversion systems using spatiotemporal resource data Langer, J., Ferriera, C., Quist, J. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
A Combined Cooling and Power System Based on Guohai Cycle Zhang, Y., Bian, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Performance
Performance analysis of an Open Cycle OTEC power module on laboratory scale Patnaik, B., Mani, A., Dudhgaonkar, P. Conference Paper OTEC, Open-Cycle Lab Data Performance
Proposal of Performance Evaluation Method of Heat Exchanger for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Based on Thermodynamics Perspective Miyazaki, A., Yasunaga, T., Fontaine, K. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Heat Transfer Performance Test Results of A Plate Evaporator-Condenser for Hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Miyazono, S., Yasunaga, T., Nakamura, T. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Lab Data Performance
Realisation of a coastal zero-emission office building with the support of hybrid ocean thermal, floating photovoltaics, and tidal stream generators Zhou, S., Cao, S., Wang, S. Journal Article Current, Tidal, OTEC Modeling Hybrid Devices
Theoretical and experimental study on the performance of a high-efficiency thermodynamic cycle for ocean thermal energy conversion Peng, J., Ge, Y., Chen, F. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
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
Resource Potentials of the Marine Areas of Bangladesh Khan, S. Book Chapter Current, Wave, OTEC
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
Harnessing Ocean Energy from Coastal and Offshore Pakistan Amjad, S. Conference Paper Tidal, Wave, OTEC, Closed-Cycle
Development study of automatic control system for the demonstration plant of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) using sequence controller Lim, S., Lee, H., Kim, H. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Field Data, Modeling Control, Performance
Evaluation of hybrid ocean thermal energy conversion system plantwide performance Azam, K., Abidin, M., Husain, M. Conference Paper OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Lab Data, Modeling Performance
Marine renewable energy devices and their control: An overview Ringwood, J. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Optimal design of radial inflow turbine for ocean thermal energy conversion based on the installation angle of nozzle blade Chen, Y., Liu, Y., Liu, W. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Improvement of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Efficiency by Using Ammonia-Water Zeotropic Mixture Working Fluid Halimi, B., Generanta, I. Conference Paper OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling
Potential Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion in Indonesian Waters Territory Suprijo, T., Poerbo, P., Park, H. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Displaying 201 - 250 of 565 results