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: 520

Title Author Date Type of Content Technology Collection Method Engineering
Research and developments on ocean thermal energy conversion Wang, C., Yee, A., Krock, H. Journal Article OTEC
An overview of ocean renewable energy in China Wang, S., Yuan, P., Jiao, Y. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Report Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Project OTEC Technology Development Report Cable, B. Report OTEC Field Data, Lab Data, Modeling, Scale Device Materials, Performance, Structural, Substructure
Mapping available Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion resources around the main Hawaiian Islands with state-of-the-art tools Nihous, G. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
An overview of ocean renewable energy technologies Bedard, R., Jacobson, P., Previsic, M. Journal Article Current, Wave, Salinity Gradient, OTEC
Ocean Thermal Energy Capacity Estimation and Resource Assessment of Southeast Florida Leland, A., Driscoll, F., van Zweiten, J. Conference Paper OTEC Modeling
A resource assessment of southeast Florida as related to ocean thermal energy Leland, A. Thesis OTEC Field Data
Technical Readiness of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Coastal Response Research Center Report OTEC
Advances in Hawaii’s Ocean Energy RD&D Gill, A., Rocheleau, R. Conference Paper Wave, OTEC
Using the condenser effluent from a nuclear power plant for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Kim, N. , Ng, K. , Chun, W. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle, Hybrid-Cycle Lab Data Performance
Effects of thermocline on performance of underwater glider’s power system propelled by ocean thermal energy Yang, H., Ma, J. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Ocean Energy Technology Review Burman, K., Walker, A. Report Current, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave, OTEC
Performance simulation of solar-boosted ocean thermal energy conversion plant Yamada, N., Hoshi, A., Ikegami, Y. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hybrid Devices, Performance
OTEC Commercialization Challenges Cooper, D., Meyer, L., Varley, R. Journal Article OTEC Field Data Materials, Performance, Structural
Performance analysis and improvement for CC-OTEC system Wang, T., Ding, L., Gu, C. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Performance
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 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
An estimate of Atlantic Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) resources Nihous, G. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Hydrodynamics
The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion strategies and analysis of current challenges Meegahapola, L., Udawatta, L., Witharana, S. Conference Paper OTEC Modeling
A preliminary assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion resources Nihous, G. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle Modeling
An Order-of-Magnitude Estimate of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Resources Nihous, G. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
Hydrogen production through an ocean thermal energy conversion system operating at an optimum temperature drop Kazim, A. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Modeling Materials, Performance
Maximum output of an OTEC power plant Yeh, R., Su, T., Yang, M. Journal Article OTEC Modeling Performance
Potential and Future Prospects for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) In Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) Binger, A. Report OTEC
Conceptual design of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plants in the Philippines Uehara, H., Dilao, C., Nakaoka, T. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Test Center
Revisit ocean thermal energy conversion system Huang, J., Krock, H., Oney, S. Journal Article OTEC Power Take Off
Ocean thermal energy conversion primer Vega, L. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: An Extensive, Environmentally Benign Source of Energy for the Future Daniel, T. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle Field Data
Increase Of Open-Cycle OTEC Condenser Performance With Exhaust Of Non-Condensable Gas Takazawa, H., Tukana, S., Amano, M. Report OTEC, Open-Cycle Lab Data Performance
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Takahashi, P., Trenka, A. Book Current, OTEC
Performance analysis of an OTEC plant and a desalination plant using an integrated hybrid cycle Uehara, H., Miyara, A., Ikegami, Y. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Performance
Ocean thermal energy conversion: Current overview and future outlook Tanner, D. Journal Article OTEC
Renewable Energy From the Ocean: A Guide to OTEC Avery, W., Wu, C. Book OTEC
Deep Ocean Water Utilization at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Daniel, T. Conference Paper OTEC, Closed-Cycle, Open-Cycle Field Data
The Promise of OTEC and Its By-Products Daniel, T. Conference Paper OTEC, Closed-Cycle Field Data
Economics of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Cavrot, D. Journal Article OTEC Modeling
The viability and best locations for ocean thermal energy conversion systems around the world Lennard, D. Journal Article OTEC
An assessment of ocean thermal energy conversion as an advanced electric generation methodology Heydt, G. Journal Article OTEC
Design of a 100 MW OTEC-hydrogen plantship Nihous, G., Vega, L. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Materials, Performance
Ocean thermal energy conversion: Its promise as a total resource system Takahashi, P., Trenka, A. Journal Article 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
Alcan's ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) program Hron, V., Fitzpatrick, N., Hay, E. Journal Article OTEC, Open-Cycle
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
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: An Overview Solar Technical Information Program Report OTEC
Conceptual design analysis for hybrid-cycle OTEC plants for co-production of electric power and desalinated water Rabas, T., Panchal, C., Genens, L. Conference Paper OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Performance
New Seawater Delivery Systems at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Daniel, T. Conference Paper OTEC, Closed-Cycle Field Data Structural
Open-Cycle OTEC Seawater Experiments in Hawaii Lewis, L. , Trimble, L., Bowers, J. Conference Paper OTEC, Open-Cycle Lab Data Performance, Structural
Simultaneous Production of Desalinated Water and Power Using a Hybrid-Cycle OTEC Plant Panchal, C., Bell, K. Journal Article OTEC, Hybrid-Cycle Modeling Performance
Overview of metallic materials for heat exchangers for ocean thermal energy conversion systems Kapranos, P., Priestner, R. Journal Article OTEC, Closed-Cycle Materials, Performance
Displaying 451 - 500 of 520 results