Alternative Energy from the Ocean
Using the ocean for energy is not a new concept but one system 'Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion' has been around (mainly in theory only) since 1881 when the Frenchman Jacques D'Arsonval first discovered it. BTW, I found a site about geological engineering in Spanish: ingenieria geologica. Despite how old it is, the only operational plant on the planet (at the time of writing) is in Hawaii. The expenditure needed to finance OTEC as a potential alternative energy source demands more serious investigation than ever before. Ocean thermal energy, which has a very clean burning manner compared to any other sources, adds no pollutants into the air. However, as it presently would need to be set up with our current technologies, OTEC plants would have the capacity for disrupting and perhaps damaging the local environment.
There are three types of OTEC:
The first of these is referred to as 'closed cycle OTEC' which requires the use of a gas that has a low boiling point like propane for example. The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plant pumps the warm sea water into the reaction chamber and boils the intermediate fluid. Electricity is generated when the gas starts to warm up and using this pressure. Cold sea water then reverses the process, reducing the temperature of the liquid, turning it back into a gas.
The primary difference between the Closed Cycle and the Open Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion methods is that the Open Cycle doe not require the use of the intermediate liquid. All that is used with this system is the sea water itself. Warm sea water found on the surface of the ocean is turned into a low-pressure vapor under the constraint of a vacuum. By cleverly releasing this vapor into a highly focused area, it is possible for it to pump the rotate the turbines. The deeper ocean's cold waters are added to the vapor to cool it down after it has generated sufficient electricity so it can create desalinated water for human consumption.
At the moment, the “Hybrid Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion” still remains just a theory. Bringing about the notion that we could make maximum usage of the ocean waters' thermal energy is just the main purpose of the theory. Two sub-theories are actually contained in the theory of Hybrid Cycling. One of these involves using the closed cycle technology to produce electricity which will feed the open cycle system vacuum. The incorporation of two open cyclings which can produce twice the amount of desalinated, potable water as compared to that of just one open cycle is the main concept of the second component.
Apart from generating electricity on demand, a closed cycle production plant can also be employed in the treatment of chemicals. Both the open cycling and close cycling kinds of the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plants can also be used to pump up cold deep sea water which can be utilized for refrigeration and air conditioning. Furthermore, during the moderation period when the sea water is surrounding the plant, the enclosed area can be used for mariculture and aquaculture projects such as fish farming. We certainly can derive an array of products and services by using this alternative energy source.
Using the ocean for energy is not a new concept but one system 'Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion' has been around (mainly in theory only) since 1881 when the Frenchman Jacques D'Arsonval first discovered it. BTW, I found a site about geological engineering in Spanish: ingenieria geologica. Despite how old it is, the only operational plant on the planet (at the time of writing) is in Hawaii. The expenditure needed to finance OTEC as a potential alternative energy source demands more serious investigation than ever before. Ocean thermal energy, which has a very clean burning manner compared to any other sources, adds no pollutants into the air. However, as it presently would need to be set up with our current technologies, OTEC plants would have the capacity for disrupting and perhaps damaging the local environment.
There are three types of OTEC:
The first of these is referred to as 'closed cycle OTEC' which requires the use of a gas that has a low boiling point like propane for example. The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plant pumps the warm sea water into the reaction chamber and boils the intermediate fluid. Electricity is generated when the gas starts to warm up and using this pressure. Cold sea water then reverses the process, reducing the temperature of the liquid, turning it back into a gas.
The primary difference between the Closed Cycle and the Open Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion methods is that the Open Cycle doe not require the use of the intermediate liquid. All that is used with this system is the sea water itself. Warm sea water found on the surface of the ocean is turned into a low-pressure vapor under the constraint of a vacuum. By cleverly releasing this vapor into a highly focused area, it is possible for it to pump the rotate the turbines. The deeper ocean's cold waters are added to the vapor to cool it down after it has generated sufficient electricity so it can create desalinated water for human consumption.
At the moment, the “Hybrid Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion” still remains just a theory. Bringing about the notion that we could make maximum usage of the ocean waters' thermal energy is just the main purpose of the theory. Two sub-theories are actually contained in the theory of Hybrid Cycling. One of these involves using the closed cycle technology to produce electricity which will feed the open cycle system vacuum. The incorporation of two open cyclings which can produce twice the amount of desalinated, potable water as compared to that of just one open cycle is the main concept of the second component.
Apart from generating electricity on demand, a closed cycle production plant can also be employed in the treatment of chemicals. Both the open cycling and close cycling kinds of the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plants can also be used to pump up cold deep sea water which can be utilized for refrigeration and air conditioning. Furthermore, during the moderation period when the sea water is surrounding the plant, the enclosed area can be used for mariculture and aquaculture projects such as fish farming. We certainly can derive an array of products and services by using this alternative energy source.
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Hansel John Belotindos
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