Energy from Oceans

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)

Tidal energy
• The conversion of solar energy stored as heat in the ocean into
electrical energy by making use of the temperature difference
between the warm surface water and the cooler deep water.
• The operation of the OTEC plants is based on thermodynamic
principles, if a source is available at higher temperature and a sink
at lower temperature, it is possible in principle to utilize the
temperature difference in a machine that can convert part of the
heat taken up from the source into mechanical energy and hence
into electrical energy. The residual heat is discharged to the sink at
lower temperature. The warm surface water is heat source and
deep cooler water provides sink.
• The temperature gradient can be utilized in a heat engine to
generate power. This is called ocean energy thermal energy
conversion (OTEC)
 Solar energy absorption by water takes place
according to Lambert’s law of absorption
• Lambert’s law of absorption: states that each
layer of equal thickness absorbs the same
fraction of light that passes through it.
I(x) = I0 e-kx

Methods of OTEC system

1. Closed Cycle OTEC system
2. Open Cycle OTEC system
3. hybric Cycle OTEC system
Closed Cycle OTEC system
Open Cycle OTEC system
closed OTEC ammonia cycle
Hybrid OTEC cycle
 Heat exchangers
• Titanium
• Aluminium
• 90/10 copper-nickel
• Polymer composite with graphite fillers
Bio-fouling
Tidal Energy
Tidal Range
Tidal Variation during lunar month
Tidal power plant schematic layout
Single basin tidal power plants

Single basin arrangement

Single ebb cycle
Single tide cycle
Double basin
Double cycle system
Double basin arrangement
 Geothermal Energy Conversion

All of the heat stored in the earth’s crust above 15 degree Celsius.

Typical geothermal field

 Types of geothermal resources

1. Hydrothermal convective systems

(a) Vapour-dominated system or dry steam fields
(b) Liquid-dominated system or wet steam fields.

2. Geopressure resources
3. Petro-thermal or Hot dry rocks (HDR)
4. Magma resources
5. Valcanoes.
Hydrothermal convective systems
Vapour-dominated system
 Liquid-dominated system
(a) Flashed-steam system
(b)binary-cycle system
© Total flow system

Flashed steam system (single flash)

Flashed steam system (double flash)
binary-cycle system
Total flow system
 Geopressure resources

Drilling wells for oil and gas – existence of reservoirs containing

salt water moderately high temperature and very high
pressure.
This water contains methane (natural gas). At higher pressure
solubility of methane is increased in water.
When the water is brought to the surface, its pressure is reduced
and methane gas is released from solution.
Petro-thermal or Hot dry rocks (HDR)
Geothermal preheat hybrid system
Fossil superheat hybrid system
 Advantages and disadvantages

Operational and environmental problems

1. Solid particles and non condensable gases
2. Re-injection
3. Land erosion
4. Noise – due to centrifugal separator, exhaust and blowdown
5. Water borne poison – mercury, arsenic, ammonia
6. Air borne poisons –some substances may escape into air may contain radio active materials
7. Heat pollution – waste of heat due to reinjection of hot water
8. Silica – may need constant changing of reinjection sites
9. Subsidence – may trigger earthquakes
10. Escaping steam – flash steam escaping may cause dense fog and affect the traffic
11. Seismicity
12. Geopressured water contain high sand and increase the erosion and scaling problems.
 Energy from Bio mass

Three categories of biomass

1. Solid mass – wood and agricultural residues
2. Liquid – ethanol and methanol
3. Biogas – ferment the biomass anaerobically
 Photosynthesis
Water and carbon dioxide molecules broken down and carbohydrate is formed with release of pure
oxygen

CO2 + H2O + light + Chlorophyll = (H2CO)6 + O2 +Chlorophyll

The process of photosynthesis has two main steps

• Splitting of H2O molecule into H2 and O2 under the influence of chlorophyll
and light – light reaction. In this phase light absorbed by chlorophyll causes
photolysis of water. O2 escapes and H2 is transformed into some unknown
compound. Solar energy is converted into potential chemical energy
• In second phase, hydrogen is transferred from this unknown compound to
CO2 to form starch or sugar. This is called dark reaction not requiring
sunlight

 
 Conditions necessary for photosynthesis

1. Light
2. CO2 Concentration
3. Temperature
 Bio gas generation

• Biogas is mixture containing 55-65% methane,

30-40% carbon dioxide and some impurities
like H2, H2S, and N2, can be produced by
decomposition of plant and animal waste.
Anaerobic digestion consists of three Phases
1. Enzymatic hydrolysis
2. Acid formation
3. Methane formation
 Advantages of anaeobic digestion

• Calorific value of gas

• New sludge production
• Stable sludge
• Low odour
• Value of sludge – has higher nitrogen content giving increasing value
as a fertilizer
 Types of biogas plants
1. Floating gas holder
2. Fixed dome digester

Floating gas holder

Common circular digester with floating gas holder
Common circular fixed dome digester
Taper digester with floating gas holder
Fixed dome digester with separate gas holder