Alternative energy transmission systems from OTEC plants. Project 8980 second quarter progress report, October--December 1976

Abstract

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plants are likely to be located some distance offshore, and several different approaches have been suggested for carrying the energy these plants produce to the energy user. Energy carriers evaluated include both chemical and electrical energy. The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) is conducting a study to provide a technical and economic evaluation of two previously unexamined concepts for converting OTEC energy to a storable, transportable form, and shipping it to a shore-based receiving terminal. One concept deals with an onboard electrical system that is used to produce high-temperature heat and shipping this thermal energy to shore in some form of thermal storage system, such as a molten salt. The other concept is to use OTEC energy to produce carbonaceous fuels using electrolytic hydrogen produced onboard and carbon dioxide extracted from seawater or delivered from a shore-based facility. Methane, methanol, and conventional light fuels of the gasoline family will be considered for synthesis at the OTEC plant; the possibility of producing high-energy fuels, such as hydrazine, UDMH, 1-7 octadiyne, and tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene is also being analyzed. During the second quarter we concentrated our efforts on the following areas: (1) analyzing the techno-economic characteristics of producing gasoline from methanol on an OTEC platform; (2) determining carbon dioxide levels in seawater; (3) evaluating various processes for the extraction of CO sub 2 from seawater; (4) collecting information concerning OTEC energy barge and pipeline transportation systems; and (5) developing a method for analyzing thermal energy transport systems. Research progress is summarized. (ERA citation 02:051231)