Fundamental study of binary heat sources and multi-purpose open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion. Heat transfer performance of solar heater and fundamental performances of cycle.

Abstract

This paper aims to propose and study a new open-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion featuring binary heat sources and multi-purpose uses. The circular pipe solar heater of warm sea water is cleand by sponge balls and the flow system adequate to this new cycle using high, medium and low pressure turbine stages is shown. Heat transfer performances of the solar heater are experimentally studied by use of halogen lamps simulating uniform flux. Based on the experimental results of the solar heater, the conditions for optimum thermal efficiency and specific output for various solar heater outlet temperatures are calculated. The results show that under the given sea water flow rate, the day-mean output is over four times more than the conventional one and the steam flow rate of the low pressure steam to produce fresh water is about five times than that of the conventional open cycle OTEC.