Green Alternative Energy Power Secrets: Energy from the Ocean as Source of Alternative Energy

French engineer Jacques D'Arsonval was the first to envisage the concept of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) in 1881 but till the date the only experimental OTEC plant on the earth in operation is the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii. In spite of being a potential source of alternative energy, OTEC has neither been explored nor funded to the extent it should have been.

Cost has been the biggest obstacle in OTEC implementation because the processes involved in driving OTEC do not permit the price to come down to a feasible point. Ocean thermal energy is environment friendly and does not pollute the air as it deploys clean burning nature. Though, OTEC plants need to be allied with the modern technologies, there is a little chance that OTEC may disrupt the local environment and can have a negative impact

Green Alternative Energy Power Secrets: OTEC is of three types-

Closed Cycle OTEC: Propane, which is considered being a low boiling point liquid, used in Closed Cycle OTEC as an intermediate fluid. OTEC plant boils the intermediate fluid by pumping the warm sea water into the reaction chamber; as a result the vapor of the intermediate fluid pushes the turbine of the engine for generating electricity. Then the vapor is cooled down as it is put in the cold sea water.

Open Cycle OTEC: There is minimum difference between closed and open cycle OTEC. Intermediate fluid is not used in Open Cycle OTEC. Instead of intermediate fluid the sea water plays the role of the driver of the turbine engine in Open Cycle OTEC format. Under a constraint of vacuum the warm sea water which is found on the ocean surface is converted into a low pressure vapor. Then the low pressure vapor which has the power of driving the turbine is released in a focused area. After generating the enough electricity the vapor is cooled down by adding deeper ocean's cold water and further used to create desalinated water for human consumption.

Hybrid Cycle OTEC: It is still a theory which explains the ways of maximizing the use of the thermal energy generated from the ocean's waters. Hybrid Cycling offers two sub theories - the electricity generated using a closed cycling is the first theory. This electricity is further used for creating vacuum environment which an open cycling requires. The second is about two open cycles are integrated in such a way that a single open cycle creates double the amount of desalinated, portable water.

Besides generating electricity treating the chemicals is another use of the closed cycle OTEC plant. Pumping up cold deep sea water used for refrigeration and air conditioning is another use of both open and closed cycle OTEC plants. Mariculture and aquaculture projects like fish farming can be done in the sea water surrounded plant when the moderation period is on. It is evident that through innovations, this alternative energy source can be used for a wide range of services besides generating electricity.