Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Wen Liang Lin

Publication Date

8-1978

Abstract

An OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) power plant uses warm surface seawater (24° C - 28° C) as a heat source and deep cold seawater (4° C - 7°C) as a heat sink. With this temperature difference, a heat engine which delivers either mechanical or electric power can be con­structed. There are some limitations and problems of evaporators and condensers to be used in a closed Rankine cycle OTEC plant which have seriously limited the applicability of this concept. This study proposed a process using the S/L engine---a heat engine that utilizes a working medium undergoing solidification and melting operations.

The present thesis study was conducted to demonstrate that a S/L heat engine can be utilized in an OTEC plant. This was demonstrated by an economic feasibility study and an analysis of overall heat transfer coefficients.

The estimated cost of an S/L engine utilized in an OTEC power plant is approximately $67O/Kw. This cost compares favorably with the total cost of evaporators and condensers in a closed Rankin cycle OTEC plant, which is approximately $9O4/Kw. One may conclude that the S/L engine plant appears to be a favorable process and warrant further study.

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Chemical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Chemical and Biological Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Chen-Yen Cheng

Second Committee Member

Richard Wilson Mead

Third Committee Member

David Kauffman

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