Seawater Experimental Results of Direct-Contact Condensation for OC-OTEC Applications

by F. Zangrando, Solar Energy Research Inst (SERI), United States,
H. Link, Solar Energy Research Inst (SERI), United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Ocean Energy Recovery

Abstract:

Tests of a direct-contact condenser (DCC) for open-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion systems (OC-OTEC) have been conducted using seawater and exchanging up to 1.25 MW_th between the evaporator and the condenser units. Results show the feasibility of DCC operation with seawater, quantify the effect of principal parameters influencing component performance, validate existing analytical models for seawater conditions, and provide design information for a larger-scale experiment aimed at net power production with OC-OTEC. Over the broad test matrix, the DCC condenses more than 98% of the incoming steam while using only about 10% more than the theoretical limits for use of seawater and venting requirements.

Subject Headings: Thermal power | Sea water | Electric power | Computer models | Steam power | Thermal analysis | Ocean engineering

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