MODELLING PERFORMANCE OF OCEAN-THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION CYCLE ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT WORKING FLUIDS

Authors

  • Norazreen Samsuri Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Sheikh Ahmad Zaki Shaikh Salim Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Md Nor Musa UTM Ocean Thermal Energy Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Mohamed Sukri Mat Ali Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/.v78.8741

Keywords:

Ammonia, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), Propane, R32, Rankine Cycle, Working Fluids

Abstract

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a promising renewable energy technology with the concept to harness the energy stored at the surface seawater (SSW) and the cold deep seawater (DSW). The operation is based on the Rankine cycle, and involves at a minimum temperature difference of 20 K of the SSW and DSW to generate electricity. This research focuses on the economic efficiency of different working fluids used in the OTEC Rankine cycle. The various working fluids include ammonia, ammonia-water mixture (0.9), propane, R22, R32, R134a, R143a, and R410a. Most of the existing commercial OTEC systems use ammonia as the working medium despite its toxic nature. This study shows that the ammonia-water mixture still gives the best results in terms of heat transfer characteristics because of its greater transport properties and stability compared to other fluids. However, fluids such as propane and R32 can also be used as a substitute for ammonia-water mixture despite having slightly lower efficiency, because they are non-toxic and safer towards the environment. The same developmental model was used to present the proposed modified OTEC Rankine cycle, which shows a 4% increase in thermal cycle efficiency. This study reveals economically efficient and environmentally friendly working fluids.

References

d’Arsonval, J. 1881. Revue Scientifique. 370-372.

Nihous, G. C. 2005. An Order-of-Magnitude Estimate of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Resources. Journal of Energy Resources Technology. 127(4): 328.

Nihous, G. C. 2007. A Preliminary Assessment of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Resources. Journal of Energy Resources Technology. 129(1): 10.

Vega, L. A., & Ph, D. (n.d.). Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Primer. 4: 25-35.

Zhang, X., He, M., & Zhang, Y. 2012.. A Review Of Research On The Kalina Cycle. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 16(7): 5309-5318.

Ikegami, Y. 2010. Activity and Future Prospect Status Of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion - For Sustainable Energy And Water Resource. December: 1183-1186.

Sapura-Crest Group’s Subsidiary TLG GeoSciences Sdn. Bhd. 2008. Malaysia Marine Survey in The South China Sea (MyMRS).

Lennard, D. 1987. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion-Past, Progress And Future Prospects. Proceeding IEE. 34A: 371.

Nouman, J. 2012. Comparative Studies And Analyses Of Working Fluids For Organic Rankine Cycles - ORC.

Uehara, H., Ikegami, Y., & Nishida, T. 1994. Performance Analysis of OTEC Using New Cycle with Absorption and Extraction Process. Proc. Of Oceanology Int.’94. 1-11.

Wang, C. M., Yee, a. a., Krock, H., & Tay, Z. Y. 2011. Research And Developments On Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. The IES Journal Part A: Civil & Structural Engineering. 4(1): 41-52.

Soto, R., & Vergara, J. 2014. Thermal Power Plant Efficiency Enhancement With Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. Applied Thermal Engineering. 62(1): 105-112.

Wang, S., Yuan, P., Li, D., & Jiao, Y. 2011. An Overview Of Ocean Renewable Energy In China. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 15(1): 91-111.

Upshaw, C. R. 2012. Thermodynamic and Economic Feasibility Analysis of a 20 MW Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Power.

Yuan, H., Zhou, P., & Mei, N. 2015. Performance Analysis Of A Solar-Assisted OTEC Cycle For Power Generation And Fishery Cold Storage Refrigeration. Applied Thermal Engineering. 90: 809-819.

Claude, G., 1930. Power from the Tropical Seas. Mechanical Engineering. 52(12): 1039-1044.

Wu, C., & Burke, T. 1998. Intelligent Computer Aided Optimization On Specific Power Of An OTEC Rankine Power Plant. Applied Thermal Engineering. 18(5): 295-300.

Uehara, H., & Ikegami, Y. 1990. Optimization of A Closed-Cycle OTEC System. Transaction Of the ASME Journal of Solar Energy Engineering. 112-4: 247-256

Sami S. M. 2012. International Journal Of Ambient Energy ORC For Low Temperature Power Generation With Low GWP Refrigerants. 37-41.

Gong, J., Gao, T., & Li, G. 2012. Performance Analysis of 15 kW Closed Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System With Different Working Fluids. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering. 135(2).

Liu, W. M., Chen, F. Y., Wang, Y. Q., Jiang, W. J., & Zhang, J. G. 2011. Progress of Closed-Cycle OTEC and Study of a New Cycle of OTEC. Advanced Materials Research. 354-355: 275-278.

Semmari, H., Stitou, D., & Mauran, S. 2012. A Novel Carnot-Based Cycle For Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. Energy. 43(1): 361-375.

Yeh, R.-H., Su, T.-Z., & Yang, M.-S. 2005. Maximum Output Of An OTEC Power Plant. Ocean Engineering. 32(5-6): 685-700.

Sun, F., Ikegami, Y., Jia, B., & Arima, H. 2012. Optimization Design And Exergy Analysis Of Organic Rankine Cycle In Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. Applied Ocean Research. 35: 38-46.

Sun, F., Zhou, W., Ikegami, Y., Nakagami, K., & Su, X. 2014. Energy–exergy Analysis And Optimization Of The Solar-Boosted Kalina Cycle System 11 (KCS-11). Renewable Energy. 66: 268-279.

Yamada, N., Hoshi, A., & Ikegami, Y. 2009. Performance Simulation Of Solar-Boosted Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant. Renewable Energy. 34(7): 1752-1758.

Kim, N. J., Ng, K. C., & Chun, W. 2009. Using the Condenser Effluent From A Nuclear Power Plant For Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer. 36(10): 1008-1013.

Downloads

Published

2016-10-31

Issue

Section

Science and Engineering

How to Cite

MODELLING PERFORMANCE OF OCEAN-THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION CYCLE ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT WORKING FLUIDS. (2016). Jurnal Teknologi, 78(11). https://doi.org/10.11113/.v78.8741