FLOATING SOLAR COLLECTOR ASSISTED OTEC GENERATOR

摘要

An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system having a turbine with an upstream side and a downstream side. Warm water under a partial vacuum is converted into a vapor, the vapor being supplied to the upstream side of the turbine at a pressure controlled by the temperature of the warm water. A condenser is situated on the down-stream side of the turbine to cause the vapor, after passing through the turbine, to undergo a phase change back to a liquid, which can be used as potable water. The condenser is coupled to a source of a cooling liquid, and the pressure of the vapor on the downstream side of the turbine is determined by the temperature of the cooling liquid. A flexible floating solar collector supplies the warm liquid to the upstream side at a temperature higher than normal ambient temperature.

主权项

1. An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system comprising: a turbine with an upstream side and a downstream side, the turbine being mechanically coupled to a power generator, a converter connected to the turbine upstream side, the converter having a warm water inlet and a source of a partial vacuum, a condenser coupled to the downstream side of the turbine, the condenser having an outlet and a source of a cooling liquid, a floating solar collector coupled to the warm water inlet of the converter; and a dispensary of potable water coupled to the outlet of the condenser.