Solar sea power system

摘要

Described is an ocean thermal energy conversion system wherein floating, submerged and fixed drilling platforms installed offshore primarily for exploration and/or production of hydrocarbons serve also as working and supportive bases for means for producing electricity by the adiabatic expansion of hydrocarbon gases which are thereby cooled. The cooled gases are then heated by contact with the solar heated surface layers of water and thermally expand thereby actuating a turbine and an electricity producing generator. Pipelines usually installed for the transmission of gases and crude oil to the shore are used dually by running electric cables with them to bring the electricity produced by the system to on-shore consuming or storage facilities. The system also includes means for increasing the surface water temperature such as insulated pipes bringing heat-containing effluent streams from on-shore treating plants.