Vessel-mounted ocean thermal energy conversion system
AssigneeThe Abell Foundation, Inc.
InventorBarry R. Cole
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An offshore power generation system comprising: a floating portable platform having one or more OTEC heat exchange units, one or more turbine generators, a water intake and discharge system, a mooring system; and a fixed manifold having one or more cold water intake connections in communication with a cold water pipe, and one or more cold water discharge connections in communication with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate cold water conduit, wherein each cold water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate cold water pipe.
Claims20
An offshore power generation system comprising:
- (a) a floating portable platform comprising;
- (1) one or more Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) heat exchange units;
- (2) one or more turbine generators;
- (3) a water intake and discharge system;
- (4) a mooring system;
- and
- (b) a seabed manifold:
- (1) a cold water intake connection;
- (2) a plurality of cold water discharge connections;
- and
- (3) a plurality of warm water discharge connections in communications with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate warm water conduit, wherein each warm water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate warm water conduit;
- (c) a cold water pipe attached to and in fluid communication with the cold water intake connection of the seabed manifold, the cold water pipe extending from the seabed manifold to deep ocean water which remains at about 40° F.;
- (d) a plurality of intermediate cold water conduits extending between the seabed manifold and the water intake and discharge system of the floating portable platform, each of the plurality of intermediate cold water conduits detachable from the seabed manifold, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate cold water conduits smaller and more flexible than the cold water pipe;
- and
- (e) a plurality of intermediate warm water conduits extending between the seabed manifold and the water intake and discharge system of the floating portable platform, each of the plurality of intermediate warm water conduits detachable from the seabed manifold.
A method of power generation within the littoral offshore zone comprising:
- (a) Providing a portable floating Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) power generation station, wherein the floating OTEC power generation station comprises;
- (1) one or more OTEC heat exchange units;
- (2) one or more turbine generators;
- (3) a water intake and discharge system;
- and
- (4) a mooring system;
- (b) Fixing a water intake manifold to the sea floor at a depth between 30 and 450 feet;
- (c) Connecting a cold water pipe to the fixed water intake manifold
- (d) Connecting an intermediate cold water conduit between the fixed water intake manifold and the water intake and discharge system of the floating OTEC power generation station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.