# US 11,111,906 B1 · Onshore equipped ocean thermal and hydraulic energy conversion system and method

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- Number: US 11,111,906 B1
- Document ID: US11111906B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/794,939
- Filed: 2020-02-19
- Published: 2021-08-19
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-19
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Abdulaziz Mohammed AlDossary
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111906B1

## CPC

- F03B 3/04: with substantially axial flow throughout rotors, e.g. propeller turbines {(rotors per se F03B3/126)}
- F03G 7/05: Ocean thermal energy conversion, i.e. OTEC
- F01D 15/10: Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The ocean thermal and hydraulic energy conversion system includes a closed loop assembly comprising a pipeline filled with a working fluid, a pump and a turbine. The system includes a first supply line to transport warm water to an evaporator and then to a junction, and a second supply line to transport cold water to a condenser and then to the junction. The evaporator evaporates the working fluid from a liquid into a vapor using the warm water and the vapor powers the turbine. A generator is connected to the turbine and generates electricity by the powered turbine. The condenser condenses the working fluid vapor to a liquid using the cold water. A hydraulic converter receives the warm and cold water from the junction and converts the hydraulic energy into electricity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ocean thermal and hydraulic energy conversion system comprising:
a closed loop assembly comprising a first pipeline filled with a working fluid, a working fluid pressurizer and a first turbine;
a first heat exchanger;
a water junction;
a first water supply line adapted to transport high temperature water to the first heat exchanger and then to the water junction,
wherein the first heat exchanger is adapted to evaporate the working fluid from a working fluid liquid into a working fluid vapor using the high temperature water, and the working fluid vapor powers the first turbine;
a first generator connected to the first turbine and adapted to generate electricity by the powered first turbine;
a second heat exchanger;
a second water supply line adapted to transport low temperature water to the second heat exchanger and then to the water junction,
wherein the second heat exchanger is adapted to condense the working fluid vapor to a working fluid liquid using the low temperature water;
a hydraulic converter adapted to receive the high and low temperature water from the water junction and convert the hydraulic energy into electricity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid pressurizer is a liquid pump.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger is an evaporator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is a condenser.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic converter is a hydraulic turbine and second generator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid has a low boiling point.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The energy conversion system of claim 6, wherein the working fluid is ammonia.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The energy conversion system of claim 1, further comprising:
a first water pump connected to the first water supply line adapted to pump high temperature water under pressure through the first water supply line; and
a second water pump connected to the second water supply line adapted to pump low temperature water under pressure through the second water supply line.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is adapted to condense the working fluid vapor that exits the first turbine.

### Claim 10

An ocean thermal and hydraulic energy conversion system comprising:
a closed loop assembly comprising a first pipeline filled with a working fluid, a pump and a first turbine;
an evaporator;
a water junction;
a first water supply line adapted to transport high temperature water to the evaporator and then to the water junction,
wherein the evaporator is adapted to evaporate the working fluid from a working fluid liquid into a working fluid vapor using the high temperature water, and the working fluid vapor powers the first turbine;
a first generator connected to the first turbine and adapted to generate electricity by the powered first turbine;
a condenser;
a second water supply line adapted to transport low temperature water to the condenser and then to the water junction,
wherein the condenser is adapted to condense the working fluid vapor exiting the first turbine to a working fluid liquid using the low temperature water; and
a hydraulic converter adapted to receive the high and low temperature water from the water junction and convert the hydraulic energy into electricity.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The energy conversion system of claim 10, wherein the hydraulic converter is a hydraulic turbine and second generator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The energy conversion system of claim 10, wherein the working fluid has a low boiling point.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The energy conversion system of claim 12, wherein the working fluid is ammonia.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The energy conversion system of claim 10, further comprising:
a first water pump connected to the first water supply line adapted to pump high temperature water under pressure through the first water supply line; and
a second water pump connected to the second water supply line adapted to pump low temperature water under pressure through the second water supply line.

### Claim 15

A method for maximizing the energy conversion of an ocean thermal and hydraulic energy conversion system comprising the steps of:
providing a closed loop assembly comprising a pipeline filled with a working fluid, a pump and a first turbine;
pumping warm water from at or near the upper surface of the ocean in a first supply line to an evaporator and then to a junction;
evaporating the working fluid from a liquid into a vapor using the warm water via an evaporator;
powering the first turbine with the working fluid vapor;
providing a first generator connected to the first turbine and the generator generating electricity by the powered turbine;
pumping cold water from a lower portion of the ocean in a second supply line to a condenser and then to the junction;
condensing the working fluid vapor exiting the first turbine to a liquid using the cold water via the condenser; and
combining the warm and cold water at the junction and converting the hydraulic energy of the combined warm and cold water into electricity via a hydraulic converter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic converter is a hydraulic turbine and second generator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of returning the combined warm and cold water to the ocean after powering the hydraulic turbine.