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US 5,582,691 AGranted
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system
OwnerRobert J. Flynn, George J. Cicchetti +1inventors
InventorsRobert J. Flynn, George J. Cicchetti, Jonathan d'E. Coony
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system which includes a novel combined evaporator/condenser. The combined evaporator/condenser further includes a plurality of evaporator spouts and a mist eliminator, wherein the pressure is maintained across the plurality of evaporator spouts. The OTEC system also generates fresh water as a primary product and generates only enough electricity, as a secondary product, to operate the OTEC system itself.
Claims21
An ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system, comprising:
- warm sea water receiving means for receiving a warm sea water supply from an ocean
- cold sea water receiving means for receiving a cold sea water supply from the ocean,
- warm sea water dividing means for dividing the warm sea water supply into a first and a second warm sea water stream,
- cold sea water dividing mans for dividing the cold sea water supply into a first and a second cold sea water stream;
- desalination means for receiving the first warm sea water stream, flash evaporating a portion of the first warm sea water stream, to produce steam, and condensing the steam by indirect contact with the first cold sea water stream to produce fresh water;
- and
- energy generation means for receiving the second warm sea water stream, evaporating a working fluid, by indirect contact with the second warm sea water stream, to produce a working vapor, generating energy from the working vapor, and condensing the working vapor by indirect contact with the second cold sea water stream;
- said desalination means further producing a cold sea water discharge and a warm sea water discharge which are not mixed with the second warm sea water stream and the second cold sea water stream received by said energy generation means;
- said desalination means including,
- flash evaporation means for receiving the first warm sea water stream and flash evaporating the portion of the first warm sea water stream to produce the steam,
- a mist eliminator for removing mist from the steam, and
- first condenser means for condensing the steam with the first cold sea water stream to produce the fresh water;
- said energy generation means including,
- evaporation means for receiving the second warm second water stream and evaporating the working fluid to produce the working vapor,
- turbine means for generating the energy from the working vapor, and
- second condenser means of condensing the working vapor with the second cold sea water stream.
13 more elements
A method of generating fresh water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a warm sea water supply from an ocean;
- (b) receiving a cold sea water supply from the ocean;
- (c) dividing the warm sea water supply into a first and a second warm sea water stream;
- (d) dividing the cold sea water supply into a first and a second cold sea water stream;
- (e) flash evaporating a portion of the first warm sea water stream to produce steam;
- (f) removing mist from the steam;
- (g) condensing the steam by indirect contact with the first cold sea water stream to produce fresh water;
- (h) evaporating a working fluid by indirect contact with the second warm sea water stream to produce a working vapor;
- (i) generating energy from the working vapor and condensing the working vapor by indirect contact with the second cold sea water stream;
- wherein said steps (e) and (g) also produce a warm sea water discharge and a cold sea water discharge, respectively, which are not mixed with the second warm sea water stream of said step (h) and the second cold sea water stream of said step (i), respectively.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.