×

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system

  • US 5,582,691 A
  • Filed: 12/14/1993
  • Issued: 12/10/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system, comprising:

  • warm sea water receiving means for receiving a warm sea water supply from an oceancold 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, andfirst 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, andsecond condenser means of condensing the working vapor with the second cold sea water stream.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×