2 lines
No EOL
1.1 KiB
Markdown
2 lines
No EOL
1.1 KiB
Markdown
Ocean thermal energy conversion is an energy production process aimed at using the temperature difference between the ==seabed== and the ocean surface to generate energy.
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In tropical regions, the surface of the water can be much warmer than the seabed. This temperature difference can be used to generate electricity and desalinate seawater. Ocean thermal energy conversion uses a temperature difference of about 20°C to power turbines that generate electricity. Warm water at the ocean's surface is ==pumped through== an evaporator containing a fluid. This fluid, vaporized by the action of the warm water, turns back into a liquid in a cooling condenser, with the cooling provided by the cold water from the seabed. Ocean thermal energy conversion, by using seawater as both the cooling liquid and the fluid to be cooled, can automatically desalinate water through the condensation process. Since the efficiency of such a technique is 8% for a conversion from 26°C to 4°C, a plant using ocean energy conversion would yield an actual efficiency of 3% to 4% due to losses and entropy. |