OTEC - The Future of
Energy by Hans Krock Ph.D, PE
Emeritus Professor University of Hawai’i
Energy Harvesting Systems, LLC
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● Largest Energy Resource in the World
● Renewable
● Baseload Power
● Environmentally Beneficial
● Economical
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion – OTEC
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Earth’s Solar Energy Flux
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● Ocean Temperature in °C at 0 m and 1000 m depth
●
Global Ocean Temperature
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∆T in Pacific Ocean
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
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Where Cyclones Roam
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Closed Cycle OTEC Principle
Rankine Cycle Kalina Cycle
Entropy
Tem
per
atu
re °
C
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Closed Cycle OTEC NELHA Pilot Plant
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Design Innovations of Kalina Cycle
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Excisting Kalina Cycles
2 MW Power Plant Husavik, Iceland 3.4 MW Geothermal Power Plant Unterhaching, Germany
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● Hydrogen Fuel
● Potable Water
● Seawater Air Conditioning
● Ice
● Aquaculture
● Agriculture
OTEC Co-products
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Historic Efforts
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Diego Garcia
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Kwajalein
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Platform Technology
DR. ALFRED A. YEE’S
CIDS PLATFORM
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Platform Technology
DR. ALFRED A. YEE’S
CIDS PLATFORM
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Modular Platform Design
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Modular Platform Design
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Deep Ocean Access
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Deep Ocean Access
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Deep Ocean Pipeline
8’ Cold Water Pipe Test Section Kailua Kona, HI
63” Coldwater Air Conditioning Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
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Coldwater Pipe
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● Material Improvements of Concrete
● Flexible Deep Water Pipe
● Modular Design
● Improved Kalina Cycle
● Dr. Al Yee’s Honeycomb CIDS Platform
● Submersible Pumping System
● 12 pt. Mooring System
● Dynamic Positioning
Major Design Innovations
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● Simple
● Commercially Available
● Scientifically Proven
Major Design Innovations
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OTEC Economics
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Alkaline Electrolysis Plant
OTEC - H2 Production
Source: NEL Hydrogen
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Proton Exchange Membrane - PEM Electrolysis
OTEC - H2 Production
Source: Proton OnSite
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Fueling the world with H2 produced on OTEC floating platforms
Fuel Cell Vehicles
Hyundai ix35 Toyota Mirai
Mercedes GLC F-CELL Honda Clarity Fuel Cell GM Fuel Cell
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Fuel Cell Buses
Wrightbus zero-emission bus EvoBus/Daimler bus
Van Hool Hydrogen bus Solaris Urbino 18,75 Electric
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Fuel Cell Truck
https://nikolamotor.com/one
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Alstrom hydrogen train Coradia iLint
Fuel Cell Train
http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2017/03/alstoms-hydrogen-train-coradia-ilint-first-successful-run-at-80-kmh/
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Hydrogen Potential
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Global Warming
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“Business as Usual” Predicted ∆T
Best Case Scenario:
~3° C Warmer
Worst Case Scenario:
~8°C Warmer
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report
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● Reversal of Global Warming
● Technology Proven and Available
● 100% 24/7 Available Power
● Switch to Hydrogen Fuel Economy
● Eliminate need of importing oil and natural gas
● Preserve Existing Fossil Fuels for manufacture of critical goods
● Utilize Earth’s largest energy resource capable of supplying all of humanity’s energy needs
● WE WILL NEVER RUN OUT OF ENERGY
Summary of Advantages of OTEC
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Future Vision
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Future Vision
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Future Vision
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● 750 MW H2 Production Platforms
● H2 and O2 Tankers Supplying Transportation Fuel and Grid Electricity
● No Air Pollution or Oil Spills
● No Dependence on Limited Resources
● Reversal of Global Warming
Future Vision
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● Frontrunner for OTEC Technologies
● Energy Independence
● The „Green“ State
● Role Model for OTEC Powered Hydrogen Society
● Build up a New Industry
● Creat High Tech Jobs
Vision and Benefits for Hawai’i
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MAHALO
Hans Krock Ph.D PE
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● Follows Initial dilution
● Discharge depth = 60 m
● Ambient current = 0.2 m/s
● Initial Temp = 20.9°C
● Ambient Temp = 23°C
● Horizontal Mixing dominates
● At 1 km, ∆T < 0.5°C
● At 3 km, ∆T is neglible
Laboratory Model
Far Field Plume Transport