The document discusses ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), which uses the temperature difference between deep cold ocean water and warm tropical surface water to run a heat engine and generate electricity. It provides information on the history of OTEC, how an OTEC plant works, the advantages of OTEC including its reliability compared to other renewable sources, and challenges to widespread adoption including high costs and limited locations suitable for OTEC facilities. The document considers whether OTEC could be implemented in Santa Barbara but determines it has not been tested at a large enough scale to warrant investment.

1. OTEC
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
by
Miguel, Luca and Spencer

2. OTEC
we are investigating ocean thermal
energy conversion
this resource is viable when started
because in the process of creating energy
it does not take up any materials

3. OTEC in Santa Barbara
if you were to set up an OTEC power plant in Santa
Barbara you would need to set it up in a place with a
difference of about 20 degrees Celsius, and in between
thermoclines.
we are not sure if Santa Barbara can provide this type
of location
it takes money and not many people are willing to
invest in a source of energy that has only been tested
once

4. OTEC in Santa Barbra
We do not believe that OTEC should be
used in Santa Barbra, because it has not
been tested on a significant basis
until it has been tested and, the OTEC
power plant has been proven to be
effective, with a less probability of
problems we should not invest

5. History
attempts to develop OTEC Technology started in
1880’s
Jacques D’ Arsonval proposed the idea of converting
differences in water temperature into electricity
Georges Claude built the first OTEC plant in
Matanzas bay, Cuba in 1930
it generated 22Kw of electricity with a low pressure
turbine, however it did not produce a net power.

6. traditional energy sources
fossil fuels are oil, coal, and natural gas
foils fuels have a very harmful impact on the planet
fossil fuels are not viable or renewable because they
take millions of years to form,and reserves are being
depleted faster than the new ones are being reformed
we should not continue using traditional energy

7. traditional energy chart

8. OTEC
OTEC is found in the ocean
the way OTEC creates energy is it has ammonia in its
tubes, ammonia has a boiling temperature of -28f ,
when warm water is run by the ammonia it makes the
ammonia evaporate, the evaporated ammonia turns a
generator. The ammonia is moved to lower water were
it condenses and turns back to a liquid state. The
process is repeated and the cycle continuously runs

9. the energy is found in the temperature of
the sea water. The temperature makes
the ammonia turn into steam which turns
the turbine creating electricity

10. OTEC Plant

11. fun facts
this technology is not yet utilized
the first experiment was made off of a
small boat
this has only been done once

12. traditional vs otec
the concept is the same, a liquid is
heated and evaporates which turns a
turbine, which creates electrical energy
the difference is that OTEC does not
require any materials to be burned or
heated to create enough energy to power
the generator.

13. Future of OTEC
this is a very complicated and expensive
energy but as technology improves it
could have a big impact on the future’s
energy sources.

14. Where is OTEC
the question should be when, as of now
there is not currently an OTEC power
plant that is in use
the only place it was built so far was of a
small boat in the sea. Hawaii, however,
is currently looking into OTEC as a
possible energy source

15. The Pros of OTEC
OTEC is a reliable source of energy.
OTEC produces energy 24/7 unlike wind
or solar power, that depend on the
outside conditions to function.

16. Dependability
OTEC does not rely on fossil fuels to
function, there for it is not subject to
price fluctuation.
OTEC power has an easily predictable
input to output ratio.

17. More Pros
The ocean covers more than 70% of the
planet and each day it absorbs the solar
equivalent of several billion barrels of
oil.
If OTEC could capture just .1% it would
produce enough energy to power 20
USAs.

18. Were it can be used
OTEC is a great source of energy for
small islands that rely mostly on
imported oil.
It is also a great reliable source of
energy for military out posts like guam,
so that their source of energy cannot be
cut off

19. OTEC disadvantages
•there is only so many parts of the ocean
the can do it at.
•Despite the advantages of temperature
moderation, the OTEC plants can alter
and maybe damage the surrounding
ecosystem
•OTEC plants must be located where a
difference of about 20o C occurs

20. •Ocean thermal energy conversion requires a lot of money
up front.
•Ocean depths must be available fairly close to shore
• No energy company will put money in this project
because it only had been tested in a very small scale
• Construction of OTEC plants and lying of pipes in
coastal waters may cause localized damage to reefs and
near-shore

21. websites we used
•www.livescience.com/3155-energy-
debates-ocean-thermal-energy-.
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Ocean_thermal_energy_conversion
•www.exergy.se/ftp/cng97ot.pdf
•http://interestingenergyfacts.blogspot.com/
2009/09/fossil-fuels-facts.html