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Global distribution of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) resources and applicability in U.S. waters near Florida

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Date Issued:
2012
Summary:
The following study explores the worldwide spatial and temporal distributions of electrical power that can be extracted from the ocean's stored solar energy via the process of closed-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). Special emphasis is placed on resources surrounding the state of Florida. The study combines oceanographic input from a state-of-the-art ocean circulation model, the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model, with a state-of-the-industry OTEC plant model to predict achievable power values across the world. These power predictions are then constrained by local replenishment rates of cold deep sea water to provide an upper limit to the sustainable OTEC resource. Next, the geographic feasibility of OTEC-coupled and OTEC-independent sea water cooling (air conditioning and refrigeration) are explored. Finally, the model data is validated against in situ oceanic measurements to ensure the quality of the predictions.
Title: Global distribution of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) resources and applicability in U.S. waters near Florida.
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Name(s): Rauchenstein, Lynn.
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Issued: 2012
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
Extent: xii 114 p. : ill. (some col.)
Language(s): English
Summary: The following study explores the worldwide spatial and temporal distributions of electrical power that can be extracted from the ocean's stored solar energy via the process of closed-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). Special emphasis is placed on resources surrounding the state of Florida. The study combines oceanographic input from a state-of-the-art ocean circulation model, the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model, with a state-of-the-industry OTEC plant model to predict achievable power values across the world. These power predictions are then constrained by local replenishment rates of cold deep sea water to provide an upper limit to the sustainable OTEC resource. Next, the geographic feasibility of OTEC-coupled and OTEC-independent sea water cooling (air conditioning and refrigeration) are explored. Finally, the model data is validated against in situ oceanic measurements to ensure the quality of the predictions.
Identifier: 833384948 (oclc), 3358968 (digitool), FADT3358968 (IID), fau:4051 (fedora)
Note(s): by Lynn Rauchenstein.
Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012.
Includes bibliography.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
System requirements: Adobe Reader.
Subject(s): Ocean energy resources
Ocean engineering
Geothermal energy
Power resources
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358968
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU