IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v313y2024ics0360544224035382.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experimental investigation on thermodynamic and environmental performance of a novel ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)-Air conditioning (AC) system

Author

Listed:
  • Zhou, Yibo
  • Gao, Wenzhong
  • Zhang, Yuan
  • Tian, Zhen
  • Wang, Fei
  • Gao, Runbo

Abstract

In the field of isolated island energy supply, the OTEC system is considered promising due to its large storage capacity, and pollution-free characteristics. To improve energy efficiency, polygeneration systems have gradually become a research hotspot for their low cost and high return features. In this context, a novel Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion system integrated with an air conditioning unit (OTEC-AC) is introduced, demonstrating capabilities in electricity, cooling capacity, and fresh water production by experiments. The effects of various flow rates and temperatures of the heat and cold sources, along with the air-conditioning system water flow rate on the system performance is explored. Besides, the overall performance of the OTEC-AC is compared with four representative OTEC models. The results indicate that there is a threshold for the influence of cold and heat source flow rate on the performance of power generation system. The OTEC-AC system shows a highest net power of 132.6 W, cooling capacity of 2.14 kW, condensate production of 3.24 kg/h, and achieves a system exergy efficiency and CO2 reduction of 34.7 % and 5801 kg/year, respectively. The annual CO2 reduction per kilowatt of installed capacity of the system is increased by 135.6 %, compared with the conventional OTEC system.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Yibo & Gao, Wenzhong & Zhang, Yuan & Tian, Zhen & Wang, Fei & Gao, Runbo, 2024. "Experimental investigation on thermodynamic and environmental performance of a novel ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)-Air conditioning (AC) system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:313:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224035382
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.133760
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224035382
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133760?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Xuanang & Wang, Xuan & Cai, Jinwen & He, Zhaoxian & Tian, Hua & Shu, Gequn & Shi, Lingfeng, 2022. "Experimental study on operating parameters matching characteristic of the organic Rankine cycle for engine waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PA).
    2. Heydari, Ali & Askarzadeh, Alireza, 2016. "Optimization of a biomass-based photovoltaic power plant for an off-grid application subject to loss of power supply probability concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 601-611.
    3. Zhang, Ji & Zhang, Xiaomeng & Zhang, Zhixiang & Zhou, Peilin & Zhang, Yan & Yuan, Han, 2022. "Performance improvement of ocean thermal energy conversion organic Rankine cycle under temperature glide effect," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    4. Vera, D. & Baccioli, A. & Jurado, F. & Desideri, U., 2020. "Modeling and optimization of an ocean thermal energy conversion system for remote islands electrification," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1399-1414.
    5. Yang, Min-Hsiung & Yeh, Rong-Hua, 2022. "Investigation of the potential of R717 blends as working fluids in the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    6. Zhang, Wei & Li, Ye & Wu, Xiaoni & Guo, Shihao, 2018. "Review of the applied mechanical problems in ocean thermal energy conversion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 231-244.
    7. Li, Zhenyu & Siddiqi, Afreen & Anadon, Laura Diaz & Narayanamurti, Venkatesh, 2018. "Towards sustainability in water-energy nexus: Ocean energy for seawater desalination," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3833-3847.
    8. Ma, Qingfen & Gao, Zezhou & Huang, Jie & Mahian, Omid & Feng, Xin & Lu, Hui & Wang, Shenghui & Wang, Chengpeng & Tang, Rongnian & Li, Jingru, 2023. "Thermodynamic analysis and turbine design of a 100 kW OTEC-ORC with binary non-azeotropic working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    9. Chen, Fengyun & Liu, Lei & Peng, Jingping & Ge, Yunzheng & Wu, Haoyu & Liu, Weimin, 2019. "Theoretical and experimental research on the thermal performance of ocean thermal energy conversion system using the rankine cycle mode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 497-503.
    10. Hu, Zheng & Chen, Yongping & Zhang, Chengbin, 2024. "Role of R717 blends in ocean thermal energy conversion organic Rankine cycle," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    11. Temiz, Mert & Dincer, Ibrahim, 2022. "A unique ocean and solar based multigenerational system with hydrogen production and thermal energy storage for Arctic communities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    12. Huo, Erguang & Chen, Wei & Deng, Zilong & Gao, Wei & Chen, Yongping, 2023. "Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of a combined cooling and power system using ocean thermal energy and solar energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    13. Khosravi, A. & Syri, Sanna & Assad, M.E.H. & Malekan, M., 2019. "Thermodynamic and economic analysis of a hybrid ocean thermal energy conversion/photovoltaic system with hydrogen-based energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 304-319.
    14. Tian, Zhen & Qi, Zhixin & Gan, Wanlong & Tian, Molin & Gao, Wenzhong, 2022. "A novel negative carbon-emission, cooling, and power generation system based on combined LNG regasification and waste heat recovery: Energy, exergy, economic, environmental (4E) evaluations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    15. Faizal, Mohammed & Ahmed, M. Rafiuddin, 2013. "Experimental studies on a closed cycle demonstration OTEC plant working on small temperature difference," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 234-240.
    16. Yoon, Jung-In & Seol, Sung-Hoon & Son, Chang-Hyo & Jung, Suk-Ho & Kim, Young-Bok & Lee, Ho-Saeng & Kim, Hyeon-Ju & Moon, Jung-Hyun, 2017. "Analysis of the high-efficiency EP-OTEC cycle using R152a," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 366-373.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Yuan & Li, Yifan & Tian, Zhen & Yang, Chao & Peng, Hao & Kan, Ankang & Gao, Wenzhong, 2025. "Thermodynamic performance prediction and optimization of a 1 kW ocean thermal energy cogeneration system based on artificial neural network," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    2. Ma, Qingfen & Gao, Zezhou & Huang, Jie & Mahian, Omid & Feng, Xin & Lu, Hui & Wang, Shenghui & Wang, Chengpeng & Tang, Rongnian & Li, Jingru, 2023. "Thermodynamic analysis and turbine design of a 100 kW OTEC-ORC with binary non-azeotropic working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    3. Hu, Zheng & Chen, Yongping & Zhang, Chengbin, 2024. "Role of R717 blends in ocean thermal energy conversion organic Rankine cycle," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    4. Chang, Shoujin & Lei, Rui & He, Jiaxin & Li, Xuan & Li, Yuhan & Hu, Haitao, 2025. "Numerical modelling and performance analysis of closed ocean thermal energy conversion cycles in the South China sea," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    5. Mao, Liangjie & Wei, Changjiang & Zeng, Song & Cai, Mingjie, 2023. "Heat transfer mechanism of cold-water pipe in ocean thermal energy conversion system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    6. Vera, D. & Baccioli, A. & Jurado, F. & Desideri, U., 2020. "Modeling and optimization of an ocean thermal energy conversion system for remote islands electrification," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1399-1414.
    7. Zhang, Zhixiang & Yuan, Han & Mei, Ning, 2023. "Theoretical analysis on extraction-ejection combined power and refrigeration cycle for ocean thermal energy conversion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    8. Chen, Fengyun & Liu, Lei & Zeng, Hao & Peng, Jingping & Ge, Yunzheng & Liu, Weimin, 2024. "Theoretical and experimental study on the secondary heat recovery cycle of the mixed working fluid in ocean thermal energy conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    9. Reemal D. Prasad & Muzammil Ali & Mohammed Rafiuddin Ahmed, 2024. "Experimental Evaluation of the Power Output and Efficiency of a Small Solar-Boosted OTEC Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-28, December.
    10. Zhang, Ji & Zhang, Xiaomeng & Zhang, Zhixiang & Zhou, Peilin & Zhang, Yan & Yuan, Han, 2022. "Performance improvement of ocean thermal energy conversion organic Rankine cycle under temperature glide effect," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    11. Huo, Erguang & Chen, Wei & Deng, Zilong & Gao, Wei & Chen, Yongping, 2023. "Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of a combined cooling and power system using ocean thermal energy and solar energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    12. Peng, Jingping & Ge, Yunzheng & Chen, Fengyun & Liu, Lei & Wu, Haoyu & Liu, Weimin, 2022. "Theoretical and experimental study on the performance of a high-efficiency thermodynamic cycle for ocean thermal energy conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 734-747.
    13. Liu, Weimin & Xu, Xiaojian & Chen, Fengyun & Liu, Yanjun & Li, Shizhen & Liu, Lei & Chen, Yun, 2020. "A review of research on the closed thermodynamic cycles of ocean thermal energy conversion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    14. Aminath Saadha & Keiichi N. Ishihara & Takaya Ogawa & Soumya Basu & Hideyuki Okumura, 2025. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Combined Onshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Technology and Seawater Air Conditioning in Small Island Developing States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-28, May.
    15. Fan, Chengcheng & Wu, Zhe & Wang, Jiadian & Chen, Yongping & Zhang, Chengbin, 2023. "Thermodynamic process control of ocean thermal energy conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 810-821.
    16. Geng, Donghan & Gao, Xiangjie, 2023. "Thermodynamic and exergoeconomic optimization of a novel cooling, desalination and power multigeneration system based on ocean thermal energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 17-39.
    17. Fan, Chengcheng & Zhang, Chengbin & Chen, Yongping, 2024. "Dynamic operation characteristics of ocean thermal energy conversion using Kalina cycle," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    18. Guillermo Lopez & Maria de los Angeles Ortega Del Rosario & Arthur James & Humberto Alvarez, 2022. "Site Selection for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plants (OTEC): A Case Study in Panama," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, April.
    19. Wang, Guohui & Yang, Yanan & Wang, Shuxin, 2020. "Ocean thermal energy application technologies for unmanned underwater vehicles: A comprehensive review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    20. Jung, Hyunjun & Subban, Chinmayee V. & McTigue, Joshua Dominic & Martinez, Jayson J. & Copping, Andrea E. & Osorio, Julian & Liu, Jian & Deng, Z. Daniel, 2022. "Extracting energy from ocean thermal and salinity gradients to power unmanned underwater vehicles: State of the art, current limitations, and future outlook," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:313:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224035382. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.