Measurements of Gas Sorption from Seawater and the Influence of Gas Release on Open-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OC-OTEC) System Performance

The technical community has questioned the validity and cost-effectiveness of open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OC-OTEC) systems because of the unknown effect of noncondensable gas on heat exchanger performance and the power needed to run vacuum equipment to remove this gas. To date, studies of seawater gas desorption have not been prototypical for system level analysis. This studygives preliminary gas desorption data on a vertical spout, direct contact evaporator and multiple condenser geometries. Results indicate that dissolved gas can be substantially removed before the seawater enters the heat exchange process, reducing the uncertainty and effect of inert gas on heat exchanger performance.