Exergo-economic assessment of OTEC power generation

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is an important renewable energy technology aimed at harvesting the large resources connected to temperature gradient between shallow and deep ocean waters, mainly in tropical region. After first small-size demonstrators, current focused on use of Organic Rankine Cycles, which are suitable for operating with very low temperatures resource. With respect other applications binary cycles, a fraction output power consumed resource – that is, case OTEC, pumping cold hot water An exergy analysis process (including thermodynamic model cycle as well heat transfer friction modelling primary circuit) was developed applied determine optimal conditions (for efficiency). A parametric examining main design constraints (temperature range condenser mass flow ratio flows) performed. The cost equipment evaluated applying correlations, exergo-economic results allow calculate production electricity its progressive build-up across conversion process. sensitivity variables