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Session: Poster session & Sponsor Exhibition
Session starts: Monday 07 October, 14:00

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Berend Jan Kleute ()
Aksel Benlevi ()
Bram Harmsen ()
Remi Blokker ()

Abstract:
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is the largest untapped source of solar energy in the world. With its capability to generate electricity day and night, year-round, OTEC is destined to become an attractive and essential part of the future global energy mix, enabling low cost and clean electricity production. Today, multiple OTEC pilot plants are under development worldwide. To demonstrate and improve OTEC technology, Bluerise in cooperation with Delft University of Technology has designed and built a room size demonstration of an advanced OTEC power plant. This OTEC demo uses a non-azeotropic working fluid suitable for low-grade, large capacity thermal resources, like the ocean, enabling an improved efficiency compared to standard ORC-based OTEC systems. Initial tests focused on stabilizing OTEC demo operation. An accurate temperature control for the warm and cold water side was installed in order to resemble actual operational conditions. Through real-time measurements and control of the system pressure, liquid levels and flow rates, stable operation was achieved validating our theoretical models. Current research is focusing on further optimizing the system behavior and performance. This working, demonstrable plant is an important step in proving validity of advanced OTEC technology and establishing a research center for (low-grade) thermal energy conversion technologies. Initial test results will be presented at the conference.