Sampling Strategies for Environmental Data Useful in Design Modification of Ocean Energy Systems: An OTEC Case Study

摘要

The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) program is completing the conceptual design phase and entering the preliminary design phase of a 40 MWe pilot plant. During all design phases, there is a constructive feedback between the design of the plant and the body of data which describes the oceanographic and environmental setting of the plant. The design of the plant helps to define what data are gathered, and the data help refine the design of the plant. During conceptual design, development has proceeded on two baseline designs. Both designs are sited at the coast near Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii. The two designs are: (1) a shelf-seated artificial island, connected via a causeway to Oahu, using stainless steel heat exchangers, with the thermal resource enhanced by effluent from a near-by power plant, ammonia working fluid and biocide (chlorine) cleaning; and (2) a shelf-mounted tower 1 mile offshore using submerged aluminum heat exchangers, R-22 (freon) working fluid, and slurry cleaning with biocide (chlorine) backup. The designs are driven by engineering and socio-legal requirements which are in part defined using environmental and oceanographic data pertinent to the site. These requirements may be related to the data through four groupings of environmental concerns: (1) siting, design and operational criteria; (2) thermal resource evaluation and variability; (3) biological and chemical issues; and (4) regulatory requirements. The design, the requirements and the data are continually upgraded in concert. (ERA citation 09:018369)