Power station using the heat energy from an expanse of water, particularly the sea

摘要

The power station is situated under the water surface and comprises a steam turbine (2) coupled to an alternator (23). The steam is produced by the vacuum created in a steam generator (1). At this reduced pressure, water at a temperature of 26 DEG C boils immediately. Downstream from the turbine (2), the steam partially condenses in a condenser (6). The steam-water mixture is carried by a pump (4) into a condenser (8). The condensation produces fresh water and heats the primary water coming from the seawater intake (22). The salt water circulating in the condenser (6) enters the evaporator (10) of a refrigerator (10 to 12, 18) working as a heat pump. Its condenser (12) preheats the primary seawater entering through the intake (22) before it is mixed with the primary water preheated in the condenser (8) and in the coil of a cupola (15) by solar radiation and with the primary water entering directly through the water intake (22). Because of the refrigerator, large intakes of cold water from great depths are avoided. IMAGE