Deep-Sea Ocean Thermal Gradient Power System OceanGradient Completes 90-Day Continuous Operation Test in Hawaii
Makai Ocean Engineering's OceanGradient deep-sea thermal energy conversion system completed its first 90-day continuous fault-free operation in Hawaii, generating power from the temperature difference between deep and surface seawater.
Deep-Sea Ocean Thermal Gradient Power System OceanGradient Completes 90-Day Continuous Operation Test in Hawaii
Makai Ocean Engineering announced on July 6 that its OceanGradient ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system completed its first 90-day continuous fault-free operation off the coast of Kona, Hawaii. The system uses the temperature difference between warm surface seawater (approximately 26 degrees Celsius) and cold deep seawater at 1,000 meters depth (approximately 4 degrees Celsius) to drive a Rankine cycle for power generation, with a net output of 100 kilowatts.
OceanGradient's key improvement over conventional OTEC systems is the use of supercritical CO2 as the working fluid, boosting thermal efficiency from 3% to 5.2%. The system's seawater pipes also employ a new corrosion-resistant composite material, significantly reducing maintenance requirements.
Hawaiian Electric has signed a purchase agreement and plans to build a 10-megawatt commercial OTEC plant by 2032. Ocean thermal energy's advantage lies in its 24-hour uninterrupted power generation, unaffected by weather or seasons.
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