Modeling of Hydrogen Production through an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System
Vijayakrishna Rapaka E1, Rajagopan S2, Pranitha V3, Kathambari R4
1Vijayakrishna Rapaka E, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry, India.
2Rajagopan S, Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry, India.
3Pranitha V, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry, India.
4Kathambari R, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry, India.
Manuscript received on July 11, 2013. | Revised Manuscript received on July 15, 2013. | Manuscript published on July 25, 2013. | PP: 41-46 | Volume-1 Issue-9, July 2013. | Retrieval Number: I0378071913/2013©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) is one of the renewable energy technologies that convert solar radiation to electric power through different process. OTEC systems use the ocean’s natural thermal gradient to drive a power producing cycle. The oceans are thus a vast renewable resource, with the potential to help us produce billions of watts of electric power. The cold, deep seawater used in the OTEC process is also rich in nutrients, and it can be used to culture both marine organisms and plant life near the shore or on land. The temperature gradient between the depths of ocean surfaces plays a major role in power generation. This power can be used for the production of hydrogen which is stored as fuel cells. In this paper, the OTEC System along with PEM electrolyser has been analyzed. The mathematical modeling of Poly Electrolyte Membrane Electrolyser coupled with OTEC has been carried out. The Ideal Power Input, Actual Power Input, Ideal Power Output, Actual Power Output, Ideal Conversion Efficiency, Actual Conversion Efficiency, Ideal Rate of Hydrogen Production and Actual Rate of Hydrogen Production outputs for various combinations of warm water temperature (26 C to 32 C) and cold water temperature (5 C to 25 C) have been reported.
Keywords: OTEC, PEM, Hydrogen Production, Ocean Energy.