Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion The systems engineering approach yields multiple, economically advantageous products. Hydrogen: The Fuel of the Future. Multiple World Benefits. Information about OCEES International, Inc. and it's strategic partners.
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    OTEC Technological Innovations

Recent Advancements

The last evaluation of OTEC was based on the technology demonstrated by the mid-1980’s. Technical advances since that time include:

  • The development of the Kalina Cycle® which is significantly more efficient than the previous closed-cycle system based on straight ammonia. Several Kalina Cycle® installations have been constructed to take advantage of waste heat from conventional power plants and steel plants. These installations have an excellent history of availability and reliability – much better than other power plants. OCEES International’s strategic partner Exergy, Inc., the company which possesses the seventeen (17) patents associated with the Kalina Cycle®, is responsible for all operating commercial Kalina Cycle® installations globally.  

  • The discovery that dissolved gases exchange more rapidly from seawater than from fresh water. This allows for more efficiency and lower costs for open-cycle OTEC and for fresh water production from seawater in a hybrid Kalina Cycle® configuration as well as fresh water production in general. OCEES International, Inc. principals performed the research leading to this very important realization and hold two (2) U.S. Patents on this process and its integration into an OTEC system.

  • The development of better heat exchangers and heat exchanger operation with respect to bio-fouling control (on the warm water side) and corrosion control. Accomplished through research performed in Hawaii at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) research facility at Keahole Point, Hawaii by the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) and Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR). Principals of OCEES International, Inc. participated in the research leading to these advancements.

  • The demonstration of an open-cycle plant with fresh water production and the development of an open-cycle turbine. Research performed by PICHTR at NELHA in Hawaii demonstrating OC-OTEC with fresh water production included participation with OCEES principal. OC-OTEC turbine designed by Swedish Turbine company, ALSTOM, after consultation and discussions with OCEES principal.

  • The demonstration of cold water air conditioning. Research performed at NELHA in Hawaii and commercially applied by Cornell University in conjunction with OCEES’ strategic partner, Makai Ocean Engineering. OCEES personnel participated and/or consulted in each project.

  • The development of reliable cold water pipe designs and deployment methods. All successful cold water pipe installations as well as the very recent successful deployment of a 55" deep water pipeline (December, 2001) reaching 800 meter depths to service NELHA in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii have been designed and deployed by OCEES’ strategic partner, Makai Ocean Engineering.

  • The development of drilling platforms for deep ocean oil exploration. This technology has been primarily developed for oil exploration and procurement applications in 3,000+ feet of water; however, it can also be directly applied to future floating OTEC plant designs.

  • The demonstration of efficient hydrogen production using electrolysis of water with KOH addition. In addition, the use of liquid hydrogen for fuel cell powered vehicles.

  • Advances in instrumentation and control technology which allows for multi-product plant operations which are reliable, optimum, and responsive to change. This will let us install complex facilities even in remote locations.

  • The application of systems engineering for optimum designs and optimum economics of multi-product OTEC systems. This is an original concept of OCEES International, Inc. and represents the primary commercialization strategy for OCEES to introduce OTEC to tropical island applications.

     These technical advances bring OTEC systems to the point of development where projects can be confidently designed, constructed, and operated. Each component exists and has been shown to work reliably. No significant technological questions remain in OTEC systems. This is in contrast to other renewable energy systems, such as nuclear fusion, which also have the potential to replace fossil fuel on a large scale. We at OCEES International, Inc. applaud the efforts of all involved in researching these various aspects of OTEC technology. This combined effort, building upon the work of d'Arosonval, Claude, and Lockheed, in conjunction with the research conducted in Hawaii, will lead to the commercialization of OTEC.

     Many of these technological advances over the past decade are directly attributable to the principals of OCEES International, Inc. and/or its consortium of corporate partners intent on commercializing this extremely important technology. OCEES and its partners represent the world’s foremost experts in this field with substantial experience in design and practical application of OTEC systems and ancillary technologies. OCEES has positioned itself through research, partnerships, governmental relationships and experience to take a leading role in the imminent global commercialization of the OTEC systems technology.
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