Environmental Assessment of OTEC in Hawaii
Published August 28, 2012 | 
Christina Comfort, a MSc. student in Biological Oceanography from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa , worked with Luis Vega Ph.D. as a research assistant in assessing the potential environmental impact of OTEC in Hawaii. Their research focused on centralizing the existing (published and unpublished) environmental and physical oceanographic data relevant to OTEC implementation in Oahu, Hawaii. The results have been published in a paper which can be found below.
In her paper… Continue reading
OTEC heat exchange enhancement research
Published June 21, 2012 | Raphael Mandel, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of Maryland, has been awarded with the 2012 Hulka Energy Research Fellowship. Mr. Mandel, advised by Professor Michael Ohadi, received the fellowship for his proposal, “Next Generation, Ultra-Efficient, Microstructured Thin Film Heat Exchangers for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).” His research involves further development, modelling, visualization, and optimization of Force-Fed Microgrooved Heat Exchanger Technology (FFMHE), specifically with respect to its performance… Continue reading
Bluerise unveils OTEC Advanced Research Prototype
Published April 22, 2012 | Bluerise recently officialy opened its OTEC Advanced Research and Demonstration Prototype at Delft University of Technology. By using a non-azeotropic working fluid, the prototype has a much improved efficiency and hence lower cost of produced power compared to standard ORC-based OTEC systems.
As part of the opening ceremony, Curaçao Airport Holding N.V. and Bluerise B.V. have signed an Memorandum of Understanding for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to further strengthen their cooperation in realizing… Continue reading
Makai Ocean Engineering’s Heat Exchanger Test Facility opened
Published November 22, 2011 | In July 2011 a new heat exchanger test facility has been opened at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELHA), on the Big Island of Hawaii. The facility, designed and operated by Makai Ocean Engineering, provides the “OTEC Industry” with a tool for the development and testing of candidate OTEC heat exchangers. Heat Exchangers are the single most expensive component of an OTEC plant and thus their cost, longevity and performance… Continue reading
Xenesys inaugerates OTEC R&D centre
Published November 12, 2007 | The new Xenesys OTEC R&D Center and the Xenesys Imari Plant was inaugurated on the 9 November 2007. There are some pictures from the plant and there is a timeline with pictures.
Xenesys/Saga heat exchanger research centre
Published June 14, 2007 | A Xenesys and Saga University joint research centre will be opened in April 2008. The centre which will house 40 employees is expected to cost 1 billion yen (US$ 8 million). Read the Xenesys press release.
OTEC research positions at Saga University
Published March 11, 2007 | Saga University’s Institute of Ocean Energy is offering six research positions for three years. However, it appears that you have to be Japanese speaking, as the application requirements are only published in Japanese and only shown on the Japanese section of the web site. (I wish they would update the English section.)
