SBIR-STTR Award

Preliminary Design of a Platform Mounted Integrated OTEC System for NSF Diego Garcia
Award last edited on: 3/13/2007

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Navy
Total Award Amount
$849,500
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
N02-196
Principal Investigator
Stephen K Oney

Company Information

OCEES International Inc

1136 12th Avenue Suite 280
Honolulu, HI 96816
   (808) 734-1784
   info@ocees.com
   www.ocees.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 01
County: Honolulu

Phase I

Contract Number: N00014-03-M-0106
Start Date: 1/29/2003    Completed: 11/3/2003
Phase I year
2003
Phase I Amount
$99,500
The proposed effort will develop an innovative computer model utilizing the universally available Microsoft Excelr platform designed to provide optimized preliminary system design parameters and economic estimates to support future detailed designs of integrated multi-product OTEC systems according to site specific input parameters, physical and system constraints, and customer desired capacity and co-product requirements. The program will provide technical system design parameters, system component sizing requirements and economic costing estimates incorporating the most recent advances in OTEC technologies while optimizing system synergies between desired co-products and power system components. The program will support optimization of an integrated system analysis for either a Kalina CycleT or Open-Cycle OTEC system with provisions for co-product inclusion of fresh water production, seawater air conditioning, aquaculture and agriculture as required. This effort will be utilized by DoD facility managers and OCEES' field engineers to provide preliminary technical and economic analyses and design criteria for establishing an accurate, preliminary design from which credible decisions and more detailed integrated OTEC system designs can be established. This product will prove invaluable in effecting the commercialization of integrated multi-product OTEC systems within the DoD and to civilian communities across the tropical regions of the globe.The U.S. Navy as well as other branches of the DoD maintain numerous bases in the tropical regions of the globe. These bases rely upon the uninterrupted flow of oil, mostly foreign, in order to carry out their mission. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) can provide some of these bases with a self-sufficient means of providing electricity, fresh water and chilled water systems for air conditioning from a clean, renewable source.The specific market needs for this technology is quite extensive. Commercial OTEC facilities must be located in an environment that is stable enough for efficient system operation. The natural ocean thermal gradient necessary for OTEC operation is generally found between latitudes 20°N and 20°S. Within this tropical zone are portions of several industrial nations (i.e. United States, Taiwan, Japan, etc.) as well as 29 territories and 66 developing nations and nearly a dozen U.S. Department of Defense operated military installations (i.e. Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T.; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; AUTEC, Bahamas; Kwajalein, etc.). Of all these possible sites, tropical islands with growing power requirements and a dependence on expensive imported oil are the most likely areas for early OTEC development. Most of these military installations, developing countries and territories have significant needs for reliable, sanitary potable water and/or food sources, afforded through cold water agriculture and/or aquaculture application, adding to the social and political desirability of an integrated OTEC system

Phase II

Contract Number: N68711-05-C-0012
Start Date: 1/28/2005    Completed: 1/27/2007
Phase II year
2005
Phase II Amount
$750,000
The work proposed for Phase II of this ONR SBIR effort is in support of a preliminary design of an OTEC system to supply base load electric power, potable water and chilled water air conditioning to NSF Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T. The objective of the preliminary design is to be the basis of a reliable project cost estimate. That cost estimate along with a long-term power-water-air conditioning purchase agreement with the U.S. Navy is expected to allow OCEES International, Inc. and its strategic partners to raise the funds needed for final design and construction of the project in Phase III. The basis for the preliminary design will include historical data and information as well as the results of a field investigation. The initial proposed design will include an integrated OTEC system situated on an offshore platform to be anchored off the west coast of Diego Garcia in an area which avoids damage to the living reef. The proposed power system will include a combination of the Kalina power cycle and an open cycle OTEC configuration designed to provide potable water at design capacities. Chilled water heat exchangers will also be designed on the platform to provide chill water air conditioning to the base client. The proposed design will include a cold water supply pipe and a discharge pipe to service the operating OTEC plant; as well as a fresh water product line, a power delivery cable and a chilled water supply line servicing and connected to existing base infrastructure.

Keywords:
OTEC, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, preliminary design, NSF Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T, energy, fresh water, air conditioning