Hydro power from the ocean

Abstract

A patented hydro-well invention is described that falls into the classification of an open-cycle ocean thermo energy conversion device. The apparatus drops warm salt water entrained with air down a penstock to drive a hydroelectric turbine generator. The salt water is cooled by the ocean sump and becomes heavier than the ambient water. The air is compressed hydraulically and separated to create a second work force. The forces, together with salinity, work to exhaust the water. The invention consumes no fossil fuel, does not pollute, and has the potential to furnish most of the world's electric needs without subjecting people to radiation. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has estimated that a mechanism of 2 MWe can be built at a cost of $7200/kWe. Using the same cost basis, a 2-MWe hydro well could be built for $1345/kWe because it is only 1/3 as deep and handles 1/8 the amount of water of conventional OTEC devices.<>