Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) converts heat energy into electricity using 20-27 [ • C] temperature difference between warm seawater at surface and cold seawater in depth. In this paper, a simulation model for an OTEC plant, which uses the Uehara cycle with an ammonia-water mixture as working fluid, is constructed based on the mass balance and the heat balance. Moreover, a method of the initial value determination for numerical simulation is developed. Accuracy of the simulation model was evaluated by comparing with the experimental results of a pilot OTEC plant.

SUMMARYOcean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) converts heat energy into electricity using the 20 to 27 °C temperature difference between warm seawater at the surface and cold seawater in the depths. In this paper, a simulation model for an OTEC plant, which uses the Uehara cycle with an ammonia-water mixture as working fluid, is constructed based on the mass balance and the heat balance. A method of initial value determination for numerical simulation is developed. The accuracy of the simulation model was evaluated by comparison with the experimental results of an OTEC basic experimental equipment. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 176(2): 1-13, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com).