Patent ID: 6202417
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: F03G,Y02E

Abstract:
An improved Ocean Thermal Gradient Hydraulic Power Plant consisting of a plethora of pumps, each consisting of a series of components in listed from the point of entry of entry of the warm seawater at the bottom of the Steam Lift Pump, each pump consisting of:A cavitating convergent nozzle with the dual function of metering the water to the SLP and simultaneously releasing most of the dissolved aiar into very small micro-bubbles,A means for dewatering the superior SLP during starting to allow a rapid inrush of sea water to allow the micro-bubbles to formA Steam Lift Pump in which a small portion of the micro-bubbles released in the Cavitating Convergent Nozzle are used to nucleat steam bubbles to form a low-density foam capabile of being supported by the high velocity pressure at the exit of the CNN, just before the steam bubbles form in the low pressure in the SLP as induced by a vacuum systemA reversing section contiguious with and following the top of the SLP to reverse the flow of the warm sea water foam from upward to downward so that it may flow downard to produce power while simultaneously adjusting the velocity of the foam if desired to obtain a desired pressure,A spray of cold seawater pumped from the ocean's depth to condense the steam in the bubbles delivered from the SLP and so obtain a high density for producing a maximum power in the later hydraulic turbine,A convergent section following the condensation of the steam in the steam bubbles to accommodate the lesser volume of the water at the desired velocity,A high-frequency oscilattor to further reduce the size of any aar bubbles of significant size that would otherwise reduced the density of the down-flowing mixture of warm seawater and cold condensing water flowing to the turbine,A centrifugal separating loop, scoop, and bubble breaker to remove any air bubbles large enough to rapidly move to the interior of the loop so that they may subsequently be broken and their contents sent to a vacuum system,0. Means for moving said separated air bubbles to the bubble breaker and vacuum system and returning them to the downcomer moving the seawater toward the hydraulic power turbine,A downcomer delivering the degassed mixture of warm seawater and cold condensing water to a large hydraulic power turbine at an optimum velocity and pressure as dictated by the requirements of the turbine,An electrical power generator or other driven device requiring large amounts of power, driven by the hydraulic turbine,3 A draft tube of suitable length and design to deliver the seawater mixture to ocean depths as dictated by density considerations in producing power,An alternataaive intake draft tube taking warm water from near the ocean's surface when the intake of the SLPt's intake CCN is deep enough to induce recirculation of the discharged water from the turbine and so reduce the temperature of the incoming warm water.