The ocean constitutes this planet's largest solar energy collection surface. An ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant, operating on temperature differences between deep ocean waters and surface waters, is one technique proposed to convert a percentage of this energy to electricity. Operations on a commercial basis propose the processing of enormous quantities of seawater through huge condensers and evaporators to power an ammonia-cycle generator. Cost of the required heat exchangers is estimated to represent 40-50% of the plant investment.1  Economics of heat exchanger performance is therefore directly related to the success of the OTEC venture.

Subject
Pits, Materials performance, Tubes, Leaks, Ammonia, Seawater, Copper alloys, Corrosion attacks, Penetration, Scale formation, Scale, Titanium, Aluminum alloys
© 1980 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1980
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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