Analysis of OTEC Cycle Performance by Applying LOW GWP Refrigerants

Abstract

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion(OTEC) is a type of binary cycle in which the turbine is driven and power is generated by using a working fluid that evaporates and condenses at a relatively low temperature compared with water vapor. In Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, cycle efficiency, generation amount and initial investment cost depend on which working fluid is used. Depending on the working fluid, performance and efficiency are also good, but explosive or toxic working fluids should be avoided. Another point in selecting refrigerants is that refrigerants for OTEC should not affect the natural environment. As CFC-based refrigerants have been shown to destroy the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol has recentlyreduced the number of refrigerants containing ODP by prohibiting and regulating substances with ozone depletion potential. In the Paris Climate Convention, there was a movement to reduce HFC refrigerants to promote global warming, while notifying the launch of the new era system. The revised Montreal Protocol, which was held in Rwanda, the use and emission of HFC refrigerants, one of the six greenhouse gases, was decided to be phased out. In this study, the applicability ofLOW GWP refrigerant, which can replace the refrigerant currently in use, has been examined in accordance with the trend of regulating refrigerant with high GWP. In KRISO, R32 is applied as the working fluid of OTEC, and the performance of O