國際海洋溫差發電發展之探討

發表於台電工程月刊，第744期，民國99年8月

國際海洋溫差發電發展之探討

Study on the Global Development of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

賴正義*	黃兆龍*
Lai, Cheng-I	Hwang, Chao-Lung

摘　要

海洋是地球上最大的太陽能收集與儲存系統，潛藏著巨量的能源，如能善加開發利用，將可以源源不絕地提供全球所需的能源。本文主要目的在於深入瞭解國際歷年來海洋溫差發電的發展成果，期能做為我國未來規劃海洋溫差發電發展的參考。本文首先分析海洋溫差發電的發展沿革，發展期間分為1970年之前、1971至1980年、1981年至1990年，以及1991年之後等四個階段，其次探討海洋溫差發電的發展成果，內容包括電廠型式、循環系統、熱力系統與冷水管。本文結論為海洋溫差發電可提供可靠與親環境的再生能源與飲用水，面對傳統能源與資源勢必日益匱乏與價格日益高漲的未來，實值得全球產官學研界共同攜手進行進一步的研發，儘速達成大規模經濟商轉的目標。

Abstract

Ocean, the globally largest collection and storage system of solar energy, has so enormous energy reserve that can sustainably provide earth energy in case of tapping it adequately. The purpose of this paper is to understand in detail the global development achievements in terms of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) over the past years and then to be a viable reference for the future planning of OTEC development in Taiwan. The paper first analyzes the evolution of OTEC development and the evolution process is classified into four stages, including prior to 1970, 1971 to 1980, 1981 to 1990, and posterior to 1991. Then, the relevant development achievements with respect to power plant type, circulation system, thermodynamic system and cold water pipeline are discussed. The summary of this paper is OTEC can offer both renewable energy and potable water with good reliability and environmental friendliness. Facing the decreasing supply and increasing price of traditional energy as well as resource in the coming days, it is worthy to further conduct collaborative R&D on OTEC by the fields of industry, government, academy and research worldwide, carrying out the goal of economically commercializing large-scale power plants as soon as possible.