Experimental Study of Maximum Electrical Generating for Ocean Thermal Profiler

Thermal energy on the vertical profile of the ocean is a kind of abundant renewable energy in the ocean. Ocean thermal profiler is usually equipped with a power generation system to convert thermal energy into electrical energy. Hydraulic motor, generator, and battery are the main components of the power generation system. The mechanical efficiency of hydraulic motor affects the maximum electrical generation. This paper presents an ocean thermal profiler, and an experimental platform for the power generation system is built to simulate the working conditions in the deep ocean. The power generation experiment is carried out on the built experimental platform, the outlet pressure of the hydraulic motor was set to 5MPa, and the characteristics of the power generation system at the ocean depth of 500 meters are analyzed through the experimental data. Power generation system characteristics include the mechanical efficiency of the hydraulic motor, total system efficiency, and the load current of the DC-generator. Experimental results show that these characteristics are affected by differential pressure and speed. This paper help to increase power generation and optimize the power generation system of ocean thermal profiler.