Simultaneous Regulation of Multiple Flow Rates for Power Generation Control of OTEC Plant Using Double-Stage Rankine Cycle

This research investigates the power generation control of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant using double-stage Rankine cycle whose warm seawater temperature varies. As the plant model, a simple dynamic model is used. For the construction of control system, not only warm and cold seawater mass flow rates but also working fluid ones are manipulated, where each mass flow rate is determined by proportional integral (PI) control law. In this research, the concept of simultaneous regulation of mass flow rates in OTEC plant using double-stage Rankine cycle is proposed. In order to verify the behavior of the proposed control system, simulations were conducted.