TRANSIENT SIMULATION AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF NOVEL EVAPORATOR FOR OTEC APPLICATION

cean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) harnesses the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater to generate electricity. The evaporator, a key component, facilitates heat absorption and phase change in the working fluid. This study presents a transient simulation and performance analysis of a novel evaporator design for OTEC, aiming to enhance heat transfer efficiency while minimizing pressure drop. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed using ANSYS Fluent, incorporating various mass flow rates and turbulence models. The k-omega SST model proved most effective in capturing phase change dynamics. Results show the proposed design absorbs 2 kW more thermal energy than conventional designs at scale, with an optimal flow rate of 0.01856 kg/s balancing energy absorption and pressure constraints. The maximum pressure drop was 6.19 kPa for R-22, significantly lower than traditional heat exchangers. The design improves heat transfer and reduces energy losses, enhancing OTEC system efficiency. Turbulence-enhancing modifications at the inlet were identified to further accelerate phase change without excessive pressure penalties. These advancements support more efficient Rankine cycle implementations, improving OTEC feasibility and scalability. This study contributes to the development of high-performance heat exchangers, advancing OTEC as a sustainable energy solution.