Laurie A Meyer

US Patent:

8146362, Apr 3, 2012

Filed:

Dec 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/328656

Inventors:

Robert James Howard - Clifton VA, US
Nicholas J. Nagurny - Manassas VA, US
Laurie E. Meyer - Hamilton VA, US
John W. Rapp - Manassas VA, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

F03G 7/04
F03G 7/06
F03G 7/08
F03B 17/02

US Classification:

606417, 606416, 60496, 290 1 R

Abstract:

An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system comprising a self-contained submersible OTEC plant is disclosed. The OTEC plant comprises a electrical generation system and a thermal mass whose temperature is based on the temperature of water at a first depth of a body of water. The OTEC plant is moved to a second depth of the body of water, wherein water at the second depth is a different temperature that the water at the first depth. The OTEC system generates electrical energy based on a difference in the temperatures of the water at the second depth and the temperature of the thermal mass. The OTEC system is able to generate electrical energy at either of the first depth and the second depth.

US Patent:

20100139272, Jun 10, 2010

Filed:

Dec 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/328661

Inventors:

Robert James Howard - Clifton VA, US
Nicholas J. Nagurny - Manassas VA, US
Laurie E. Meyer - Hamilton VA, US
John W. Rapp - Manassas VA, US

Assignee:

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

F03G 7/05
H02K 7/18

US Classification:

606417, 290 52

Abstract:

An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system is disclosed. The OTEC system generates electrical energy based on a difference in the temperatures of the water from a surface region of a body of water and a thermal mass whose temperature is based on the temperature of water from a deep water region of the body of water. The thermal mass attains a desired temperature while it is positioned in the deep water region, with which it is thermally coupled. The present invention uses a bulk transport vessel to carry the thermal mass from the deep water region to a depth where it can be thermally coupled with the OTEC system.