RELIABILITY OF INSTALLING OCEANIC THERMAL ENERGY SOURCES AROUND SOUTH AMERICA BY DIVERGENCE OF TEMPERATURES

Abstract

Background: The world population has grown considerably, increasing the demand for primary resources, i.e., water, electricity; the generation of renewable electricity is the first aspiration of human beings. Radiation from the Sun is an extensive source of tenable energy, and this radiation fades in the depth of the ocean waters, making it possible to take benefit. Aim: The purpose of this work was to settle a process of absorbing Sun radiation and converting it into energy by considering a couple of geographical coordinate points, with a great differential of temperatures in the Oceans around South America, to implement thermal machines. Methods: This work processes temperature data taken from the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) project, maintained by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). Data were processed with Matlab 2009a Student Version. Water temperature implies the intensity degree of ocean heat energy. So, this study takes temperature data at Sea around South America to glean oceanic thermal energy means the Carnot machine method and gradients of temperatures. Results and Discussion: The more stable area annually to install thermal machines are farther than 35° from Panama Canal and Trujillo to the west meridian. The weaker values are found near Quito (Equator); but medium in the Atlantic Ocean, being the better location 15° to the East of Fortaleza de Sâo José de Macapá (Brazil). On the other side, a real gas could change its speed from 40.0 m/s below 500.0 m mean sea level (bmsl) up to 650.0 m/s at the Sea Surface, while an artificial gas from 20.0 m/s up to 400.0 m/s. Conclusions: This study exposes that the energy harvested on the coasts, the warmest of South America, brings sufficient energy to the neighboring population. During ENSO time (El Niño Southern Oscillation), the waters of the Pacific Ocean increase their thermal energy, so the output performance will be varied.