Thermal Conversion Device for Hydrothermal Vents Navy SBIR FY2011.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.1 Topic No.: N111-071 Topic Title: Thermal Conversion Device for Hydrothermal Vents Proposal No.: N111-071-0136 Firm: Barber-Nichols Inc. 6325 West 55th Avenue Arvada, Colorado 80002 Contact: Jason Preuss Phone: (303) 421-8111 Web Site: www.barber-nichols.com Abstract: The objective of this proposal is to develop technology which will enable electricity to be produced and stored by utilizing geothermal energy emanating from the fissures in the bottom of the ocean. Geothermal energy is abundant. It is estimated that 67,000 km of ridges exist in the ocean that contain geothermal activity (Baker and German, 2004). Many of these resources are at depths from 1500m to 2500m. At these depths, the saturation temperature of water exceeds 300C with adjacent cold water at 5C. Given the unique nature of the location and the reasonable temperature difference, a high efficiency power conversion system would ordinarily be an easy exercise. However, the depth and nature of the resource compound the engineering problem. It is envisioned that the cost of installation will necessitate an extremely reliable system that will not be able to be serviced or even retrieved. Other factors including heat exchanger fouling to mineral condensation and biological organisms should not be ignored. The specification requires not only electric power production, but storage. At 100 kWe output, the electric storage requirements may dominate the system size depending on the storage technology utilized. Benefits: Advancement in hydrothermal, geothermal, and waste heat power recovery technology. Improvements in the biological and mineral fouling of heat echangers and piping. A globally versitile, portable electric power conversion system for underwater hydrothermal and terrestrial geothermal vents with reliable power storage capability. Return