OTEC Bifouling and Corrosion Program. [Research program]

The Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) is sponsoring a program to explore the possibilities for beneficially using the temperature difference between warm surface water of the tropical oceans and the deeper colder water to operate a heat engine. One of the major technical hurdles that must be crossed to bring this source of energy into commercial use is the solution to biofouling, corrosion and deposition reactions that are expected to reduce heat transfer efficiency. In January 1976, ERDA established a project activity office at Battelle-Northwest whose mission it is to develop, procure, monitor and evaluate projects to define, prevent and/or alleviate biofouling and corrosion problems expected in OTEC power plants. Since startup, this project activity office has developed a methodology to guide work, assumed responsibility or contracted for 10 projects and expects to have several more contractors work on various aspects of biofouling and corrosion problems in the near future. The priorities for near and intermediate term work are identified and the operation of the Project Activity Office is described.