Research on Key Technologies of Ocean Thermal Desalination

Due to the process of urbanization and industrialization, the crisis of freshwater resources has become a problem to be solved by mankind. Although the traditional low-temperature multi-effect distillation method, multi-stage flash evaporation method and reverse osmosis membrane method seawater desalination currently occupy the mainstream position [1], Low-temperature multi-effect distillation method brine evaporation temperature cannot exceed 70 °C, reverse osmosis membrane method has the characteristics of high requirements for seawater pretreatment, and multi-stage flash evaporation method has the defect of high energy consumption. Therefore, ocean temperature difference can be used as a renewable energy source. Due to the huge reserves, about 10TW (10x1012W) that can be developed and utilized in the world is recognized by the international community as one of the most potential energy sources[2]. This article first describes the significance of the development of ocean temperature difference energy and the current research status of ocean temperature difference energy seawater desalination; secondly, it takes the ocean temperature difference energy seawater desalination method as the research object, based on the technical difficulties of ocean temperature difference energy seawater desalination and the process of the seawater desalination method that reduces the temperature difference. Four aspects put forward the main factors to improve the performance of the system; finally, it is concluded that the transformation of the key technological achievements of the ocean temperature difference energy seawater desalination method will provide more energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and more efficient for the comprehensive development and utilization of marine engineering, offshore oil drilling platforms, and islands. High-quality freshwater resources.