An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system having a turbine with an upstream side and a downstream side. Warm water under a partial vacuum is converted into a vapor, the vapor being supplied to the upstream side of the turbine at a pressure controlled by the temperature of the warm water. A condenser is situated on the downstream side of the turbine to cause the vapor, after passing through the turbine, to undergo a phase change back to a liquid, which can be used as potable water. The condenser is coupled to a source of a cooling liquid, and the pressure of the vapor on the downstream side of the turbine is determined by the temperature of the cooling liquid. A flexible floating solar collector supplies the warm liquid to the upstream side at a temperature higher than normal ambient temperature.

An apparatus, system, and method for raising water is provided. The apparatus includes at least one container movable between at least a descended position and a ascended position within a body of water. A non-water-permeable membrane is positioned within the at least one container, wherein the membrane is movable within an interior compartment of the at least one container to separate the interior compartment into at least a first and a second portion. At least one vent structure is within a wall of the at least one container, wherein movement of the membrane controls a flow of water through the at least one vent structure and into at least one of the first and second portions.

An apparatus, system, and method for raising water is provided. The apparatus includes at least one container movable between at least a descended position and a ascended position within a body of water. A non-water-permeable membrane is positioned within the at least one container, wherein the membrane is movable within an interior compartment of the at least one container to separate the interior compartment into at least a first and a second portion. At least one vent structure is within a wall of the at least one container, wherein movement of the membrane controls a flow of water through the at least one vent structure and into at least one of the first and second portions.

A unique method and ternary cycle process that captures heat from low temperature sources currently considered not commercially usable to produce electricity and desalinate water. In one cycle a novel flash tower operating at vacuum pressure causes a fraction of low temperature water to flash into steam. The steam passes to an indirect heat exchanger with a circulating refrigerating agent such as CO.sub.2, which condenses the steam on its outside surfaces to produce desalinated water product. The steam heat of condensation vaporizes the refrigerating agent, which is part of a binary refrigerate cycle that uniquely conditions it for turbine expansion to produce electricity in a connected electric generator.

An offshore power generation system comprising: a floating portable platform having one or more OTEC heat exchange units, one or more turbine generators, a water intake and discharge system, a mooring system; and a fixed manifold having one or more cold water intake connections in communication with a cold water pipe, and one or more cold water discharge connections in communication with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate cold water conduit, wherein each cold water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate cold water pipe.

An offshore power generation system comprising: a floating portable platform having one or more OTEC heat exchange units, one or more turbine generators, a water intake and discharge system, a mooring system; and a fixed manifold having one or more cold water intake connections in communication with a cold water pipe, and one or more cold water discharge connections in communication with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate cold water conduit, wherein each cold water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate cold water pipe.

A heat pump includes a first chamber, a second chamber fluidly coupled with the first chamber, a first and a second spray devices. The first and second chambers contain working fluid flowable between the first and second chambers via a flow passage between the first and second chambers, and a first and a second space above a portion of the working fluid that is within the first and second chambers. First spray device is coupled with the first chamber to heat or cool the first space in the first chamber. Second spray device is coupled with the second chamber to heat or cool the second space in the second chamber. At least one of the heating and cooling of the first space may cause at least one of a compression or expansion of the second space, which may drive a power-extraction unit coupled with the second chamber.

A heat pump includes a first chamber, a second chamber fluidly coupled with the first chamber, a first and a second spray devices. The first and second chambers contain working fluid flowable between the first and second chambers via a flow passage between the first and second chambers, and a first and a second space above a portion of the working fluid that is within the first and second chambers. First spray device is coupled with the first chamber to heat or cool the first space in the first chamber. Second spray device is coupled with the second chamber to heat or cool the second space in the second chamber. At least one of the heating and cooling of the first space may cause at least one of a compression or expansion of the second space, which may drive a power-extraction unit coupled with the second chamber.

A deep ocean water extraction apparatus has a collection pool having an outer shell with a maximum diameter, a lesser diameter at a mostly closed bottom, and an open top of a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter, outflow tubes with pumps extending horizontally from an opening through a side wall of the shell, an opening through the bottom covered by a rigid disk having a plurality of tube openings through which descending collection tubes of common length are connected, and flotation elements attached to the descending collection tubes at a plurality of points spaced down the depth of the collection tubes. The apparatus is characterized in that water is pumped out of the collection pool, and common pressure on the surfaces of the collection pool and the surrounding ocean water, causes water to flow up the collection tubes into the collection pool.

A deep ocean water extraction apparatus has a collection pool having an outer shell with a maximum diameter, a lesser diameter at a mostly closed bottom, and an open top of a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter, outflow tubes with pumps extending horizontally from an opening through a side wall of the shell, an opening through the bottom covered by a rigid disk having a plurality of tube openings through which descending collection tubes of common length are connected, and flotation elements attached to the descending collection tubes at a plurality of points spaced down the depth of the collection tubes. The apparatus is characterized in that water is pumped out of the collection pool, and common pressure on the surfaces of the collection pool and the surrounding ocean water, causes water to flow up the collection tubes into the collection pool.