Makai Ocean Engineering Blog

Mar 19

MAKAI OCEAN ENGINEERING EMBARKS ON INITIATIVE TO ADD 100-KILOWATT TURBINE-GENERATOR TO THE HAWAII OTEC TEST FACILITY IN KONA Honolulu, Hawai’i (March 15, 2013) – Makai Ocean Engineering announced two endeavors in assisting the Navy to reach its alternative energy goals. The first is the design, planning and procurement of a 100-kilowatt turbine-generator for the Hawai’i Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Test Facility. The second project includes the installation and operation of this turbine-generator, as well as the design and testing of two new OTEC heat exchangers. “Makai Ocean Engineering is committed to developing alternative energy solutions that are impactful and ahead of the curve,” said Billy Pieper, Vice President, Makai Ocean Engineering. “Due to our partnership with the Navy, I believe Makai will help achieve a more sustainable future with the solutions we are pursuing.” The first endeavor, which will result in a turbine-generator delivered to the site, will be completed by February 2014. The projected funding requirements are approximately $1.0 million. During the second phase, Makai will install the turbine and begin operation testing. Michael Eldred, project manager of the OTEC Test Facility, says that the technical benefits of having a turbine are huge. “Besides the obvious benefit of once again including OTEC power on the grid, it will also validate the results from our OTEC models and allow us to fine-tune our control systems,” says Eldred. The new generator would result in the world’s only operational OTEC plant since 1998 and is likely to create a steppingstone to commercial-size renewable energy supplies for Navy and DoD bases in Hawai’i and Guam. Included in the second phase effort are the development of two new OTEC-optimized heat exchangers and the continuation of corrosion testing, now in its fourth year. Due to their enormous size, heat exchangers are one of the most expensive components in an OTEC power plant. A small increase in efficiency therefore dramatically drives down cost. Makai’s focus is to optimize the heat exchanger design by reducing material and fabrication costs, improving thermal efficiency and maximizing its life in the corrosive seawater environment. An estimated $3.6 million is slated for the project. Over the past three years, Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. has received Office of Naval Research (ONR) funding to conduct research in key areas of OTEC heat exchanger development at the OTEC Test Facility site at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai’i Authority (NELHA). The overall goal is to determine a baseline heat exchanger design for a future large-scale OTEC power plant useful for both US Navy and commercial application. The stated goal of the Navy Energy Vision is that half of the Navy’s total energy consumption ashore will come from alternative sources by 2020. At present, the Navy is approximately 700 megawatts short of meeting this goal. OTEC is a technically and economically plausible way for private industry to furnish 200-300 megawatts of baseload, renewable electricity to USN and USMC bases for Oahu and Guam. Robbie Alm, executive vice president of Hawaiian Electric Company, has called OTEC a “gamechanger” because it is 24/7 renewable power. Demonstration of OTEC-generated electric power will help spur commercially-funded technology development needed for large scale expansion. Lockheed Martin Corporation is developing OTEC heat exchangers and cold water pipes, with the ultimate goal of large scale commercialization. OTEC is a process that can produce electricity by using the temperature difference between deep cold ocean water and warm tropical surface waters. OTEC plants pump large quantities of deep cold seawater and surface seawater to run a power cycle and produce electricity. OTEC is firm power (24/7), a clean energy source, environmentally sustainable, and does not compete for precious resources like land or fresh water. Makai Ocean Engineering was founded in 1973 as a diversified ocean engineering company focused on providing design engineering and development services to a broad range of clientele both foreign and domestic. Practice areas include engineering for ocean-based renewable energy (OTEC and Sea Water Air Conditioning), large underwater pipelines, software for planning, simulation, installation and recovery of submarine cables and arrays, and software for visualizing scientific 4D/5D data. Makai Ocean Engineering takes pride in successfully achieving innovative solutions to difficult problems for its partners and clients which has included private, industrial, and commercial firms nationally and internationally; federal, state and local governments and Pacific Island Nations. ##### For images and more technical information, please contact: Billy Pieper Vice President, Makai Ocean Engineering(808) 259-8871 or (808) 561-8139Billy.Pieper@makai.com

MAKAI OCEAN ENGINEERING EMBARKS ON INITIATIVE TO ADD 100-KILOWATT TURBINE-GENERATOR
TO THE HAWAII OTEC TEST FACILITY IN KONA

Honolulu, Hawai’i (March 15, 2013) – Makai Ocean Engineering announced two endeavors in assisting the Navy to reach its alternative energy goals. The first is the design, planning and procurement of a
100-kilowatt turbine-generator for the Hawai’i Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Test Facility. The second project includes the installation and operation of this turbine-generator, as well as the design and testing of two new OTEC heat exchangers. “Makai Ocean Engineering is committed to developing alternative energy solutions that are impactful and ahead of the curve,” said Billy Pieper, Vice President, Makai Ocean Engineering. “Due to our partnership with the Navy, I believe Makai will help achieve a more sustainable future with the solutions we are pursuing.”

The first endeavor, which will result in a turbine-generator delivered to the site, will be completed by February 2014. The projected funding requirements are approximately $1.0 million. During the second phase, Makai will install the turbine and begin operation testing. Michael Eldred, project manager of the OTEC Test Facility, says that the technical benefits of having a turbine are huge. “Besides the obvious benefit of once again including OTEC power on the grid, it will also validate the results from our OTEC models and allow us to fine-tune our control systems,” says Eldred. The new generator would result in the world’s only operational OTEC plant since 1998 and is likely to create a steppingstone to commercial-size renewable energy supplies for Navy and DoD bases in Hawai’i and Guam.

Included in the second phase effort are the development of two new OTEC-optimized heat exchangers and the continuation of corrosion testing, now in its fourth year. Due to their enormous size, heat
exchangers are one of the most expensive components in an OTEC power plant. A small increase in efficiency therefore dramatically drives down cost. Makai’s focus is to optimize the heat exchanger design by reducing material and fabrication costs, improving thermal efficiency and maximizing its life in the corrosive seawater environment. An estimated $3.6 million is slated for the project.

Over the past three years, Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. has received Office of Naval Research (ONR) funding to conduct research in key areas of OTEC heat exchanger development at the OTEC Test Facility
site at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai’i Authority (NELHA). The overall goal is to determine a baseline heat exchanger design for a future large-scale OTEC power plant useful for both US Navy and commercial application.

The stated goal of the Navy Energy Vision is that half of the Navy’s total energy consumption ashore will come from alternative sources by 2020. At present, the Navy is approximately 700 megawatts short of meeting this goal. OTEC is a technically and economically plausible way for private industry to furnish 200-300 megawatts of baseload, renewable electricity to USN and USMC bases for Oahu and Guam.

Robbie Alm, executive vice president of Hawaiian Electric Company, has called OTEC a “gamechanger” because it is 24/7 renewable power. Demonstration of OTEC-generated electric power will help spur
commercially-funded technology development needed for large scale expansion. Lockheed Martin Corporation is developing OTEC heat exchangers and cold water pipes, with the ultimate goal of large scale commercialization.

OTEC is a process that can produce electricity by using the temperature difference between deep cold ocean water and warm tropical surface waters. OTEC plants pump large quantities of deep cold
seawater and surface seawater to run a power cycle and produce electricity. OTEC is firm power (24/7), a clean energy source, environmentally sustainable, and does not compete for precious resources like land or fresh water.

Makai Ocean Engineering was founded in 1973 as a diversified ocean engineering company focused on providing design engineering and development services to a broad range of clientele both foreign and domestic. Practice areas include engineering for ocean-based renewable energy (OTEC and Sea Water Air Conditioning), large underwater pipelines, software for planning, simulation, installation and recovery of submarine cables and arrays, and software for visualizing scientific 4D/5D data. Makai Ocean Engineering takes pride in successfully achieving innovative solutions to difficult problems for its partners and clients which has included private, industrial, and commercial firms nationally and internationally; federal, state and local governments and Pacific Island Nations.

#####

For images and more technical information, please contact:

Billy Pieper
Vice President, Makai Ocean Engineering
(808) 259-8871 or (808) 561-8139
Billy.Pieper@makai.com

Feb 21

Makai interviewed for 3D Viz World Mag feature... check it out!

Jan 29

Makai's new website!

Jan 09

New 3D/4D Visualization Software Released Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. has released a full-featured version of its Makai Voyager™ geospatial visualization software at http://voyager.makai.com. Version 1.2 enables users to import and visualize their own scientific and GIS data. Kailua, Hawaii – Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. has released a free trial version of its geospatial visualization software, Makai Voyager. This release represents a leap forward in advanced volumetric data visualization and analysis. Makai Voyager enables users to import, fuse, view, and analyze large earth, ocean, and atmosphere scientific data as it is collected or simulated in a global geo-referenced GIS platform. The key differentiator of Makai Voyager is its level-of-detail (LOD) technology that enables users to stream ‘big data’ rapidly over a network or the web. Features in Version 1.2: ·   Preprocessing LiDAR, GIS, & volumetric data from common formats into streamable files; ·   Volume rendering graphics for large 4D (3D + time) data; ·   Analysis tools & customizable graphs; ·   WMS and other streamable formats; Download the full-featured 30-day trial version of Makai Voyager today! Individual or group licenses are available on Windows (32- and 64-bit), Linux, and Mac OS X.  Questions? Contact: Duke Hartman Marketing Director Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. http://voyager.makai.com P.O. Box 1206 Kailua, HI 96734 1-808-259-8871

New 3D/4D Visualization Software Released

Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. has released a full-featured version of its Makai Voyager™ geospatial visualization software at http://voyager.makai.com. Version 1.2 enables users to import and visualize their own scientific and GIS data.

Kailua, Hawaii – Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. has released a free trial version of its geospatial visualization software, Makai Voyager. This release represents a leap forward in advanced volumetric data visualization and analysis.

Makai Voyager enables users to import, fuse, view, and analyze large earth, ocean, and atmosphere scientific data as it is collected or simulated in a global geo-referenced GIS platform. The key differentiator of Makai Voyager is its level-of-detail (LOD) technology that enables users to stream ‘big data’ rapidly over a network or the web.

Features in Version 1.2:

·   Preprocessing LiDAR, GIS, & volumetric data from common formats into streamable files;

·   Volume rendering graphics for large 4D (3D + time) data;

·   Analysis tools & customizable graphs;

·   WMS and other streamable formats;

Download the full-featured 30-day trial version of Makai Voyager today! Individual or group licenses are available on Windows (32- and 64-bit), Linux, and Mac OS X. 

Questions? Contact:

Duke Hartman

Marketing Director

Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.

http://voyager.makai.com

P.O. Box 1206

Kailua, HI 96734

1-808-259-8871

Dec 18

OilPrice.com publishes article on OTEC biological model

Nov 29

Makai Completes OTEC Biological Model for DoE Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) uses large flows of warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater to generate clean electricity. The tropical ocean at a typical OTEC site has two distinct layers: a warm surface layer with low nutrient levels, and a cold deep layer that is nutrient-rich. Introducing deep nutrients into the ocean’s sun-lit upper layers could potentially increase plankton growth or cause algal blooms. Thus, seawater discharged from an OTEC plant should be returned into the ocean deep enough so that these nutrients don’t trigger biological growth. The U.S. Department of Energy has released a report describing the simulated biological impact from operating large OTEC plants.  The study was performed by Makai Ocean Engineering under a cost-shared grant and can be downloaded from http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?query_id=1&page=0&osti_id=1055480 This new software is the most sophisticated tool for modeling OTEC’s environmental effects to date. When run with an OTEC plant, the model can determine the size, depth, and flows of the OTEC plant’s seawater discharges that would minimize plankton increases. In all cases modeled in Hawaiian waters, no increase in plankton levels occurred in the upper 40 meters (130 ft) of the ocean. From 40 to 120 meters (130 - 400 ft) OTEC-induced plankton growth is low and well within the naturally occurring variability. These results suggest that suitably designed large OTEC plants will cause no significant increase in biological growth. This model will be important to developers and regulators as commercial OTEC develops. A brief video illustrates earlier modeling work done with this program: http://youtu.be/1hmAOVCvgc0 Media Inquiries: Duke Hartman ● Duke.Hartman@makai.com Marketing Director ● +1(808) 259-8871 ● www.makai.com

Makai Completes OTEC Biological Model for DoE

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) uses large flows of warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater to generate clean electricity. The tropical ocean at a typical OTEC site has two distinct layers: a warm surface layer with low nutrient levels, and a cold deep layer that is nutrient-rich. Introducing deep nutrients into the ocean’s sun-lit upper layers could potentially increase plankton growth or cause algal blooms. Thus, seawater discharged from an OTEC plant should be returned into the ocean deep enough so that these nutrients don’t trigger biological growth.

The U.S. Department of Energy has released a report describing the simulated biological impact from operating large OTEC plants.  The study was performed by Makai Ocean Engineering under a cost-shared grant and can be downloaded from http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?query_id=1&page=0&osti_id=1055480

This new software is the most sophisticated tool for modeling OTEC’s environmental effects to date. When run with an OTEC plant, the model can determine the size, depth, and flows of the OTEC plant’s seawater discharges that would minimize plankton increases. In all cases modeled in Hawaiian waters, no increase in plankton levels occurred in the upper 40 meters (130 ft) of the ocean. From 40 to 120 meters (130 - 400 ft) OTEC-induced plankton growth is low and well within the naturally occurring variability. These results suggest that suitably designed large OTEC plants will cause no significant increase in biological growth. This model will be important to developers and regulators as commercial OTEC develops. A brief video illustrates earlier modeling work done with this program: http://youtu.be/1hmAOVCvgc0

Media Inquiries:

Duke Hartman ● Duke.Hartman@makai.com

Marketing Director ● +1(808) 259-8871 ● www.makai.com

Nov 07

Makai announces 3 patents for OTEC, SWAC and underwater cable laying robot -

Please see the PBN article, and contact info@makai.com for more!

Sep 10

[video]

Aug 27

Makai & SWAC featured in Holts Physics textbook -

Page 416 of this textbook provides a feature on “deep-sea air conditioning” (we use the term seawater air conditioning or SWAC) and an interview with Dr. Joe Van Ryzin, founder and VP of Engineering at Makai.

Aug 09

[video]