| Abstract |
Usually geothermal activity is associated with the subduction of tectonic plates. The ring of fire is well identified where a large volcanic and earth quake activity is observed. In these regions, deep wells are drilled to obtain high temperature fluids to generate electricity with traditional geothermal techniques. Little attention has been paid to the “other” geothermal activity that originates from the separation of the tectonic plates allowing the lava to raise well and to shape in the bottom of the oceans under water ridges, with high intensity hydrothermal vents. Recent explorations have shown that the length of those ridges is nearly 67,000 km long, and more than half are emanating strong jets of very hot water into the sea. Of course most of those hydrothermal vents are located in very remote areas, others are in very much appreciated ecological areas, but many of them remain in places near the coast and with no evidence of danger to the surroundings when utilizing its heat. In this paper, a review of the reported hydrothermal vents is presented. Then, an innovating technology is described to convert this hot water into electricity in a way that is economical and harmless to the environment, since no drilling is needed. This technology is like a submarine with a heat exchanger in the bow and one in the stern; one of them is located exactly on top of the vent and the other is exposed to the cool water of the deep sea. Inside the submarine, a binary cycle plant is operated between those two, hot and cold, spots. Some recommendations are given at the end of the paper to pursue further research and achieve practical solutions. |