Low Temperature Serpentinite Replacement by Carbonates during Seawater Influx in the Newfoundland Margin

Serpentinite replacement by carbonates in the seafloor is one of the main carbonation processes in nature providing insights into the mechanisms of CO2 sequestration; however, the onset of this process and the conditions for the reaction to occur are not yet fully understood. Preserved serpentine rim with pseudomorphs of carbonate after serpentine and lobate-shaped carbonate grains are key structural features for replacement of serpentinite by carbonates. Cathodoluminescence microscopy reveals that Ca-rich carbonate precipitation in serpentinite is associated with a sequential assimilation of Mn. Homogeneous δ18O values at the µm-scale within grains and host sample indicate low formation temperature (<20 °C) from carbonation initiation, with a high fluid to rock ratio. δ13C (1–3 ± 1‰) sit within the measured values for hydrothermal systems (−3–3‰), with no systematic correlation with the Mn content. δ13C values reflect the inorganic carbon dominance and the seawater source of CO2 for carbonate. Thermodynamic modeling of fluid/rock interaction during seawater transport in serpentine predicts Ca-rich carbonate production, at the expense of serpentine, only at temperatures below 50 °C during seawater influx. Mg-rich carbonates can also be produced when using a model of fluid discharge, but at significantly higher temperatures (150 °C). This has major implications for the setting of carbonation in present-day and in fossil margins.

Design Optimization of Floating Structure for a 100 MW-Net Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Power Plant

This paper presents a design procedure based on optimization to contrive a floating structure for a commercial scale of OTEC power plant. In the aim to get a safe yet economical floating structure, a commercial oil tanker ship was converted as the plantship. The process was started by defining independent variables, constraints and fix parameters. The independent variables included the velocity of seawater transport and type of oil tanker ship. The next step was breaking down the fix parameters which were kept constant during the iteration process. These parameters were about the general requirements and the necessary equipment to produce 100 MW-net power output. Some constraints were also introduced as permissible borders to determine whether the particular case was acceptable or not. The constraints included the constraint due to provided space, allowed weight, net power output and fluid phenomena on the riser. During the iteration process, a spiral model was developed as analysis guideline. Based on the result of the optimization, it could be concluded that the typical Suez-max oil tanker ship was the best option and the most optimum seawater transport velocity was 3 m/s. Finally, the general arrangements and the base layout design were also conceptualized in this paper.