 |
Oceanic Thermal Energy Converter
A device that uses the sea to help create electricity. (Read the full article)
| " hey man.. thats not possible because it violates the second law of thermodynamics.. :)
alericbench@hotmail.com" (sk8rboi of MSUIIIT 9/23/2004 7:31:49 AM ) |
| "The second law of thermodynamics (or the law of entropy) states that whenever an energy distribution is out of equilibrium with its larger environment, a thermodynamic "force" exists that will dissipate that energy. OTEC doesn't violate the law of entropy. Most OTEC systems just use the temperature difference between warm surface water and deep ocean water; the liquid used to generate power is vaporized (usually by exposure to partial vacuum) to run a turbine, and then run down a pipe to the cold water below, where it is returned to liquid form. It can then be run back through warm water to heat it back up. OTEC systems capitalize on the fact that the small amount of energy exchange (deep ocean water will warm up while cooling the piped liquid) will not heat up the entire ocean basin. Obviously, there are limits to generating power with OTEC. If enough people did it, the deep ocean water would be gradually warmed up, ruining the effect." (Bill Christensen 9/23/2004 2:26:24 PM ) |
| "Jerry Pournelle features OTEC in an offshore facility in a 1970s short story that later became part of his 1977 "High Justice"." (AJWM 3/30/2005 7:20:27 PM ) |
| "Peter F Hamilton mensions it as the power source for listotel in his mindstar books, he also says that it brings up nutrients from the ocean floor and allows a fish farming industry to be supported... not sure how viable that part is." (DarkFlib 5/17/2005 7:05:54 AM ) |
| "Why can't this site have some simple models of energy converts?????????" (Jonh 8/1/2005 10:15:05 PM ) |
| "If you want to know some more about the current state of the art in OTEC and the implementation thereof check out our OTEC news site, www.otecnews.org" (OTECnews editor 4/4/2006 6:34:25 AM ) |
| "It would seem that besides not burning fossil fuel, you would be helping to keep the oceans cool by drawing off the heat, which is good for all life on the planet..." (Nigel 3/3/2008 9:41:40 PM ) |
More info on Oceanic Thermal Energy Converter
Leave a comment:
Tediously, spammers have returned. So, send me your comments to bill at the site name (be sure to mention the page) and I'll post them. Thanks!
Current News Articles
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.'
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
'Figments of his mind in one sense, of course, for he had shaped them...'
China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
'So the parent drone carries a spotter that it launches...'
Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
'...nurse drones that would cruise around dumping large amounts of power into randomly selected pods.'
Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
'It's done with a flip of the third joint of the tentacle on the down beat.'
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
'...for months Grantline bores had dug into the cliff.'
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
'I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously.
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
'It’s smart enough to go wrong in very complicated ways, but not smart enough to help us find out what’s wrong.'
Heat Waver - The First Ever Combo Solar Collector And Wind Turbine
'...like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Tesla 'Fleet Response Agents' Bolster FSD Autonomy
'You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life... in his hands.'
