 |
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. Please send your comments to @technovelgy and I'll post them. Thanks!
Current News Articles
MAI-Voice-2 Microsoft Text-To-Speech
'I made disks of my own voice to the number of five hundred very carefully chosen words.'
Tumblin' Tumbleweed Rovers To Eplore Mars
'His sensors out and working, and the whirring of the tape that sucked up sight and sound and shape and smell and form...'
Tentacled Robot Captures Space Debris
Preventing annoying space debris build-up.
Prufrock-MB2 Ready In Nashville
'It sounds to me as though you had invented a kind of metal earthworm.'
DIY Robotic Content Farming
'The chief wheeled to the master machine and pressed a button.'
Reflect Orbital Sunlight On Demand
'I don't have to tell you about the seven two-mile-diameter orbital mirrors that circulate around the satellite, making it habitable.'
The Amazing Lightfoot Electric Scooter With Solar Assist
'The steel tortoise gave MacKinnon a feeling of Crusoe- like independence.'
Fully Electric, Fully Automated Vegetable‑growing Agribots
'...then back to their work, though little enough it was on these automatic cultivators.'
Vero Robotic Dog With Vacuum Cleaner Feet
'Out of warrens in the wall, tiny robot mice darted.'
AI Operates An Excavator
'So far as I could see, the thing was without a directing Martian at all.'
Boy Makes Biomimetic Turtle Robot
't came out into plain view. Darkington glimpsed a slim body and six short legs of articulated dull metal.'
US Army IBEX Exoskeleton Walks Troops Out Of Danger
'The suit stands up and starts walking, gripping me round the calves and waist, taking the bulk of my weight off my throbbing feet.'
