Ocean thermal energy conversion

[jadaro2600]

Very interesting, but rather than talk about the machine at hand, I would rather mention that the existence of geothermal sources other than the bottom of the ocean are more predictable.  It is well known that those hot springs under water are given to failure and are of a sporadic nature.  The also contain a great deal of isolated life in an otherwise desolate sea floor.

You, in other words, will have to deal with all these things when placing a source.

When using geothermal, it is best to do so on land, most active regions can
't be easily distinguished from non active regions, and facilities are minimal.  Undersea generation requires an enormous commitment of capital for maintenance.

Conversely, you may consider using the salinity differential as a heat exchange mechanism, then densities differ and thus a higher gradient is present.

[sparks]

   Jadaro,


   This machine could be operated on land also.  Unlike a stirling engine it does not rely on temperature differential but pressure differential of the gas.  This would not be a steady running machine but more of an oscillating machine.  A steady temperature as one would find in the ocean would be advantageous with the trade off of encrustation and insulation of the heatexchanger due to oxidation.  Thanks for commenting.