Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Marine Science => Topic started by: Hannah LS on 19/11/2018 14:48:57

Title: Can we harness energy from ocean warming?
Post by: Hannah LS on 19/11/2018 14:48:57

Paul asks:

I have just heard on the BBC that the oceans are warming up. Is there some way we can invent a heat exchanger to convert that energy into electricity and store it? Also, if we could lower the temperature of the oceans (I realise the oceans are large and interconnected), would that stabilise the world's climate a bit with regard to tornadoes etc.?

What do you think?

Title: Re: Can we harness energy from ocean warming?
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/11/2018 19:20:12

Where would you move the heat to?

Title: Re: Can we harness energy from ocean warming?
Post by: syhprum on 20/11/2018 19:50:16

100 years ago power generating systems were operating by drawing cold water from deep in the ocean and using it in conjunction with warm water from the surface to drive a turbine.
Better and cheaper ways of generating power have evolved and made such a scheme obsolute.

Title: Can we harness energy from ocean warming
Post by: MariaToime on 16/10/2019 16:18:36

I dont believe the "global warming" bullshit, but this discovery could have useful applications for spaceflight, such as CO2 removal in spacecraft life-support systems.

Title: Re: Can we harness energy from ocean warming?
Post by: Hayseed on 16/10/2019 16:22:15

Our oceans are the coldest liquid water can be.  What heat?