Question directly from the book. Has a,b,and c connected questions. The Ocean Th

Question

Question directly from the book. Has a,b,and c connected questions.

The Ocean Thermal Electric Conversion system is kind of a high tech electric generator. It takes advantage of the fact that in the tropics, deep ocean water is at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, while the water at the surface is at a temperature around 25 degrees Celsius. The idea is to find a material that boils between these temperatures. The material in fluid form is brought up through a large pipe from the depths, and the expansion associated with its boiling is used to drive an electric turbine. The gas is then pumped back to the depths, where it condenses back to a liquid and the whole process repeats itself.

a. what is the maximum efficiency with which the OTEC can produce electricity?
c. what is the ultimate source of energy generated by OTEC?

Explanation / Answer

(a) The Carnot Engine equation gives the theoretically best efficiency.

efficiency = 1 - (Tcold/Thot)

convert to absolute temperatures
.
Tcold = (4 + 273) K= 277 K Thot =( 25+ 273) K =298 K
efficiency = 1 - (277/298)
                   = 1 - 0.930
                     = 0.070 = 7%
------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) OTEC uses the difference between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface ocean waters to run

a heat engine and produce useful work, usually in the form of electricity

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