[extropy-chat] RE: Re: Anti-hurricane engineering RE: Re: Anti-hurricane engineering RE: Re: Anti-hurricane engineering

[Hara Ra]

The thermal energy of 1 lb/degree of water is equivalent to lifting the 
same pound about 700 feet (220Meters). Extracting the thermal energy in 1 
cubic meter of water at about 10% efficiency (as OTEC is limited by Carnot 
to (Ttop - Tbottom)/Tbottom using the Kelvin scale), each cubic meter of 
water could lift about 22 cubic meters of water by 1 meter, which in total 
is mostly a cooling to the Tbottom + about .5 deg c, which is then diluted 
as explained earlier.

One limitation of OTEC is that the pipe must be large enough so it does not 
act as a heat exchanger which nullifies the whole thing. Building OTECs 
with 1 meter pipes is both complex and unreliable (due to many moving 
parts) and a navigational hazard, and is per unit expensive.

Raising water from below the thermocline is an ecological change, with the 
dissolved minerals producing a very different abundance of sea life. This 
upwelling near the poles is why sea life is abundant there. Where OTEC 
plays best is an oceanic 'desert' concerning sea life due to the lack of 
minerals.

My dour assesment is that this would go the way of Solar Power Satellites, 
which died due to many concerns, one of which was harming birds in the low 
intensity microwave beam. EcoFear kills a lot of good ideas.... :(

>I'm no engineer, but as I understand it, the Ocean Thermal process 
>requires HEATING UP the cold water.
>Rob Masters

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=   Hara Ra (aka Gregory Yob)    =
=     harara at sbcglobal.net       =
=   Alcor North Cryomanagement   =
=   Alcor Advisor to Board       =
=       831 429 8637             =
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