POWER FROM THE SEA.

Shannon News, 4 January 1927, Page 2

POWER FROM THE SEA.

A NOVEL IDEA. \ ' ' There was a special section at the * Leipsig Fair, allotted to the German .- Institution of .Inventors, where a large variety of new inventions was shown. ,','• From an engineering point of view the most interesting of these was that of Dr. Brauer, which comprised a remarkable proposal for . obtaining electrical energy from the large temperature difference which exists between the surface and at a reasonable depth in tropical and semi-tropical seas. The proposal was laid before the first World Power Conference at Wembley, but a good deal of work has been put ' into the development of the idea since then. The temperature of the surface of the •■- sen is as high as 27deg. C. at some * parts of the ocean, and may even reach a temperature of 30deg. C, while at a .' depth.of about 200 yards a temperature if , ofabout 7deg. C. is found. The prot' posal is to provide a tube leaching to ;. the necessary depth in the sea, and b } '\ . means of a propeller to cause a flow 01

cold-water up to the sea level where the heat engine is stationed. By using a working substance, such as ammonia, the hot water at the surface of the sea can be used to produce the evaporation and the cold water the condensation of the working substance. Drawings were exhibited for a plant capable of geneiating from 200 to 300 horse-power, the total cost of which was estimated nt about. £2500. The losses of energy corresponding to the power required for the circulation of the cold water are said to be about !> per cent, to 12 per vent, of the energy obtained from th • heat engine. It is stated that an engine capable of developing an output oi" 100,000 kw., would be a practicable undertaking.