On Oct 7, 5:26*pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message

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On Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:07:53 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

This is what I was thinking, but since my thermodynamics training is
insufficient, I'd like to enlist your help.
Besides your technical expertise (sorry I can't say the same for your
political judgement) you're down there where the water is warm.
What we need is a heat extraction process that will at least add
locomotion power to a boat.

Actually you need a temperature "difference" to extract mechanical
power. *Most of the sea water power schemes that I've seen rely on
using the temp difference between warm water on top and cool water
from the depths. * That might work for a stationary power plant but
would create *way too much drag for a useful boat.

Thermocouples will work in heat alone. *Proposals to help fuel economy by
placing thermocouples along the exhaust pipe to turn waste heat into
electrical energy.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thermocouples cool themselves by generating electricity. You don't
have enough heat in the sea water for thermocouples.