On Oct 7, 4:07 pm, 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.
Start small, with a small boat as the initial target. Don't worry
about speed for now, just get the extraction process working so it
show a power gain after start-up.
There's got to be a way to make use of the seawater heat.
If you get this going, you can make a bundle and be the hero of
boaters everywhere.
It goes without saying you have to think out of the box.
(I'm writing this, so technically I didn't say that.)
On the off chance you can't get a solution worked out, I've
got another idea which makes use of wind and cloth.
But that's low-hanging fruit, and I prefer to think big for now.
What say you?

--Vic

I'll admit, I nearly flunked Statistical Mechanics. I prefer
Electromagnetism where I can picture the fields. However, this being
a heat engine, the efficiency is limited by the ratio of temps.
Basically, the greater your difference in temps the higher
efficiency. You might look up Sterling Engines as they are good at
using "Waste Heat" and are prob highest efficiency of most heat
engines. A Sterling uses heat to heat the gas in the cylinder (often
Helium), does work and then dumps the heat into the cold reservoir.
Sterlings tend to have poor power to weight ratios but this would be
ok for a ship.
Got any ideas involving x-rays?