Chapter 6.11, Problem 88P

In tropical climates, the water near the surface of the ocean remains warm throughout the year as a result of solar energy absorption. In the deeper parts of the ocean, however, the water remains at a relatively low temperature since the sun’s rays cannot penetrate very far. It is proposed to take advantage of this temperature difference and construct a power plant that will absorb heat from the warm water near the surface and reject the waste heat to the cold water a few hundred meters below. Determine the maximum thermal efficiency of such a plant if the water temperatures at the two respective locations are 24 and 3°C.

FIGURE P6–88