It has been proposed to use the thermal gradient of the ocean to drive a heat engine. Suppose that at a certain location the water temperature is 22° C at the ocean surface and 40 C at the ocean floor. (a) What is the maximum possible efficiency of an engine operating between these two temperatures? (b) If the engine is to produce 1 GW of electrical power, what minimum volume of water must be processed (to suck out the heat) in every second?

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 It has been proposed to use the thermal gradient of the ocean to drive a heat engine. Suppose that at a certain location the water temperature is 22° C at the ocean surface and 40 C at the ocean floor.

(a)     What is the maximum possible efficiency of an engine operating between these two temperatures? 
(b)     If the engine is to produce 1 GW of electrical power, what minimum volume of water must be processed (to suck out the heat) in every second?

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