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Science 12 October 1973:
Vol. 182. no. 4108, pp. 121 - 125
DOI: 10.1126/science.182.4108.121
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Articles

Power, Fresh Water, and Food from Cold, Deep Sea Water

Donald F. Othmer 1 and Oswald A. Roels 2

1 Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, New York 11201
2 City University of New York, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964

Many times more solar heat energy accumulates in the vast volume of warm tropic seas than that produced by all of our power plants. The looming energy crisis causes a renewal of interest in utilizing this stored solar heat to give, in addition to electric power, vast quantities of fresh water. Warm surface water, when evaporated, generates steam, to power a turbine, then fresh water when the steam is condensed by the cold water.

A great increase in revenues over that from power and fresh water is shown by a substantial mariculture pilot plant. Deep sea water contains large quantities of nutrients. These feed algae which feed shellfish, ultimately shrimps and lobsters, in shallow ponds. Wastes grow seaweed of value; and combined revenues from desalination, power generation, and mariculture will give substantial profit.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Water Salination: A Source of Energy.
R. S. Norman (1974)
Science 186, 350-352
   Abstract »    PDF »
Power, Fresh Water, and Food from the Sea.
H. Davitian and W. McLean (1974)
Science 184, 938
   PDF »


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