College Physics with MasteringPhysics 7th Edition by Jerry Wilson,Anthony Buffa,Bo Lou

Exercise 41

It has been proposed that temperature differences in the ocean could be used to run a heat engine to generate electricity. In tropical regions, the water temperature is about 25 °C at the surface and about 5 °C at very deep depths. (a) What would be the maximum theoretical efficiency of such an engine (b) Would a heat engine with such a low efficiency be practical Explain.