3 ms·
> A strict 1-particle-to-1-particle replacement can (I think) have arbitrarily low free energy cost Even better, it can have a (theoretical) energy gain if you
by johncolanduoni 10y ago
> A strict 1-particle-to-1-particle replacement can (I think) have arbitrarily low free energy cost
Even better, it can have a (theoretical) energy gain if you use a substance with a lower heat of mixing than (sea) salt and water.
- jessriedel 10y agoOK, but then, forgetting about desalination, you'd be able to just build a power plant with this substance and sea water, right? The fact that very few such plants exit then tells us that it would probably be cheaper to just do your desalination with reverse osmosis powered by a conventional power plant.
- johncolanduoni 10y agoBaring some yet undiscovered and very bizarre (but thermodynamically viable) chemistry that requires you to involve saltwater in a practical implementation, yes. Otherwise saltwater (which has a positive heat of mixing) is just fighting your actual process.