Temperature gradient —drives→ Ocean thermal energy conversion

Conditions

• a ≈ 20 K difference between warm surface water and cold water from ~1000 m depth

Evidence · 2

1. [1]
   G. Claude. Power from the tropical seas (1930)

   Mechanical Engineering 52, 1039–1044 · paper, no DOI · record
2. [2]
   A. Bejan. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (4th ed.) (2016)

   Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119245964 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Matrix cells this relation feeds

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

Uses of this claim

• Ocean thermal energy conversion plantprototype · 5 steps

• Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work1/3 established · candidate
• Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work3/5 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Chemical potential difference → Combustion → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 established · candidate
• Electric potential difference → Peltier effect → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 established · candidate
• Electric potential difference → Ettingshausen effect → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 established · candidate
• Incident radiation flux → Photothermal absorption → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 established · candidate
• Radiative imbalance with the sky → Radiative sky cooling → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 established · candidate
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fission → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 established · candidate
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work1/5 established · candidate
• Chemical potential difference → Combustion → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · candidate
• Chemical potential difference → Combustion → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Electric potential difference → Peltier effect → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · same energy form
• Electric potential difference → Peltier effect → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · same energy form
• Electric potential difference → Ettingshausen effect → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · same energy form
• Electric potential difference → Ettingshausen effect → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · same energy form
• Incident radiation flux → Photothermal absorption → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · candidate
• Incident radiation flux → Photothermal absorption → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Radiative imbalance with the sky → Radiative sky cooling → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · candidate
• Radiative imbalance with the sky → Radiative sky cooling → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Beta particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work5/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work5/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fission → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · candidate
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fission → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work3/7 established · candidate

all 26 routes are in /api/paths.json filtered by claims ∋ claim:otec-drives

Cite this claim

Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). claim claim:otec-drives: Temperature gradient —drives→ Ocean thermal energy conversion. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/claim/otec-drives

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