Question

As you know, it takes energy to separate mixtures. You will learn this in more detail in the separations course. The idea is simple, if it takes work to separate mixtures, we should be able to produce work by making mixtures! The next question is where can we find large size streams to mix to produce significant work? The answer is simple too. Let’s go where the rivers meet the ocean! Suppose we wish to extract work when fresh river water flows into the ocean. Analyze this possibility by exploring potential ways of extracting some of the mixing energy into useful work. Once you have some ideas of how to do it, perform the actual analysis for a river of your choice in the United States. Do all the necessary calculations using appropriate thermodynamic models and make sure you estimate the maximum theoretical work that can be extracted as well.

Answer 1