Sciencemadness Discussion Board

"Osmotic Power": Electricity from salinity-gradients

chief - 2-2-2010 at 08:36

Would it be usable by the amateur:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_cell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmotic_power
http://mtg.tnw.utwente.nl/teaching/assign/blue/
http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v103/i5/e058501

Anyone ever created electricity by, basically, "dissolving salt" ?

bquirky - 2-2-2010 at 21:54

Im sure its possible.

It may turn out to be a really nifty way of measuring solution concentration.

But it seems funny to use it for power because our government consumes huge amounts of electricity to turn salty water fresh water.