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Science 25 October 1974:
Vol. 186. no. 4161, pp. 350 - 352
DOI: 10.1126/science.186.4161.350
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Articles

Water Salination: A Source of Energy

Richard S. Norman 1

1 Biological Sciences Group, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06268

The thermodynamically reversible mixing of freshwater and seawater at constant temperature releases free energy. Salination power as a resource is comparable with hydroelectric power in magnitude; U.S. freshwater runoff could yield over 1010 watts. The energy flux available for natural salination is equivalent to each river in the world ending at its mouth in a waterfall 225 meters high. An osmotic salination converter could possibly operate at 25 percent efficiency. This energy source is renewable and nonpolluting. Although its full utilization would destroy estuarine environments, it might be practical for specialized purposes.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)