Patent ID: 6559554
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: F03B,F03G,H02K,Y02E

Abstract:
A method for generating power utilizing the difference in osmotic potential between relatively low salinity water and relatively high salinity water, the method comprising:conducting the relatively low salinity water through a first tube having a non-rotatable portion and a rotatable portion, the rotatable portion having at least one aperture through which the low salinity water exits the first tube; directly contacting the relatively low salinity water with the relatively high salinity water in a second tube to form a mixture, wherein the second tube is in fluid communication with the relatively high salinity water through one or more openings in the second tube, the contacting causing an increase in recoverable energy of the mixture in the second tube; and conducting the mixture through a power generation unit to generate mechanical and/or electrical power; and rotating the rotatable portion of the first tube using the recoverable energy of the mixture by selectively discharging the relatively low salinity water in a predetermined location relative to the power generation unit.