Patent ID: 8146362

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a generator, wherein the generator generates electrical energy based on a temperature difference between a first thermal mass and a second thermal mass; the first thermal mass, wherein the temperature of the first thermal mass is based on the temperature of water at a first depth of a body of water; the second thermal mass, wherein the temperature of the second thermal mass is based on the temperature of water at a second depth of the body of water; a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the first thermal mass; a second heat exchanger, and wherein the second heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the second thermal mass; and a chamber, wherein the chamber contains the second thermal mass; wherein each of the chamber and the generator are movable between the first depth and the second depth, and wherein the generator comprises a first physical adaptation that enables the generator to operate at each of the first depth and the second depth, and further wherein the generator generates electrical energy based on a temperature difference between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.