NDLI: Solar Sea Power: Over a Century of Invention

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	James, E. Tomayko
Copyright Year	2005
Abstract	Solar Sea Power is one of the unusual technologies in history, in that it did not progress in capability much since its first invention by Jacques d’Arsonval in 1881. It has been reinvented several times since then (at least 14 instances, probably more), which is not unusual by itself, as explained in the paper, however, the lack of progress in technological sophistication is unusual, unless the design is dominated by an established, older, paradigm. Some of these repeated inventions were need-based, such as Claude’s, intended for French colonial Africa; few or none matched periods of increased interest in solar power. Even though individual inventors developed Solar Sea Power (SSP), governments were considered likely to advance the technology and apply it for the first 90 years or so of its existence. Recently, this task has been abandoned by deep-pocket governments and left to small, specialized companies such as Anderson’s. Examples of the former are the plant design intended for a lake in northern Italy and the mega-plant with identical technology designed under the Energy Research and Development Agency (ERDA) sponsorship by TRW, a government contractor since sold to an aerospace firm. SSP plants do not produce much electricity, but since a portion of the output is used for operation, it is free to operate, and constantly renewable. It is even more reliable than wind power, in that the temperature differences in suitable water are always there, but wind, a product of many factors, is not blowing at all times.
Sponsorship	Solar Energy Division
Starting Page	565
Ending Page	572
Page Count	8
File Format	PDF
ISBN	0791847373
DOI	10.1115/ISEC2005-76093
e-ISBN	0791837653
Volume Number	Solar Energy
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2005 International Solar Energy Conference
Language	English
Publisher Date	2005-08-06
Publisher Place	Orlando, Florida, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Water Wind Temperature Seas Inventions Plant design Solar power Aerospace industry Governments Design Industrial research Solar energy Lakes Wind power
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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