An energy conversion method in the ocean using the density difference of water

A new method which produces energy from the ocean by utilizing the density difference of water, by means of a “chimney effect”, is proposed. Density difference of water in the ocean occurs in two ways, namely differences of consistency and water temperature. For instance, fresh river and melting floes and icebergs are pointed out as some origins of the former, while thermal effects of volcanoes and hot springs may account for the latter. Furthermore, sunlight power transmitted into the sea through glass fibre power lines can be an artificial source in the latter case.This paper concentrates on regions near estuaries where low density river water can be piped into the high density ocean. An analysis estimates that the proposed method extracts energy of several thousands or more kW in the above case.