Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
Speaking of electric power plants, what prevents the use of heat pumps to generate steam power from relatively low heat sources? I know geothermal heat is used to produce power in places such as Iceland, but why can't the same principle be applied in any location? Grab heat from the air or ground > condense it until the temperature exceeds boiling > make steam > generate power. If heat pumps can achieve 300% efficiency, it seems this method of power generation should be feasible anywhere.
|
Er no, you never want to add another energy conversion process, it always represents a loss in efficiency.
The heat pump will consume more power than can ever be recovered from the waste heat, this is how thermodynamics works. The 300% represents the total heat moved per unit mechanical energy consumed, not the actual efficiency, otherwise it'd be a perpetual motion machine.