Converting More Heat To Useful Energy

An anonymous reader writes "New Scientist has an article about a technology proposed by Wow Energies which can nearly double the efficiency of power stations, utilise waste heat from many industrial processes, and reduce toxic pollution. The secret is to use propane vapour, which boils at much lower temperatures than steam, and so can convert more heat to useful energy. Even better, it uses existing pump and turbine technology. Could this be a big weapon in the fight against global warming?"

Comments

Solar Component

[Bob_Robertson]

Ok, how about using solar as the heat source for the propane-vapor turbine?

The problem remains one of thermal difference, in that there has to be a way to cool the propane back down for liquification, to complete the cycle. This might be a way for people near slow rivers to use the river water since they cannot use it for hydroelectric.

Bob-

Re:Logarithmic versus Exponential

[barakn]

Anyone who has seeded a sterile medium with bacteria realizes that growth is only quasi-exponential. After a while the population hits carrying capacity, stalls out, then crashes.