On the possibilities of thermal energy conversion in lakes |
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| Authors: | FM Boyce |
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| Institution: | Aquatic Physics and Systems Division, National Water Research Institute , Canada Centre for Inland Waters , Burlington, Ont. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The paper discusses the possibility of extracting electrical energy from the thermal energy stored in stratified lakes. Three situations are examined, an open lake or pond acting as a solar collector, a combination of waste heat and solar energy, and selective withdrawal of warm and cold streams from a stratified hydroelectric reservoir. Approximate calculations of the energy returns are made for typical conditions. The returns are limited by environmental factors as well as a short operating season. By using the deep stratified Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Michigan and Ontario) as solar collectors, a few thousand megawatts of electrical power could be produced in the Great Lakes Basin during the summer months. This power could be produced on a year‐round basis by a single large nuclear generating station. |
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| Keywords: | extreme weather flooding MJO S2S teleconnections |
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