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Osmotic Power: Waterworld On The Grid | |
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osmosis, osmotic
adjective
realm: science
The migration or diffusion of a fluid through a semipermeable membrane.
realm: energy
Osmotic power derives from the energy released when fresh water moves through a permeable membrane.
Foundations
Osmosis occurs because a solution with a low solute concentration seeks a solution with a higher solute concentration until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane.
Osmotic energy derives from the the movement of a solution through a membrane separating two solutions of similar nature, but different concentrations. The less saturated fluid ( fresh water ) is drawn into the more saturated solution so that the fresh water dilutes the salt water. The pressure exerted by the molecules of the fresh water on the membrane they passed through is known as osmotic pressure.
The osmotic pressure resulting from a fresh water to salt water osmotic exchange is equal to a 360 foot water column.