Jacques Arsène D'Arsonval

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Jacques Arsène D'Arsonval

1851-1940

French inventor known for his idea called "Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion" (OTEC). OTEC uses the temperature difference between the warm surface of seawater and the colder deeper layers of ocean water to generate electricity. His original concept used a fluid with a low boiling point that vaporized by using the heat extracted from the warm water on the surface. This heated fluid was to turn a turbine to produce electricity.