Background: An osmotic power engine [link] is powered by the salinity gradient between salt water and fresh water.

I propose an engine which works on the potential energy difference between a pure gas (oxygen, for example), and atmospheric air.

The mechanism of the engine would be exactly identical to a pressure swing adsorption oxygen separator, except that it would operate in reverse.
-- goldbb, Feb 03 2010

Osmotic Power http://en.wikipedia.../wiki/Osmotic_power
[goldbb, Feb 03 2010]

Isn't your O2/Air engine working off a concentration gradient just as the osmotic power engine? Your use of “potential energy difference” is a bit to nebulas – However, Delta G, Gibbs free energy, difference between pure O2 and O2/N2 (read - air) mixture is still zero as both are in their “standard states”. The more I think about this the less potential I give it of doing any real work.

I like the idea. There is something here but not clear what.
-- halb gekocht, Feb 06 2010


where are you getting he pure gas? Since this will inevitably yield less energy than the process required to purify the gas...
-- WcW, Feb 06 2010


halb gekocht, if there is no gradient between pure O2 and air, then it should take zero energy to separate O2 from air. Since it *does* take energy to separate O2 from air, then there should exist a process which recovers fraction of that energy whilst (re)combining them.

WcW, I'm not proposing that this would be "free energy." I realize that less energy can be derived from mixing pure O2 with air, than was consumed separating it. But, in certain circumstances, we might have a ready supply of nearly pure "waste" O2... for example, when performing electrolysis of hydrogen.
-- goldbb, Feb 09 2010



random, halfbakery