Abstract
Each of the four chapters of this textbook opens with a statement of its aims and objectives and concludes with a set of self-assessment questions. Although the main focus is on ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), basic information is also included on tidal power, wave power, current energy, and salinity gradient energy. An overview of OTEC is given and the elementary concepts of engineering thermodynamics and fluid mechanics necessary to its understanding are briefly reviewed. A more detailed discussion of the two predominant OTEC heat engine cycles, the Rankine and the Claude, is presented. Information on ocean economics such as market potential, capital cost estimates, and production rates for OTEC and other systems is provided together with an examination of environmental impacts. (UK)