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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Salinity gradient heat engines: An innovative concept for waste heat valorization

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Abstract The world population has grown rapidly in the last century and a similar increase is expected in the next years. A corresponding increase in energy production and consumption has been recorded so far and most of it comes from nonrenewable sources. The shift from conventional energy production processes to renewable-based ones is proceeding slowly; meanwhile, the need for reducing the energy losses in current power technologies is a matter of crucial importance. Thus, the interest toward low-grade waste heat and strategies for its valorization has rapidly grown recently. Salinity gradient heat engines are a novel promising technology to produce power from waste heat at very low temperatures ( This chapter provides an introductory overview on waste heat availability and share, highlighting the motivation behind the growing interest in this topic and behind the present book. Salinity gradient power fundamentals and technologies are also briefly presented. Finally, a short description of salinity gradient heat engines along with their classification is reported, followed by an outline of all of book chapters.