After 200 years (1824) the second law of thermodynamics is disproven. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnot%27s_theorem_(thermodynamics)
Simply Carnot argues that if the efficiency of a reversible heat engine was variable based on how it is made or the gases etc, then the second law of conservation would be broken. "A heat engine *cannot* drive a less-efficient reversible heat engine without *violating the second law of thermodynamics*." (excerpt from the Wikipedia article below the image) So what happens when you take 2 reversible heat engines and put them in series (one touches the hot side, one the cold side and they join in the middle with potentially a small thermal mass that is thermally equidistant to the hot and cold side)??? Well, we know what happens, according to Carnot! The lower the thermal potential the lower the efficiency at turning heat into mechanical energy and therefore the less mechanical energy is developed when driving heat (operating the heat engine as a heat pump)... Which is to say that with a lower temperature differential a heatpump operates with more efficiency. So a heat engine constructed to act like 2 or more reversible heat engines will break the conservation of energy. There is a company that is making cascading heatpumps which can keep a high COP over a much larger temperature differential. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSgv5NwtByk The point is that it is absolutely possible to turn uniform ambient heat into electrical power and heating and or cooling with current technology... And it is easily explained in a way that cannot be denied, clearly 2 heatpumps cascading have a higher COP, same as saying clearly 2 reversible heat engines in series have a lower conversion efficiency and therefor a higher COP as a hatpump, precisely the scenario that made Carnot assert 200 years ago would destroy the second law of thermodynamics. Jonathan
