Thanks for the explanations. I would be interested in reading a book on thermodynamics, if there is a particular title or author that you would recommend I would appreciate it. Do you think I would be able to dive right into thermodynamics without first learning some of the other fundamentals...
My original idea was simply that a heat pump with a COP of 5 could take 1 kw of electricity convert it to 5 kw of heat, and as long as you could produce electricity from that at an efficiency of greater than 20% you get a net gain. The gain in electrical energy would be less than heat energy...
I have been working on an idea for a new energy source that I would like to get some input on. I took physics in college about 10 years ago, so I have a general understanding of the concepts, but I am definitely not an expert on thermodynamics.
Here is my idea:
1. Use a heat pump(ground...