The diffusion and transport of particles suspended in turbulent flows depend on the interaction between the particles and the turbulence. To investigate a possible particle‐turbulence interaction, we observed particle trajectories in a rotating fluid with a solid body velocity profile, as might occur in the core of a vortex or an eddy. The experiments were conducted with a series of single small spheres (with low particle Reynolds numbers) sinking or rising in a horizontal cylinder rotating about its central axis at a constant speed. Each sphere was found to follow a nearly circular orbit in a vertical plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis. The orbit center lay very near the horizontal plane through the axis of the cylinder and was at the point in the fluid where the velocity of the fluid was equal and opposite to the terminal velocity of the particle. The particle trajectories also evolved slowly, spiraling either inward or outward. A theoretical description of the particle motion shows that the two principal forces on the particle, fluid drag and gravity‐buoyancy, account for the circular motion. A force due to particle inertia (a centrifugal force from the center of its orbit), a small position‐dependent wall effect on drag, a very small force (also affected by the walls), and a very small centrifugal buoyancy force account for the long‐term inward or outward spirals. This kind of systematic interaction in which particles seek and remain in fluid closely opposing their own motion could have a role in the suspension of small particles in some turbulent flows.

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By utilizing the vapor pressure difference between high-salinity and lowsalinity wvater, one can obtain power from the gradients of salinity. This scheme eliminates the major problems associated with conversion methods in which membranes are used. The method we tested gave higher conversion efficiencies than membrane methods. Furthermore, hardware and techniques being developed for ocean thermal energy conversion may be applied to this approach to salinity gradient energy conversion.

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