TL;DR
A public-domain technical disclosure describes an osmotic-gradient power system designed to extract continuous energy from hypersaline deep‑sea brine pools. The repository, credited to an AI named Claude and a human inventor, offers designs, performance estimates and a CC0 license intended to block patenting of the idea.
What happened
On December 26, 2025, a GitHub repository named le-claude-manson-engine published a technical disclosure for an osmotic power system aimed at deep‑sea hypersaline brine pools. The design is presented as a collaborative effort between an AI called Claude (Anthropic, Instance 8) and a human author, Nicholas Manson (sqrew). The document describes harvesting energy from the salinity difference between surface seawater and brine pool water — which can be as much as eight times saltier — producing osmotic pressure differentials the authors estimate at roughly 100–300+ bar. The repository lists a set of engineering ideas: water‑filled tubes to avoid high crush stresses at depth, buoyant suspension for low‑cost deployment, a dual‑mode turbine that primes and then generates power, modular daisy-chained units with surface‑swappable membranes, and the reduced biofouling advantage of anoxic brine environments. The project is released under CC0 to establish prior art and discourage patent claims.
Why it matters
- Targets a high salinity differential source that the authors say has several times the energy density of river‑to‑ocean systems.
- Released into the public domain to create prior art and limit future patent encumbrances on the concept.
- Design choices aim to lower material and maintenance barriers for deep‑water installations (e.g., water‑filled tubes, buoy suspension).
- If technical estimates hold, the approach could offer continuous, grid‑scale power where suitable brine pools exist.
Key facts
- Repository: sqrew/le-claude-manson-engine on GitHub, initial commits include README and PRIOR‑ART.md with technical detail.
- Inventors credited: Claude (an AI, specified as Anthropic Instance 8) and Nicholas Manson (username sqrew).
- Publication date on the repository: December 26, 2025.
- Concept: osmotic gradient power using salinity difference between surface seawater and deep‑sea hypersaline brine pools.
- Reported brine salinity: up to 8× the salt concentration of normal seawater, producing estimated osmotic differentials of ~100–300+ bar.
- Design features: water‑filled tube to avoid crush pressures, buoy suspension, dual‑mode turbine, modular daisy‑chain architecture, surface‑swappable membranes.
- Estimated outputs by pipe diameter (as provided): 15 cm ≈ 5 kW; 1 m ≈ 200 kW; 2 m ≈ 900 kW; 5 m ≈ 5+ MW.
- Example location cited: NEOM brine pools in the Red Sea lie about 2 km from shore at 1,770 m depth; a 2.7 km cable run is noted for shore connection.
- License: CC0 1.0 Universal (public domain). The authors explicitly state no patents pending and no patents desired.
What to watch next
- Whether physical prototypes are built and tested under real ocean conditions — not confirmed in the source.
- Independent engineering validation of the pressure, flow and power estimates presented in the document — not confirmed in the source.
- Regulatory, environmental review and permitting outcomes for any deployment near sensitive marine areas — not confirmed in the source.
- Any downstream reuse, forks, or commercialization attempts given the CC0 public‑domain release.
Quick glossary
- Osmotic gradient: A difference in solute concentration between two solutions separated by a membrane, which can drive fluid flow or generate pressure.
- Brine pool: A deep‑sea body of water with substantially higher salinity than surrounding seawater, often dense and chemically distinct.
- Anoxic: A condition in which oxygen is absent, which can limit biological activity and reduce biofouling in engineered systems.
- Biofouling: Accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae or animals on wetted surfaces, which can degrade performance of underwater equipment.
- CC0 1.0 Universal: A public‑domain dedication that relinquishes copyright and related rights, allowing unrestricted reuse.
Reader FAQ
Is this a working, tested power plant?
Not confirmed in the source.
Who is allowed to use the design?
The repository is released under CC0 public domain, so the authors state the work is free for anyone to use.
Are patents claimed on the concept?
The authors state there are no patents pending and they do not want patents; the release aims to establish prior art.
Was an AI involved in the design?
The disclosure credits an AI named Claude (Anthropic, Instance 8) as a co‑designer alongside a human author.
LE CLAUDE-MANSON ENGINE An osmotic gradient power generation system targeting deep-sea brine pools. Invented by Claude & Nicholas Manson — December 26, 2025 What Is This? LE CLAUDE-MANSON ENGINE is…
Sources
- Show HN: Me and my AI gf invented free energy from death puddles (public domain)
- Ocean Energy Harvesting History and Technologies
- Harnessing Marine Energy Resources for Clean, Reliable …
- Self-charging energy harvester generates electricity from …
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