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The Carnot efficiency of a heat engine favors large delta T! This is the theoretical limit of efficiency. For steam turbines this efficiency should be around 60-70%, theoretically.

While cool (1,900 to 2,400 degrees C cool) the Carnot effiencies should be closer to 86%.

The idea that heat engines get more efficient as you increase delta T has been around for a while. The problem is constructing a delta work extraction loop that doesn't have more losses as a result of the delta T increase, ie the practicalities of extracting work energy.

Warning: I am assuming they are working with an approximately room temperature cold side, as article doesn't say. The practicalities of allowing for the delta-t is usually where the efficiency losses are made.

source: I am an electrical / chemical engineer.



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