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Solar power
AdeV:
Hmm, I knew I should have listened to what my Physics teacher was saying, back when I was at school...
Lew_Merrick_PE:
Ade,
Thermodynamics, for which I always have preferred Robert Heinlein's description as ThermoGodDamnics, should not be called a science. It is, rather, an art! The secret to this art is having several feet of bookshelf of the references that list the plethora of fudge factors and describe when and how to use them to modify the (so-called) equations.
I was "taught" ThermoGodDamnics in college by a professor who was generally acclaimed to be one of the top ten thermodynamics people in the world. I learned absolutely nothing from him as he knew the subject too well to teach it. I did not get a handle on it at all until I worked with a recently inked Masters of Science in Engineering type who had just mastered the subject himself. He was able to explain things in a manner that was understandable.
I have, off-and-on over the past three decades, worked with NASA's top thermodynamicist. Believe me, I know just how poor my skills are in this arena. The frightening part is that there are nearly a dozen companies (including some really large, major corporations) where I rank as Mr. Thermodynamics -- something that scares the living bejesus out of me!
RussellT:
--- Quote from: AdeV on December 22, 2012, 03:40:38 PM ---In fact, the biggest immediate problem I can foresee is - what the hell to do with all the oxygen you liberate (2 from each CO2 molecule, and 1 from each water molecule)... sure, some of it could be compressed and bottled, but I'm really not sure about the rest of it...
--- End quote ---
This isn't a problem, you just release it into the atmosphere. The system you describe is renewable, when your synthetic fuels are consumed they will use that oxygen and produce the CO2 and H20 that you originally used.
I suspect though that it would be easier to use Hydrogen as your renewable fuel. It should also be possible to build a world wide grid - using aluminium for conductors. That would also allow you to produce electricity 24 hours a day by using a selection of deserts.
I live further up the River Goyt from Phil and can testify to the amount of water. In my opinion this is an effect of climate change and I think the first task of any large scale solar power should be to scrub CO2 from the atmosphere. The models show that the effects of doubling the CO2 in the atmosphere will take a thousand years. Governments have agreed to try and limit CO2 levels in the atmosphere to twice pre industrial levels and we're currently at about 1.5 times pre industrial levels. The effects we're seeing are only the beginning - we need to reduce atmospheric CO2 and we're not going to persuade people to stop using fossil fuels until they run out.
I'll get off my hobby horse now.
Russell
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