tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784046717004475334.post3730500627295741982..comments2023-10-02T03:01:34.501-07:00Comments on Geo-engineering: Combat Global Warming with Evaporative CoolingSam Caranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376449209858411775noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784046717004475334.post-9556948273207267192008-12-21T15:10:00.000-08:002008-12-21T15:10:00.000-08:00Some people have asked me to explain how surplus e...Some people have asked me to explain how surplus energy from wind turbines could be stored. <BR/><BR/>There are many ways to store energy. There are flywheels, compressed air, molten salt, pumped-up water, hydrogen, car batteries, etc. Pumped-up water seems an obviously promising method. Surplus energy from wind turbines can first be used to pump up seawater and keep this seawater stored, either within the body of the wind turbine itself or within a separate water tower. At suitable weather conditions, gravity can then allow this water to be sprayed in front of the wind turbine, while gravity can also provide the energy needed to ensure that the seawater is spray out in the form of a fine mist, while the falling water could also power the rotor of the wind turbine to give this mist enough lift to rise high enough into the air to contribute to cloud formation. <BR/><BR/>As to car batteries, surplus electricity could be sold over the grid to charge spare capacity of car batteries, which becomes increasingly attractive with the rise of electric vehicles. As long as the vehicle doesn't need the energy, it could be attractive for the vehicle owner to sell the electricity back to the wind turbines when times are suitable to spray seawater into the air and power the turbines to allow this spray to go far and wide, and give it sufficient lift. <BR/><BR/>Another promising alternative is to use hydrogen. Surplus energy from wind turbines could - by means of electrolysis - turn seawater into hydrogen. The hydrogen could be stored as a gas in tanks next to the wind turbine - little or no compression of the hydrogen is needed, given that there is plenty of room for a large tank next to the wind turbine. A fuel cell next to the tank could - at suitable times - turn the hydrogen into electricity, powering the wind turbine, while pumping up seawater and spraying this in front of the rotor. <BR/><BR/>The latter method could also ensure that there is a steady supply of hydrogen, which could be used to power ships and boats - quite frankly, I see no better way to power ships and boats that travel long distances. It makes sense for offshore wind turbines to store surplus energy in the form of hydrogen and allow ships and boats - at commercial prices - to take such hydrogen on board. From there, it's a small step to use spare hydrogen to spray seawater when weather conditions are suitable. <BR/><BR/>I accept that there are other ways to spray seawater into the air, such as vortex towers. However, it is in the end a matter of what is the most economic way to do this. If surplus energy from wind turbines otherwise goes to waste, while wind turbines remain idle periodically, then there will be little cost involved in using this surplus energy to make the wind turbines spray seawater into the air. <BR/><BR/>In conclusion, I do not see engineering problems in making this work, but I suggest that each such method be explored further, to find out what the most economic approach is. <BR/><BR/>For now, the question is whether there will be a net benefit in regard to global warming. Clearly, this method will allow some latent energy to be carried into the sky, and some of that energy will be radiated into space. But the big question is: will the albedo change - as a result of increased cloud coverage - outweigh the greenhouse effect of water vapor. <BR/><BR/>Cheers! <BR/>Sam CaranaSam Caranahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12376449209858411775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784046717004475334.post-3837816626109489232008-12-19T04:33:00.000-08:002008-12-19T04:33:00.000-08:00I've discussed the evaporative cooling idea a bit ...I've discussed the evaporative cooling idea a bit more. Somebody mentioned the work of Ron Ace, as described at: <BR/><A HREF="http://www.physorg.com/news148887530.html" REL="nofollow">http://www.physorg.com/news148887530.html</A><BR/><BR/>Others were concerned that such ideas will be used as excuses to continue the burning of fossil fuel, etc. <BR/><BR/>What worries me most is the possibility that Earth will start loosing hydrogen and oxygen to space, if we artificially increased humidity. I wrote about this danger at: <BR/><A HREF="http://groups.google.com/group/greenhouseeffect/browse_thread/thread/8166677519b1aa33" REL="nofollow">http://groups.google.com/group/greenhouseeffect/browse_thread/thread/8166677519b1aa33</A>Sam Caranahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12376449209858411775noreply@blogger.com