To Evaluate Renewable Energy Concepts, Apply Common Sense First, Engineering Second
Here’s an idea in renewable energy that finds its way onto social media every couple of months. Called HydroWave, it purports to convert the energy of the ocean waves incident on the sides of a ship into a form that is useful to propelling the vessel forward. So, let’s think about this for a second. You have a 53,000 ton battleship sailing across the ocean, and you claim this device is going to make a meaningful contribution to moving it forward? You don’t need to be an engineer to realize how completely inane that is.
I’m reminded of a group in Connecticut that paid us to evaluate a concept called WattShocks, a special kind of shock absorber that converted the energy in the vertical motion of a car as it is going over bumps into electricity (rather than waste heat) that would propel the car forward. I assigned one of our engineers to do the analysis, and he showed how this couldn’t be effective, but my take was this: Before you hire an engineer, drive your car around on the bumpiest road you can find, and then hold your hand on one of the shocks, and see if you get burned. When you find out that there’s barely enough heat there to warm tonight’s dinner rolls, ask yourself how useful that device could possibly be.
Hi Craig,
I think your observations make perfect common and commercial sense.
In my Odyssey through the coal fields of the USA, I’ve been very disappointed at the types of ‘Clean Coal’ technology on offer.
The projects we’ve reviewed so far, many by highly reputable scientists and engineers from prestigious universities, and institutions seem to fall into three categories.
1) Bizarre, ridiculous proposals that are either scams, or delusional.
2) Very expensive, complicated large scale engineering projects requiring enormous investment, rendering the technology economically competitive, even if worked.
3) Practical, real technology, but limited to a narrow set of circumstances and applications.
This is very disappointing. Coal sequestration technology can work, but for most of the industry there’s no point if it’s simply too expensive or the right circumstances are unavailable.
I currently in the wonderfully historic and fascinating state of Tennessee. Even ‘though Tennessee is quite small, I reckon I could stay a year in this very diverse state and still not have seen everything the state has to offer !
The Tennessee Coal industry is relatively small, mostly mining high quality bituminous coal, although the state has large deposits of untouched lignite.
I’m very grateful to my young American companion and guide, who has proved an invaluable “Argonaut”. I’m even more pleased that her University will grant her credit for the trip toward her graduate degree.
While traveling through the remains of Tennessee coal towns, we’re conscious of the impact of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TVA is pretty unique for America, created by FDR this agency operates like a European style government monopoly.
We passed through Lynchburg and visited the world famous Jack Daniel’s distillery. (Oddly, the Distillery operated in the middles of an otherwise ‘dry’ county).
Although if given a choice between mere comfort or character in accommodation, I’ll always choose character, I’m still glad to sometimes find accommodation like a suite at the Tennessean Hotel in Knoxville. (the service is world class).
Here in Knoxville we attended a demonstration arranged by the developers of a process using modified a cyanobacterium to consume carbon dioxide and generate the liquid fuel isobutanol. Isobutanol can be use as a gasoline alternative and a wide range of valuable industrial uses.
Although the process is still experimental, and mindful CO2 emissions aren’t coal’s only pollutant emission, the research still shows promise. (Certainly more promise than the scores of other schemes offered).
We shall be remaining in Tennessee, having been invited by the Tennessee Mining Association to attend the Tennessee Mining Conference in Gatlinburg, October 1 -4 .
Unfortunately that doesn’t leave much time to visit Memphis, Nashville, and Natchez before our next series of meetings in Alabama.
I’ll admit, my memories of Alabama are not pleasant. The last time I visited the State was in 1968 when as a young serviceman I was inspired by the heroism of MLK and his followers.
(I’m proud to say my family were very early in their support for William Wilberforce).
Who are you, and what have you done with MarcoPolo?
Seriously, I’m delighted to hear your report on clean coal.
If you happen to be out my way, please call and let’s have lunch.
Craig,
Thank you for the invitation. I hope to have more time when I attend the Commercial Electric vehicle Conference: April 30-May 3, 2018 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
I hope to spend most of May in California, so I’ll certainly take a raincheck til then .