Because I'm disgracefully ignorant in the fields of physics, electrical theory and calculus, I generally extract what I can from the writings of those who are supposed to KNOW. I put that in all caps because those who believe they KNOW can be so damned arrogant about it. And so WRONG.
So it is that I joined the EVDL (electric vehicle discussion list) and have begun compiling valuable information about building an electric-drive vehicle. Generally, I find members there to be a bewildering combination of friendly, helpful EV geeks and arrogant professorial types who deign to offer enlightenment to those of us not so blessed as they. It takes all types, right?
Recently, the topic of overunity and zero point energy came up. Now, as a mechanically inclined person I had some idea of the concept of perpetual motion, but I knew that the commonly accepted understanding of Newton's laws of thermodynamics prohibited getting more energy out of a mechanical system than is put into it. In other words, according to the degreed electrical engineers of the world, there's no free lunch. Even for people who adore the movie "What the $#%! Do We Know?", driving a Camry requires gasoline and running the lights at home means paying the electric company.
Or does it? The entire topic over free energy was immediately and contemptuously shut down on the EV discussion list, with many a snide comment about the childish idiocy of those who maintain even an open mind about claims of a machine that runs without an external fuel (energy) source. Heck, I'm too dumb to even know I shouldn't be curious about such things!
To me, though, it all seems a little too X-Filish and conspiracy theorish to imagine that the scientific community might have known for decades that the kazillion-dollar energy industry is unnecessary. Does the government really squash research into overunity devices? Do men in black suits offer briefcases of money or a shallow grave to inventors who cry, "Eureka! I have the cure to the energy crisis!"?
I honestly can't say (I was threatened...). Ha ha.
Before the topic was killed, one of the posts linked to a news item about an Irish company named Steorn, who claim to have created just such an overunity device and are offering it to the scientific community for peer review. Unfortunately, the public prototype display they prepared at a London art gallery had problems, either because they don't have what they claim or because they had a genuine technical difficulty.
In the midst of educating myself as to exactly why scads of people were coming out of the woodwork to declare Steorn the Anti-Christ, Anti-Buddha, Anti-Muhamed, and Destroyers of the Known Universe (yes, the sentiment is that religiously fervent), I found a link to overunity.com, a site which openly claims awareness of a great many overunity/free energy/perpetual motion devices. In the physics/electrical engineering worlds, it's like a cathedral for Satan worshipers.
Interestingly enough, however, there are plenty of bright-eyed young people at universities around the world (and a few older blokes as well) who spend time posting there. Apparently, they are too stupid to know that the laws of thermodynamics cannot be broken, because they took the work of a reclusive man named Steven Mark and successfully replicated his toroidal power unit (TPU) overunity device. Only last month, several people worldwide claim to have duplicated similar results via free exchange of information over the internet. They believe that they will soon achieve power levels equal to those displayed in Steven Mark's videos, with the difference being that this time the technical specifications will be freely available for replication by anyone with the skill to do so.
I sure hope they're not delusional.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
My Challenge to the Energy Industry
MY CHALLENGE to the major energy conglomerates of the world: build a model community utilizing the best current technology. Start with geothermal, wind, wave, and solar energy sources as applicable. Besides storage banks at dedicated substations, make each home an active part of the renewable energy grid (REG), able to have its energy storage system (ESS) topped off during periods of peak production.
Construct homes of printed photovoltaic modular insulated polymer panels and store electricity with Firefly's carbon-graphite foam-based batteries and connect each home to the REG-management network to monitor efficiency.
Require that all community food production take place within a 100-mile radius (modern agricultural practices and distribution were developed when petroleum was abundant. Let’s re-think that). Utilize sustainable organic practices and large greenhouses of construction similar to that of community homes.
Construct dedicated electric vehicles with a quick-change modular ESS (much as battery-powered tools currently use) comprised of Firefly batteries with the capability of a 90% recharge in 10 minutes, 240V AC drive systems, and the amenities expected in a modern car. Build a network of battery charging, maintenance, and repair stations at which racks of fully-charged ESSes are available at a nominal fee and will fit any vehicle. As the community/REG expands, extend this “fueling” network. Additionally, liquid hydrogen production, distribution, and safe end use should parallel expansion of the REG, allowing for fuel cell powered airplanes and other machinery in which electric-drive alone is insufficient.
Make the community bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly with plenty of parks and extensive free public transportation.
As for local industry, the community should be actively engaged in discovering and exporting solutions in energy extraction, distribution, and efficiency. After initial construction of the core community, vehicle fleet, and REG, any expansion requiring fossil fuels or pollutant chemicals should be expressly forbidden (with the only exceptions being petroleum lubricants and plastics, though synthetic variants should be given priority if superior environmentally). There should be restrictions on industries that are unsustainable or create an unmitigated carbon footprint.
The REG should be connected with outlying grids with the explicit intent of annexing, upgrading, and expanding. "Urban renewal" in communities incorporated into the REG would involve upgrading homes, industry, and vehicles to sustainable power, a difficult but worthwhile endeavor. Those outlying communities demonstrating the greatest commitment to sustainable practices such as recycling would be first in line for annexation.
This is the challenge. It requires only two things: the will of innovative people and the resources of multinational corporations.
There is no time like the present.
Construct homes of printed photovoltaic modular insulated polymer panels and store electricity with Firefly's carbon-graphite foam-based batteries and connect each home to the REG-management network to monitor efficiency.
Require that all community food production take place within a 100-mile radius (modern agricultural practices and distribution were developed when petroleum was abundant. Let’s re-think that). Utilize sustainable organic practices and large greenhouses of construction similar to that of community homes.
Construct dedicated electric vehicles with a quick-change modular ESS (much as battery-powered tools currently use) comprised of Firefly batteries with the capability of a 90% recharge in 10 minutes, 240V AC drive systems, and the amenities expected in a modern car. Build a network of battery charging, maintenance, and repair stations at which racks of fully-charged ESSes are available at a nominal fee and will fit any vehicle. As the community/REG expands, extend this “fueling” network. Additionally, liquid hydrogen production, distribution, and safe end use should parallel expansion of the REG, allowing for fuel cell powered airplanes and other machinery in which electric-drive alone is insufficient.
Make the community bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly with plenty of parks and extensive free public transportation.
As for local industry, the community should be actively engaged in discovering and exporting solutions in energy extraction, distribution, and efficiency. After initial construction of the core community, vehicle fleet, and REG, any expansion requiring fossil fuels or pollutant chemicals should be expressly forbidden (with the only exceptions being petroleum lubricants and plastics, though synthetic variants should be given priority if superior environmentally). There should be restrictions on industries that are unsustainable or create an unmitigated carbon footprint.
The REG should be connected with outlying grids with the explicit intent of annexing, upgrading, and expanding. "Urban renewal" in communities incorporated into the REG would involve upgrading homes, industry, and vehicles to sustainable power, a difficult but worthwhile endeavor. Those outlying communities demonstrating the greatest commitment to sustainable practices such as recycling would be first in line for annexation.
This is the challenge. It requires only two things: the will of innovative people and the resources of multinational corporations.
There is no time like the present.
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