Why dont we harness lightning?

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Unfortunately, you never know when or where a bolt of lightning will strike.

*uncrumples piece of paper from pocket*

We do now.

^^^ Winnar.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: theplaidfad

When the tornado finally gets tired of years of servitude, it WILL escape and destroy us all.

I for one welcome our new angry tornado overlords.


Someone had to say it.

Damn, beat me to it...

 

[So]

Wind is "free" too, but oh, wait! It turns out that wind power is more expensive than coal! How can that be? What? Infrastructure costs money? You must be joking!

I know, let's spend billions on R&D in hopes that someone invents a capacitor that is cheap enough to even come close to being affordable at that size, and if it doesn't work out we're screwed.

Or we could just build a few light water reactors and go to bed secure in our (extremely cheap) energy supplies.

 

[sdifox]

Assuming we can build this sucker, I would put it on golf courses. Golfers draw lightening for some reason.

 

[Alyx]

Originally posted by: Gothgar

Originally posted by: theplaidfad

Originally posted by: vhx
Because lightning strikes are random. You could technically make a giant field of huge spires for a bigger chance of getting something hit by lightning, but to be more efficient they would have to be really tall (more expensive).

I was actually reading in the July issue of Popular Science that Louis Michaud has found a way of creating a Tornado and then entrapping it but keeping it spinning indefinitely. The article said he showed a prototype last year (a smaller model) but is going for a bigger one. If it's true it could definitely be a constant source of energy. It requires power to first start it says, but once it is going it is self sustainable using turbines and stuff. It also says one would be enough to power 200,000 homes.

When the tornado finally gets tired of years of servitude, it WILL escape and destroy us all.

/obligatory I for one welcome our new tornado overlords.

I foresee a new lobby group starting. UMHOS - United Mobile Home Owner Society. Everyone knows twisters are attracted to those things and when that twister gets loose it'll cause a mess. Luckily the new lobby group won't have much money so the twister idea will go through anyways.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: So
Wind is "free" too, but oh, wait! It turns out that wind power is more expensive than coal! How can that be? What? Infrastructure costs money? You must be joking!

I know, let's spend billions on R&D in hopes that someone invents a capacitor that is cheap enough to even come close to being affordable at that size, and if it doesn't work out we're screwed.

Or we could just build a few light water reactors and go to bed secure in our (extremely cheap) energy supplies.

There are also consequences we probably haven't seen yet regarding creating air dams. It is undoubtedly changing the air flow in an area which could adversely affect the environment.

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: NL5

Originally posted by: JLee

Funny how technology changes.

Funny how the laws of physics don't.

Give it a hundred years. We still have to figure out gravity. The laws of physics are only our interpretation of a vast complex universe.

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Although it's a lot of power, it's for a very short time. 1 million watts for 0.1 second=28kWh. About enough to power an average house for a day.

Yep, that's the truth and the deal-killer right there..

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: vhx
Because lightning strikes are random. You could technically make a giant field of huge spires for a bigger chance of getting something hit by lightning, but to be more efficient they would have to be really tall (more expensive).

I was actually reading in the July issue of Popular Science that Louis Michaud has found a way of creating a Tornado and then entrapping it but keeping it spinning indefinitely. The article said he showed a prototype last year (a smaller model) but is going for a bigger one. If it's true it could definitely be a constant source of energy. It requires power to first start it says, but once it is going it is self sustainable using turbines and stuff. It also says one would be enough to power 200,000 homes.

That's just asking for some crazy sci-fi scenario. Containment fails, it goes on and blows through a couple towns, then someone sets off a nuke to neutralize it...

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: vhx
Because lightning strikes are random. You could technically make a giant field of huge spires for a bigger chance of getting something hit by lightning, but to be more efficient they would have to be really tall (more expensive).

I was actually reading in the July issue of Popular Science that Louis Michaud has found a way of creating a Tornado and then entrapping it but keeping it spinning indefinitely. The article said he showed a prototype last year (a smaller model) but is going for a bigger one. If it's true it could definitely be a constant source of energy. It requires power to first start it says, but once it is going it is self sustainable using turbines and stuff. It also says one would be enough to power 200,000 homes.

Link

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Unfortunately, you never know when or where a bolt of lightning will strike.

And if we did, the military would want first dibs.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Unfortunately, you never know when or where a bolt of lightning will strike.

And if we did, the military would want first dibs.

Religious leaders second.


"And if I'm wrong, may god strike m--"

The blasphemer is roasted on the spot by a bolt of lightning, while the preacher whistles nonchalantly, carefully concealing a small targeting device in his hands.