Posted on 03/09/2021 1:40:19 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT
A major national supermarket chain, one of the Fortune 500 customers in Mainspring’s pilot program, has signed an agreement to expand deployment of Mainspring Linear Generators to power up to 30 grocery stores. Mainspring began shipping pilot units to multiple Fortune 500 customers in June 2020 and expects to begin commercial product shipments in mid-2021.
...Mainspring’s breakthrough technology, based on research originally conducted by the company’s co-founders in a thermodynamics laboratory at Stanford University, is designed to meet these demands by delivering dispatchable, fuel-flexible power that substantially reduces cost and carbon today, while accelerating the transition to the net-zero carbon grid.
Mainspring’s generators are designed to produce electricity with utility-scale performance in the size of a parking space, while meeting the strictest emissions standards in the world.
The design of Mainspring’s Linear Generator uses a low-temperature reaction of air and fuel to drive magnets through copper coils to efficiently produce electricity. This innovcative design, combined with the company’s proprietary adaptive control software, enables high efficiency, near-zero NOx emissions, full dispatchability, and seamless switching between fuels.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
??????
A diagram of the mechanics in action.
Nothing on the process?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSPRT1JAXj4
Sounds like an enhanced Sterling engine.
Stirling
What flameless, fuel air “reaction” occurs that drives the pistons outward??? This has the distinct odor of snake oil about it.
“Low temperature reaction”
I am going to say the BS is right there. You either combust the fuel-air mixture or you don’t. I’m not clear on how this magical low temperature combustion occurs.
Are we talking about catalytic methane combustion?
From the article: “The capability of this technology to dynamically switch between natural gas and renewable fuels like biogas and hydrogen, results in both high efficiency and low emissions.”
This reads to me like they will start with natural gas and later, when available, use biogas and hydrogen.
Mostly aspirational I'm thinking. But well-intentioned people will eat this up.
—”What flameless, fuel air “reaction” occurs that drives the pistons outward??? “
I was thinking “COLD FUSION”, but I didn’t actually want tosay that ...
There are numerous prototypes in service.
Probably not “COLD FUSION”?
Sterling uses heat differential.
This one: Because of its use of a low-temperature reaction without burning or a flame
??? It is some form of internal combustion.
Consuming fuel in a closed chamber.
—”Mostly aspirational I’m thinking. But well-intentioned people will eat this up.”
Perhaps...BUT!
There are more than a few working units existent.
BINGO!
I believe you nailed it.
Catalytic methane combustion at low temperature has low NOx emissions.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403211930797X
Thank you! thank you!
Now I have to go read beyond the abstract...
“...??? It is some form of internal combustion.
Consuming fuel in a closed chamber.”
****************************************
Hmmm.... Interesting. I wonder if the chamber is shaped like a cylinder and if there is a piston that can enter and exit at one end of the chamber? ;-)
Have they finally added the right amount of Pixie Dust to make the E-Cat finally work?
—”interesting. I wonder if the chamber is...”
Plans in link #2.
Also, see link #12 that wbarmy pointed out.
—”E-Cat finally work?”
That was the direction I was thinking until wbarmy pointed me to the link in #12.
It uses fuel as the energy source which implies some type of combustion
—”It uses fuel as the energy source which implies some type of combustion”
YES.
AND Freeper wbarmy pointed me to the link in #12, which answers the question.
That’s what I thought. Some sort of sterling engine.
Magnets are made with rare earths, most of which come from China
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