Posted on 05/08/2007 5:59:39 AM PDT by Uncledave
Scientists are eyeing the jet stream, an energy source that rages night and day, 365 days a year, just a few miles above our heads. If they can tap into its fierce winds, the world's entire electrical needs could be met, they say.
The trick is figuring out how to harness the energy and get it down to the ground cost-effectively and safely.
Dozens of researchers in California and around the world believe huge kite-like wind-power generators could be the solution. As bizarre as that might seem, respected experts say the idea is sound enough to justify further investigation.
The jet stream typically blows from west to east 6 to 9 miles over the northern hemisphere at speeds up to 310 mph.
By lofting generators into the upper atmosphere, scientists theorize they could capture the power of the jet stream and transmit the electricity along cables back to Earth.
A wind machine, floated into such a monstrous force, would transmit electricity on aluminum or copper cables -- or through invisible microwave beams -- down to power grids, where it would be distributed to homes and businesses. Unlike ground-based wind generators, the high-altitude devices would be too high to be heard and barely visible against the blue sky.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The 4 rotor concept was a Popular Science article somewhile ago. First, only a balloon or blimp would get it up there reliably. Second, LIGHTNING would quickly ZAP it. Remember, the electro-potential gradient between the negatively charged eath and positively charged ionosphere is 50V/m or 400,000 V(at 1800 Amps worldwide)total.
The Space Elevator people have the same problem : possible discharge of the entire, spherical capacitor with their elevator cable(moisture on it + debye effect). Talk about an environmental disaster, what happens EVERYWHERE when the electro-potential gradient disappears?
This proposal has been floated quite a few times over the past 15 or so years. I think the guy behind this apparent boondoggle (honestly, 30 ton devices are gonna float like little cotton puffs in the sky) is a PR genius.
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