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Domain: powerchips.gi

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Comments · 7

  1. Re:Simply generate electricity locally. by NewbieProgrammerMan · · Score: 1 · on New Superconductor World Record Surpasses 250K

    The two reactors generate, as I recall, around 950MW-980MW thermal each. So, around 150MW of heat, per reactor, is dumped into the river. 85% efficiency, done on a large scale...

    I think you've got some numbers wrong. Even with a heat sink right at freezing, the reactor would need to heat the water to 2850F just to get the Carnot efficiency to 85%. [Source]

    Supercritical steam plants get almost 50% efficiency, but (steam) nuclear plants operate at lower temperatures and pressures, so their efficiency will necessarily be lower.

  2. Re:Similar work been done before by Shadyman · · Score: 0 · on Company Claims New Chip Converts Heat To Electricity

    See Also Power Chips, PLC, also owned by Borealis.

  3. Prior Art by The+Mighty+Buzzard · · Score: 3, Interesting · on Company Claims New Chip Converts Heat To Electricity

    IANAL but I'm fairly certain the patents held by Borealis Technical Limited for their Power Chips line already covers this.
    Have a look: http://www.powerchips.gi/

  4. Heat energy by Virtex · · Score: 3, Informative · on Home Biomass Power Generators

    The technology I'm waiting for is something that would efficiently convert heat energy into electricity. If you think about it, heat is an abundant source of energy during the summer months. If we could harness that energy, it would go a long way towards providing additional electricity. Plus, extracting the heat energy from the air has the effect of cooling off the air; hence, our air conditioners could generate electricity instead of consuming it.

    Unfortunately, current technologies leave a lot to be desired (but there may be hope). So for now, I'll continue to wait.

  5. Re:Generation & Distribution Losses by geoswan · · Score: 2, Informative · on GM Pulls Plug on Electric Car
    About 70% of the energy in the power plant's fuel is lost to generation and distribution losses by the time it reaches the end-user...

    Perhaps.

    But to be fair. Shouldn't one consider that an engine with a more or less constant load is more efficient than one that is continually changing, dur to traffic conditions?

    Additionally, you quote that 70% figure as if conventional cars made effective use of 100% of their engine's energy. According to this site

    ...A Rankine cycle generator, such as a gas turbine, has a typical Carnot efficiency of about 30%, while a diesel or gasoline generator is only about 10-15% efficient in Carnot terms.
  6. Been done before by Lord+Prox · · Score: 1 · on Thermoelectric Generator With No Moving Parts

    Does anyone remember the Slashdot article on the CoolChip? It was basicly a really efficent peliter 70% or so. Well they have engineered it's brother, the powerchip. Give it heat xfer it gives you electricity. At a est 70% efficency.
    Powerchips

  7. Efficiency? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Thermoelectric Generator With No Moving Parts

    What is the efficiency of the process? A Peltier is around 5% efficient (very wasteful). These guys are working on a similar device and are proclaiming efficiencies in the 70 to 80% range. Consider that a car engine is 15% efficient (approx) or a gas turbine is 30% efficient (approx).