The generators normally sit
there running at a boring 3600 RPM (60hz*60 seconds).
Only generators that are powered by steam turbines or very fast flowing water run at 3600 RPM (or 3000 RPM in Europe).
Generators can have n*2 magnetic poles, where n is integer > 0. Generator with 4 poles will run at 1800 RPM.
59.5 Hz = trouble. 59 Hz = BIG trouble!
Generators always run at EXACTLY 60 Hz. Even a very small difference would cause terrible things to happen (generator rotors could shatter, large voltage spikes).
Imagine a generator running at 59.9 Hz. It lags behind 36 degress in phase every second. That means that in half a second its phase would be exactly an opposite of grid phase!
What happens when you increase the load on a generator is that angle between magnetic field and the rotor increases (it is a bit more complicated than that but this is Slashdot after all).
Operation is stable only until this angle reaches 90 degrees. At that point the generator can no longer keep in sync and must be shut down.
Oh yes, and I am an electrical engineer.
Re:Why not a simple thermocouple?
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Thermocouple needs two spots with different temperatures to generate electric current. You can't directly convert heat to electricity.
You would have to have one part of thermocouple inside the body (at body temperature) and one outside (at the ambient temperature).
Besides, small thermocouples are very inefficient. With temperature differences like those achievable with human body, you could only get a few microvolts.
I've read an article about it in NewScientist two years ago. In short, researchers blasted a piece of silicon surrounded with a certain mix of gasses with a femto-second laser pulse. This produced tiny spikes on the surface (silikon looked black because of this)
"In addition, assuming an equal amount of "work", the outflow needs to be greater then in inflow."
I agree with that, but on the other hand this system could serve as a buffer. Say you are on a vacation for a week and your computer sits at home working for other people and earning money. When you come back, you can then spend that money on the CPU time. This way you actually used (probably only a part of) your own computer's CPU time that would otherwise be wasted. It would be the same with storage.
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Only generators that are powered by steam turbines or very fast flowing water run at 3600 RPM (or 3000 RPM in Europe).
Generators can have n*2 magnetic poles, where n is integer > 0. Generator with 4 poles will run at 1800 RPM.
59.5 Hz = trouble. 59 Hz = BIG trouble!Generators always run at EXACTLY 60 Hz. Even a very small difference would cause terrible things to happen (generator rotors could shatter, large voltage spikes).
Imagine a generator running at 59.9 Hz. It lags behind 36 degress in phase every second. That means that in half a second its phase would be exactly an opposite of grid phase!
What happens when you increase the load on a generator is that angle between magnetic field and the rotor increases (it is a bit more complicated than that but this is Slashdot after all).
Operation is stable only until this angle reaches 90 degrees. At that point the generator can no longer keep in sync and must be shut down.Oh yes, and I am an electrical engineer.
Thermocouple needs two spots with different temperatures to generate electric current. You can't directly convert heat to electricity.
You would have to have one part of thermocouple inside the body (at body temperature) and one outside (at the ambient temperature).
Besides, small thermocouples are very inefficient. With temperature differences like those achievable with human body, you could only get a few microvolts.
How could you forget about Private Public and General Specific?
Can you please explain how can you get free energy by first separating water molecules and then recombining them? Ever heard of thermodynamics?
At least that is how I understand your post. There is no other source of hydrogen in the atmosphere except for water vapor.
And this got modded +5 informative??
I've read an article about it in NewScientist two years ago. In short, researchers blasted a piece of silicon surrounded with a certain mix of gasses with a femto-second laser pulse. This produced tiny spikes on the surface (silikon looked black because of this)
More infoThey said at the time this could produce very efficient solar cells, then everything went quiet.
Anyone heard about this technology? It looks closer than these antenae.
"In addition, assuming an equal amount of "work", the outflow needs to be greater then in inflow." I agree with that, but on the other hand this system could serve as a buffer. Say you are on a vacation for a week and your computer sits at home working for other people and earning money. When you come back, you can then spend that money on the CPU time. This way you actually used (probably only a part of) your own computer's CPU time that would otherwise be wasted. It would be the same with storage.