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bimblinghill (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Yes
bimblinghill (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
According to a New Scientist article, growing crops underneath actually improves efficiency, if you irrigate. The water vapour lost from the leaves is less dense than air, and so strengthens the rising air effect. Plenty of water would be required though.
caucazoidandroid (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I wonder how old this video is, because the turbines that the Germans are making now are so much better than the old ones. Surely, with the new turbines, the output would be even better. And I wonder if you could irrigate the land underneath to grow food, or whether that would interfere with the generator.
determinism89 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
What is the actual function of the tower? I see that the air has a tendency to rise through the center where the generator is. Is the column of hot air then supposed to pull more air into the system as it rises?
determinism89 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Can we do this while maintaining a steady enough state to generate electricity from it?
charliecorgan (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I think its Tedlar, also used as backsheet for solar modules. Insulating very resistant plastic.
hachicontrol (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Plus, there would be efficiency losses as the air rises, because the fact that the air is rising means that its energy is going elsewhere, and not ultimately towards turning the turbines blades.
beartracksracing (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Once the heated air reaches the tower, it will not have much less force than at the exit of the tower. Yes airspeed will be geater at the top, but the air density will be lower resulting nearly same force. From simplicity aspect, the turbin at the bottom will produce the cheapest electricty per KW.
beartracksracing (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
that is 30KW an hour. Most homes use only 30KW a day. That would be at least 24 homes that can be powered from this tower.
beartracksracing (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Just a thought. If the upper atmosphere wind speeds are higher than the wind speed in the vertical wind tunnel why not use that to increase power.
Cap the top of the tower with a 90 degree hood that can rotate to match wind direction by use of a stablizer vains and bearings. As upper atmostphere winds are blown by the vent hood, an venturi effect is created increasing the total wind speed of the tower. This will increase the power of turbin below. |