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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: Legend] 1
#18797800 - 09/04/13 02:42 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, biomass, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy
Solar technology alone has made ridiculous advances in efficiency in the past 10 years.
I like driving from Socal out to Joshua Tree, you always pass this massive fucking Windmill farm in the middle of the desert, there's thousands of giant ones
Also check this shit out http://www.solarroadways.com/intro.shtml
Now that's a fucking vision. Solar roadways would solve numerous problems all in one. And this is just the tip of the iceberg
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: Shroomism]
#18797824 - 09/04/13 03:03 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
BlindSophist said: Why don't we ever hear about this?
Because you're talking to the wrong people or reading the wrong literature, web pages, etc. There's a fuckload of research being done right now into things like syngas and Fisher-Tropsch processing (put them together and you can make oil from water and CO2, adding lots of energy in several process steps).
The big question is how interesting it is in terms of economics and energy balance to make synthetic oil. For niche applications, sure, but for the bulk of the requirement of our energy system (i.e. heating, movement, light), there are more energy-efficient options available that 'plug in' more directly to sustainable energy sources.
Quote:
Shroomism said: I would argue the future of power is in renewable energy.
There's very little argument in that; it's already a moot point.
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: koraks]
#18797830 - 09/04/13 03:05 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Btw, when I say 'research', I don't mean fundamental research either. I'm talking about demonstration projects and pilot plants. Things that are really close to wide-scale implementation. Or, as in the case of Fisher-Tropsch, that are already being implemented on a substantial scale.
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Sophistic Radiance
Free sVs!



Registered: 07/11/06
Posts: 43,135
Loc: Center of the Universe
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: koraks]
#18798535 - 09/04/13 09:50 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'm not too excited about anything that gets done with natural gas, TBH. I was talking about orbiting solar batteries, not synthesis of the shitty fuel we already have.
-------------------- Enlil said: You really are the worst kind of person.
Edited by Sophistic Radiance (09/04/13 09:59 AM)
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luvdemboomers
loner with a boner

Registered: 01/11/13
Posts: 5,054
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: kinkaku]
#18798930 - 09/04/13 11:59 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
kinkaku said: dont worry when the world runs out of crude oil there will be the "next best thing" and if not it will probably be hydrogen again
I could still see hydrogen in our future. Yes, it takes more energy to create hydrogen than you get out of it BUT that energy doesn't have to come from an internal combustion engine. It could be nuclear, solar, wind, etc
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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You're missing the point. You can synthesize methane from sustainable energy sources and then ft it into liquids. The Pearl plant demonstrates the viability of the second part of the process. You really need to adopt a systems perspective when it comes to understanding energy.
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rew736
Your local stranger



Registered: 12/17/12
Posts: 1,145
Loc: New York, United States
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: koraks] 1
#18799063 - 09/04/13 12:39 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I heard of a system where liquid hydrogen (fuel) cools wires till they're superconductive. That way you can pump fuel to people and use it's inherent properties to move electricity with almost no loss. I think geothermal is nice for domestic use, but I see no applications for it in electricity generation. Solar is nice, but I am concerned with the efficiency. Also they take up lots of space. Wind is just ugly and large in my opinion. The windmills also screw with radar, are loud, and kill birds. I think -IF- fusion is a possibility, especially cold fusion, it would be amazing. Antimatter I don't think will work, because you need TONS of power to use magnetic containment. Also I see no source of antimatter...
-------------------- My trade list malicom said: "Banana's emit radiation. In fact banannas are the standard in detecting solar radiation. The radiation read from a bananna tells scientists how active the sun was during the growing season. Make sure to steer clear of bananas too." seekaytea said: "I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin." Wiccan_Seeker said: "Your knowledge on male-on-male rape and willingness to engage in fantasy regarding the matter is commendable." eminemvs.slimshady said: "I want to know if they are active and magic or not. And if they are not active, can i pick them before they are active and then they will become active or do they have to grow till they activate?"
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incubescence
Meow


Registered: 02/05/13
Posts: 33
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: rew736]
#18799101 - 09/04/13 12:52 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Synthetic gasoline is possible... But most of the time it is more efficient to generate energy to take load off of the continuously running coal and nuclear based power plants. It's about the application and use that you need for the energy, and it's always ideal to use it in its most unrefined form, i.e. if you're going to use solar power to heat your water, you would not make it produce steam(or make it electrically heat the water). you'd make it produce 140deg water and then insulate the thermal mass.
Some windmills were proposed a looong time ago that were supposed to operate offshore in the ocean and use the saltwater to produce anhydrous ammonia as an "energy storage" option. they would then take this to shore and blend it with waste vegetable oil to produce a light biofuel much like gasoline. but production of this biofuel is largely limited to supply of waste vegetable oil.
By the way, the guy that invented diesel power used vegetable oil biofuel, and the technology was adapted to petroleum products.
Any extra anhydrous ammonia could be easily sold as fertilizer, too, as this is a much needed chemical for boosting the nitrogen supply.
Edited by incubescence (09/04/13 12:53 PM)
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kinkaku
I AM THE LAW!!!!




Registered: 04/02/13
Posts: 1,322
Loc: Россия
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
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Re: why dont we make synthetic gasoline? [Re: incubescence]
#18799287 - 09/04/13 01:38 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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[quoteI think -IF- fusion is a possibility]
they just installed one of the first fusion reactors it works via a tokamak and uses way more power than it creats but thats to be expected in the early stages also I hear if tokamaks have a melt down they blow up and will rain molten metal (most likely radioactive at that point) down on the surrounding land
aren't scientist working on a feul created by algea?
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