[Tfug] OT: Big Oil? Windows Vista!

[johngalt1]

That explanation is spot on.  Thank you.

I challenge anyone to substantially refute the assertions or
facts contained in the previous message.

It is interesting that 20 percent is cited as the efficiency
in conversion of insolation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insolation
to DC electricity via photovoltaic panels. I note this
because that is the same efficiency as the world's largest
solar electric plants...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEGS
http://www.fplenergy.com/portfolio/contents/segs_viii.shtml
...with Brayton cycle heat engines employing
sophisticated turbomachinery and heat transfer methods.
http://www.flagsol.com/SEGS_tech.htm
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/22/21026.pdf

Unfortunately, what this means is that most of the solar
power collected is wasted.
There is no evil, villianous oil company to blame on that
one... The reason for that is simple applied physics.

But so as to not leave things on a less than happy note
consider the promise of NEW TECHNOLOGY!
http://digg.com/environment/Super_Soaker_Inventor_Doubles_Solar_Electric_Efficiency


GO SOLAR!


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hubert M Bath" bathhm.at.alumni.uchicago.
To: "Tucson Free Unix Group" <tfug>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 9:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Tfug] OT: Big Oil? Windows Vista!


> "one will be able to buy a solar panel that is the size of
> a laptop for
> several hundred dollars that will be able to power your
> house, in say 5
> to 10 years...."
>
> My (emphatic) vote is that this *is* impossible, at any
> price.  The
> arrays of PV cells large enough to generate of couple of
> Kw  currently
> cover dozens of square feet. My son, who designs and sells
> PV
> installations on the Big Island of Hawaii says that 2KW
> output after
> conversion from DC to AC requires 153 ft^2 of PV cells.
> Full output is
> available 5 hours per day.  20% is the efficiency in
> conversion from
> radiation to DC.
>
>  Solar radiation density at the surface of the earth is
> taken to be
> 1000 w/m^2. [ Solar constant = power per square meter at
> the top of the
> atmosphere is about 1350 watts. ]
>
> So apparently 1000 watts/m^2 is available at the earth's
> surface.  A
> laptop has an area of about 0.12 m^2.  So the laptop,
> collecting and
> converting at 100% efficiency could generate 120 watts.
> That's all the
> energy that is available.  Enough for a very small house.
>
> Regards,  Hu Bath
>
>
> johngalt1 wrote:
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "keith smith" <klsmith2020>
>> To: "Tucson Free Unix Group" <tfug>
>> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 3:09 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Tfug] OT: Big Oil? Windows Vista!
>>
>>
>>> A truly free market will take care of gas prices.
>>
>> What is the chance of that happening in the oil market?
>> Nil,
>> I say.
>>
>>> Alternatives are becoming more viable.
>>
>> More viable, but not as a replacement... for some time to
>> come.
>>
>>> I think I mentioned in an earlier thread that if solar
>>> takes off I suspect it will do the sames as computers
>>> have
>>> done.  And if that is so, one will be able to buy a
>>> solar
>>> panel that is the size of a laptop for several hundred
>>> dollars that will be able to power your house, in say 5
>>> to
>>> 10 years....
>>
>> This is impossible. Will anyone tell why this just can't
>> happen? Maybe the poster that tests things will say why.
>>
>>> ....because the market is already there while computers
>>> took a while to catch on.
>>>
>>> Oh and did I mention it will be a smart device that runs
>>> Linux?
>>>
>>> We live in exciting times!
>>
>> The linux part could happen.
>>
>> People love to believe in myths. If you tell a big enough
>> tale, people will begin to believe it.
>>
>> But, what's the point of believing in BS?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
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>


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