What is Digg?Sponsored by Travelzoo
$45 & up: Huge Hotel Sale view!
travelzoo.com - Great discounts on rooms for the holidays and beyond!
57 Comments
- mtb167, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26Maybe they do. Think of how cool it would be to hold this conversation with your neighbor
Neighbor: "Yup, I'm on that new natural gas. Its great. Saves me a lot of money."
You. "Oh yeah? My house is powered by the earth's natural rotation and lightening. "
Then kick him in the nuts. - Detritus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16You should read the article Railer, they'll be at 1,000 feet. But from the FAQ:
What about weather, lightning and service?
The US military uses inflated, helium-filled aerostats that are 400-ft in length and are tethered at up to 15,000-ft in altitude. These aerostats are illuminated, including the tethers, and indicated on all general aviation charts and Notams (Notification to Air Men). The aerostats carry many tons of radar equipment and are powered through the tether which is connected to ground winches which raise and lower the aerostat for servicing. Lightning is not a problem since the aerostats have lightning arrestor equipment. Also, helium is non-flammable. MARS units will be deployed at much lower altitudes, thus simplifying all of this.
This is some truly clever engineering. Selling this to us in the Midwest would be a boon for our energy problems. - mtb167, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15This is really freakin cool.
I think I should be able to buy my own and have it power my house. Screw airplanes. they cost too much anyway. Make way for progress! - noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14What about them? If a tornada came close enough to do anythng to this I'd be a bit more worried about my house than my generator balloon.
- lithuin, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12@ahhell
And risk re-animating the dead, thus creating an army of eco-friendly zombies, hell-bent on reducing our dependence on foreign oil, while also re-discovering what it is to be human?
Thanks, but no thanks. - Becky65, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I really like the idea of use of MARS units in disaster areas and in developing nations. Very, very nice.
- noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8"wind is not powered by earth's rotation.
*sigh*"
Yes, a lot of it is, while most wind is driven by varying pressure levels, the jet-streams are driven by the earths rotation and a lot of that energy bleeds off into ofther systems.
Another thing, as a species we seem to have gotten really good in putting potential problems over any benefits. There aren't really any serious drawbacks to this but like every other system we're nit-picking it to death. - Kent767, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7then you get a LOT of power? :-p
- noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8"Let me know how your negotiations with the FAA go for getting approval to deploy a lethal impediment to air-traffic over your property."
What air-traffic hangs out at 1000 feet. I mean sure around airports or something but I've never had any airliners buzzing my house. - SpaceDreamer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10wind is not powered by earth's rotation.
*sigh* - alphaeno, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6How much will each unit cost, will it be cost effective now or in 20 years?
- Ninnux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Lightning is irrelevant if lightning rods are used to bleed of the charge before potential is enough to jump across from a cloud to the balloon. Same principle as with buildings.
- ahhell, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10Why don't they just harness the lightning that is going to blast the ***** out of that thing?
- Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4A helium party balloon (which is the only kind most diggers will ever see) is capable of lifting about one ounce. Add the weight of an air frame a turbine generator, and 1000 feet of cable, and you're talking some serious volume. That sort of increased demand on our already short supply of helium would make these things cost-prohibitive. Plus, there is the cost of recharging the gas when it leaks out.
I love the angelic white picture in the article. These things would have to be illuminated, orange, and ugly.as sin.
And yes, the new generation of solar materials (and even the old stuff) is effective in producing power even in the frozen north, once you get the snow off the roof. The effect of solar on oil demand and prices, once widely deployed, can even make dirty old fossil fuel more affordable to the technically irate and the snowbound.
Of course, we're too busy spending untold billions fighting in support of the oill companies for control of middle east oil to to have developed solar to the point of practicality by now, but it will occur eventually. The companies developing cutting-edge solar are going out of their way to avoid filthy republican blood money. That way, big oil (hopefully) won't kill the technology.
Gas balloons to solve the energy crisis. Now I've heard it all.
Based on the truthiness factor, Watch THIS comment get dugg down... - Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Yes, but most of the helium is floating around someplace and can't be captured. The helium you by at the party store comes from underground reserves, most of which are in Texas, and are not particularly abundant.
Texas? Did I say Texas? Oh, that explains the reason somebody is trying to promote this quack technology. - crunkykd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4How does it fare at 1000 feet against: bow&arrow, bb gun, pellet gun, 22cal, etc.
- Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5If you have a giant helium-filled turbine balloon tethered 1000 feet above your house, you just might be a redneck.
- Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3We're right on the verge of the capability to produce cost effective roofing materials which can produce enough solar power to get us off foreign oil for good.
Might be a more practical approach. - drmangrum, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@spizzat
you need to go read wikipedia, subject: lightning rods. - Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4At 1000 ft, that thing would not block enough sun to affect solar roofs. Heck, solar is even effective in cloudy weather.
Now let's address the cost and limited supply of helium (not cheap). - joeuttaro, on 06/06/2008, -0/+3"MARS rotation also generates the "Magnus effect" which provides additional lift, keeps the MARS stabilized, and positions it within a very controlled and restricted location to adhere to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) & Transport Canada guidelines."
- JayTee44, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3would you be able to have one anywhere near nantucket sound, or would the kennedys view suffer too much?
- jdavid, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5what about tornadoes?
- nwvanport, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2suggested price at $9,999 for a 4KW system, way cheaper than an equivalent 4KW solar panels system at $20k+
- khyberkitsune, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@xutopia
*****. the north pole gets a 6-month period of daylight, as in the SUN NEVER SETS, every year. That energy combined with cold weather = massive winds. Learn a bit about weather. - oogee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I'll use my balloon to block out your sunlight FTW!!!!!11
- sebnukem, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Well perhaps it won't be deployed in Texas and everything will be alright.
- mark101, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Magneto will enforce his superiority over all humanity!
- anthony05, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2http://duggmirror.com/environment/Wind_Power_Anywhere/
- vertinox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@"ieathamburgers"
Umm... Barrage balloons were designed to be run into by low flying enemy dive bombers that they caught in the interconnecting cables between balloons. Hence the fact they would often be torn down from the sky because they were doing their job. - gehlm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Pipe a small, electrolysis hydrogen generator back to the balloon.
- Railer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Detritus - I did read the article, and although there are a few minor issues, deflation, air traffic, wandering in high winds.
It's actually not a bad idea, I was just joking in the last post. Although I would like to see about a 100 or so deployed before I make any decision. - Technopundit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I don't think my HOA would be too thrilled about this.
- IEatHamburgers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@vertinox:
It wasn't the bombers that was tearing them down in the example the Wikipedia entry was talking about (last I checked the Nazis never bombed Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan). It was bad weather - or in that city, normal weather - that sent the balloons flying into power lines. I know cables are stronger now, but if Joe Schmoe decides to tie up a balloon in his backyard, doesn't do it right, and the wind picks up, you've got a floating generator with long, untied cables underneath - and then you've got a problem. - ah802, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Better; include some of those air cleaning ideas to lower the carbon footprint..
- 0crabby0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I can't wait till the US has it's own Balloon Command
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Balloon_Command - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2You can already buy wind turbines for homes, in case you didn't know. They're expensive, but they are effective.
Coupled with some solar plates, you may not end up being 100% independant, but in less than 12 years you can start making serious savings. (12 sounds long, but it's not, really.) - megaloid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You think Texas is bad. Count the bullet holes in the road signs next time you visit rural Wyoming. Or Waziristan, for that matter.
- oogee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Technopundit
next time i'll remember to put the ;) beside it to save you the time pointing out the painfully obvious.
Maybe using hydrogen (generated using the electricity from the wind farms) can replace the helium for the low price of nothing. - nicepants, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"Helium is the second most abundant element in the known Universe after hydrogen and constitutes 23% of the elemental mass of the universe. "
-Wikipedia - xutopia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@khyberkitsune "*****. the north pole gets a 6-month period of daylight, as in the SUN NEVER SETS, every year. That energy combined with cold weather = massive winds. Learn a bit about weather."
So what do you want to do charge the batteries for 6 months and then just run off of them for the other 6? That would require a lot of batteries.
My point is that we can certainly use various methods of generating energy and we should use the right approach in different circumstances. Have lots of wind but little sun? Go with wind turbines. Have lots of sun but little wind? Go solar. Have a bit of both? Mix the two. - noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Someone needs to torpedo their yacht. "How's your view now, jackass?"
- FSUCHEEF, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Currently the Helium stockpiles in the world are getting low. Where will be get all the Helium needed to float these.
- NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3No, if you ground it, it removes the ions from the air, and it's LESS likely to be struck because there is no difference in charge between the ground and the clouds. There's no attraction. Learn how lightning works, people.
- xutopia, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1In some places solar does not make sense. Think of the people up north.
- stayputnik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0this thing has been around a while. i have a feeling it's vaporware and will never become available. pretty snazzy idea though, if it actually works as advertised. maybe i'll make a small-scale one and try it out this summer (with a little help from our glorious chicago breeze)...
- HomerS1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2To those who want one for their house (in the US)...
Let me know how your negotiations with the FAA go for getting approval to deploy a lethal impediment to air-traffic over your property. - drmangrum, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5@nsmike
Actually if you ground it, it's more likely to get struck. Electricity takes the path of least resistance, if you give it a nice path to travel, it will take it. Of course, your hope is that the bulk of the bolt will use the grounding wire and leave the balloon alone.
This is a neat idea, but also unrealistic.You would need a lot of free space for this thing to travel freely: no trees, no power lines, no buildings, etc. The you have to worry about wild life, will some random birds eventually puncture it? How about some punk kid with a .22? - nicepants, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Yeah those damn helium balloons are so ridiculously expensive.
- bendk, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Nice concept, read about it in de newspaper couple of weeks ago.
-
Show 51 - 57 of 57 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is