Reply to: Green technology - am I bonkers ?

[TykeMerc]

Worked on power stations. Tycemerc is right.

If there was a major collapse of the grid it would be a real problem getting it all back up as power stations need lots of power to start up before they can generate anything, principally to run the umpteen megawatt pumps that feed the boiler. Some have gas turbines to provide the start up power but others need power from the grid, ie other stations. Many hours to start a station before you can start the next and so on. Tens of megawatts worth of steam just go to waste during the start up process.

Indeed.

At Drax they had (may have updated them since) a couple of the engines that were used to power the English Electric Lightning interceptors for emergency use to run the station. It was a very interesting place to work and more impressive than the other power stations I used to visit.

[Zippy]

Offshore wind, wave and tidal power rules


Er! I design the installation systems and methodology for the offshore renewable energy developments.

You know it makes sense

Wow. Cool

[xoggoth]

Worked on power stations. Tycemerc is right.

If there was a major collapse of the grid it would be a real problem getting it all back up as power stations need lots of power to start up before they can generate anything, principally to run the umpteen megawatt pumps that feed the boiler. Some have gas turbines to provide the start up power but others need power from the grid, ie other stations. Many hours to start a station before you can start the next and so on. Tens of megawatts worth of steam just go to waste during the start up process.

[Diver]

Fixed it for ya!

Sussed!

[Churchill]

Offshore wind, wave and tidal power rules


Er! I design the installation systems and methodology for the offshore renewable energy developments.

You know it makes money for Diver

Fixed it for ya!

[Diver]

Did anyone here seriously believe that windpower was a serious contender?

Offshore wind, wave and tidal power rules


Er! I design the installation systems and methodology for the offshore renewable energy developments.

You know it makes sense

[RichardCranium]

More so than the pumped storage schemes, you might investigate the "greenness" of all these damned windmills we have all over the place, mostly in areas of outstanding beauty.

The hidden energy cost in the manufacture and construction of a wind turbine can be greater than the output of said turbine in its life. They are not viable on a large scale.

On a SMALL scale - no bigger than small island communities or remote villages - it is viable and worthwhile. And they work on smaller scales down through farms, cottages to boats and caravans. In these cases you need large electrical storage capacity and to adjust your lifestyle to the weather conditions.

On a BIG scale - forget it.

[Zippy]

Here you go. Just so everyone is throwing from the same oche. http://www.diddleforthemiddle.com/killer.php

Oh God, I'm doooooooomed.

Single vodka.

[Churchill]

More so than the pumped storage schemes, you might investigate the "greenness" of all these damned windmills we have all over the place, mostly in areas of outstanding beauty.

Their output is 10% of the installed "capacity".

i.e. if the installed capacity is notionally 10MW, you are lucky to get 1MW out of it.

And just to make things even greener, you need ordinary powerstations running to cover the times when the wind drops.

So they're basically as green as a very ungreen thing indeed.

Par for the course really.

Did anyone here seriously believe that windpower was a serious contender?

[rsingh]

Here you go. Just so everyone is throwing from the same oche. http://www.diddleforthemiddle.com/killer.php

[Zippy]

Here you go mate. Quick game of Killer?

Dunno that one but it will pass the time

[rsingh]

Here you go mate. Quick game of Killer?

[Churchill]

That's the spirit! Pass me a beer would you?
I'm sure they'll all be back in a minute so do you fancy a game of darts until they return?

Hmmm, beer and throwing sharp objects, there's a cunning plan if ever there was one...

[Zippy]

Three legged beer stools are great. You don't need to worry about finding beer mats to stop them from rocking. Genius

That's the spirit! Pass me a beer would you?
I'm sure they'll all be back in a minute so do you fancy a game of darts until they return?

[rsingh]

Three legged beer stools are great. You don't need to worry about finding beer mats to stop them from rocking. Genius