Re: Solar-hydrogen home power system?

From: Don Lancaster (don_at_tinaja.com)
Date: 10/21/04 

Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 18:40:47 -0700

Terrafamilia wrote:
>
> Glenn Martin wrote:
>
> > Whereas, if you have a local system for storing excess power, it's far
> > simpler to implement. There are many storage options but which allow you to
> > store on a seasonal basis? What would allow you to store excess capacity
> > from the long summer days to use during the short winter ones? Hydrogen is
> > one option. Don, please name some others.
>
> What is the current state of the art in flywheels and how much more work
> is needed for home installation? One could speculate about possible
> future flywheels utilizing carbon nanotubes and such. And as long as one
> is speculating about possible future developments, who about using
> superconductors? Operating temperatures and energy density would need to
> be taken into account but that'll be part of the speculation.
>
> Ciao,
>
> Terrafamilia

Lithium batteries have pretty much eclipsed flywheels energy density
with far fewer hassles.
And are about to double in performance.

One major problem is that the flywheel windup motor has to be
ridiculously large if the charge time is to be faster than the discharge
time.

A second major issue involves gyro effects.

There are apparently some niche apps involving UPS power and subways,
but these certainly are not mainstream. Stationary apps would seem to be
more reasonable than moving ones. (On subways, the flywheels are
trackside, NOT on the cars).

More dollars and more manhours are being thrown at alternatives.
My feeling is that flywheel research peaked several decades ago.

See http://www.tinaja.com/glib/energfun.pdf 

-- 
Many thanks,
Don Lancaster
Synergetics   3860 West First Street  Box 809  Thatcher, AZ 85552
voice: (928)428-4073 email: don@tinaja.com   
Please visit my GURU's LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com