Re: How to really terraform (part 1)

From: Alex Terrell (alexterrell_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 06/15/04 

Date: 15 Jun 2004 01:41:09 -0700

quibbler <quibbler247@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.1b37d8662abe076c98986d@news.individual.net>...
>
> > How do you propose we keep the water hot?
>
> I'd hope to not have to heat it too much with the proper use
> of insulation. But I suppose that, at periodic interval, solar powered
> heat exchangers might help during the day. Stored energy would have to
> be used at night. But since an energy system for pumping was needed
> anyway this should not be a problem. I suppose that if one did end up
> using something like fission power for pumping, that low level waste
> heat from the cooling process could be fed into the pipeline. But, of
> course, there are lots of other potential energy sources on mars. One
> might as easily use arrays of wind generators to provide for heating and
> the motive force for pumping.
>
A 20m diameter pipe won't need that much heating if you start with hot
salt water at the poles.

Furthermore, I assume by this stage Mars will be orbited by colonies
and SSP. The SSP stations could add to the pipe with a low intensity
laser. You could even have a large, shaped mirror in Marsstationary
orbit to warm up an entire strip of land either side of the pipeline.

> > It seems that each heating
> > stage is effectively another pump, with the same energy costs as the
> > first pump.
>
> Right. I mean there may be stretches that are slightly uphill or
> downhill where pumping power would change. Where possible, I'm sure one
> would try to keep the pipeline on a level or down sloping gradient.
> Following existing riverbeds, if possible, should make it easier to
> maintain downhill slope. Probably fairly normal pumping technologies
> could be used. However, newer devices like piezo pumps, which
> theoretically have no mechanical parts, might be perfected by that time.

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