Horace, > More food for thought. Efficient underground long line bulk electric > energy transmission, like that from nuclear plants, might be achieved using > very low frequencies, like 1 Hz or less. Unlike pure DC, this approach > would facilitate using low frequency motor-generator sets at the delivery > end to convert low Hz to 60 Hz.
Yes. All this food for thought was giving me mental indigestion last night. Given these two most general constraints for long distance transmission: 1) Maximizing both voltage AND power factor at the same time 2) And at the same time having your power arrive in a form such that a time-varying magnetic field accompanies it for ease of down-conversion This may put the problem into clear perspective. Low frequency appears not to be the answer *by itself* as the power factor is still low, unless you can do something with the waveforms. Now square waves with a maximized duty factor come to mind. Bizzaro. Forget for a moment that this is "artificial," but what about 1 Hz square waves of pulsed DC which are clipped to the maximum extent possible. IOW the ratio of the pulse duration to the pulse period is maximized. Bizzaro. I Hz square waves on a 99% duty factor ! Yes. I know. Even if you could send it out that way, which you couldn't do easily, it would not arrive at the other end that way... ...its just some spicy salsa for that "food for thought" > On the other hand, hydrogen pieplines are a cheaper form of energy > transmission after only a few hundred miles, and hydrogen is readily > storable in old gas wells, etc. The main problem is the source of the > hydrogen. Yes. I think you have hit upon a possible *real* solution, using nuclear thermochemical to produce the H2 at double the efficiency of electricity. The best part about it is that the total system can also can be used for the transportation fuel infrastructure as well AND with your fuel-cell substations located near public building, you get a ton of free heat... hey, the residents of Fargo (or wherever you are in the far north) would love to have a heated (for free) outside swimming pool... to pass away the February blahs... Jones
