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As the smoke cleared, Jeff Fink <[email protected]> mounted the barricade and roared out: > The concept of a world wide grid is practically an oxymoron. Whereas > the electrical line losses of high tension transmission lines are > economically acceptable over many hundreds of miles, over many > thousands of miles it is not. Besides that they have been systematically extending the range of HVAC lines, apparently -- you're ignoring the possibility of HVDC to do this job. Really: what fundamental, non-negotiable physical law limits are we talking about here? Seems to me you're only pointing to present teknologikal hurdles. Which may -- or may not -- be steep. A relative concept. > Gaseous pipelines carrying the equivalent power as a typical electrical > transmission line would have installed costs at least an order of > magnitude higher, while having friction loss penalties that are > greater. In a previous career it was my responsibility to calculate > the pipe and ductwork friction losses for sizing very large pumps and > fans. Although I may be a bit rusty on the calculations, I am keenly > aware of the awesome amount power that would be required to move > gaseous material through thousands of miles of pipe. > > Jeff What's the friction on that there "HVDC superconductor" stuff, there..? Which brings us back around to the important question: just how badly DO we really want this stuff..? WILL want this stuff? And it is not correct to assume that we don't or won't -- for any price _some_ people may find 'prohibitive' today. Remember we'te talking 'existential threat to civilization' stuff here. - -- grok. - -- Build the North America-wide General Strike. TODO el poder a los consejos y las comunas. TOUT le pouvoir aux conseils et communes. ALL power to the councils and communes. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux) iEYEARECAAYFAkn/ftAACgkQXo3EtEYbt3ERUwCgrnhdXedbfBchxOqvgkO04Z76 PIQAnilnqVayFK6dlKGJ477iWvi+xalW =oDPz -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
