Jak, underground compressed air is a good way to store energy I gather, it is seriously considered by utilities, but what worries me in the specific scheme you describe is that the compressed air will push the well's water back into the surrounding ground.
Nick, I found the answer to your energy density question here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density Excerpts from their main table: Storage type MJ/kg MJ/L EEStor (claimed) 1.2 5.7 battery, Lithium ion 0.46-0.72 0.83-0.9 Flywheel 0.36-0.5 battery (NiMH), High Power 0.250 0.493 battery (NiCd)[5] 0.14 1.08 battery, Lead acid[5] 0.14 0.36 Spring 0.0003 0.0006 Springs therefore don't seem to be a practical energy storage solution (mass per stored kWh is about 1000 times more than that of other types) Michel 2009/9/2 Harbach Jak <[email protected]>: > Nick: The whole wind-driven 'water-clock' affair would merely be the > 'constantly performing' winding device for a battery/series(maybe five or > so) for the very design of 'mainspring' you propose. And the centrifugal > 'magnet-rim' low-tech spoke-wheel :generator(s) would convert the mainspring > foot-pound torque drive into usable &/or convertable to AC > electricity.~Jak~:-) > ________________________________ > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Vo]:Clockwork&RubeGoldberg > Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 22:40:54 +0100 > > > Hi Jak, > Thanks for your reply. I don't understand your other postings very > well, but this one seemed well down to Earth and do-able. I was hoping to > find a calculation that showed that, say, a 40 kilo mainspring, 1 metre > across, could store 5 kw hours. Maybe your ultra low tech pumped water > storage system may be even better/more efficient. > > Nick Palmer > > On the side of the Planet - and the people - because they're worth it > ________________________________ > Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. Find out > more.
