ewh@druky.UUCP (HarkinsEW) (08/10/84)
re: fusion; aside from the fact that the experiments are not yet close to energy breakeven, much less economic breakeven, i agree that the one we want is already there: Sol. The point that the energy is too diffuse is correct; that's why i like OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion). The ocean is the very large collector needed; energy is derived from the temperature differences between surface water and water from a few hundred feet down, driving a freon (or the like) to turbine to condenser cycle. Unlike other solar schemes, this one works during cloudy weather, and even at night, but requires a semi-tropical location. Some estimates (as i recall) were that the Gulf of Mexico alone could furnish some 200 times the total U.S. energy consumption projected for the year 2000 (and those were probably the inflated early '70's type projections; the failure of those estimates is the main reason there are no new power plants being built right now; coal still works). The whole thing is fairly simple, except for some reasonably straightforward engineering problems (scaling, large tube design, wave stress, etc.). What's really nice is that the energy can be converted to cryogenic hydrogen, freighted to port, and then converted to HVAC for any use; other magic at the site can produce ammonia. It all sounded too good to be true when i first heard about it ten years ago, but it does work; the feds are funding it but poorly. The bad news: a large scale "ocean energy farm" could cause thermal pollution, ie, upsetting the local ocean ecology, but that side effect can be used to stimulate shrimp production. ernie harkins