Ok. I’ve done it. For my job I’m having to use Microsoft’s Office 2007. I don’t like the ribbon thing which replaces all toolbars all that much, but I’ve discovered that Word 2007 can actually post to blogs. To my amazement, the setup for MoboDojo and COT were dirt simple! Here’s my first post (if it actually works!) to COT from Word 2007. Comment away!!!

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: COT Migration

What would you say if I told you that there was a power source that lies right under our noses, presenting itself on a daily basis? You’d likely say that there couldn’t be since we have some really smart people (smarter than you, Tyler!) working on all kinds of advanced energy sources and they wouldn’t miss anything so obvious.

Well, and I can say this smugly secure in the knowledge that I am a smart person, I know of a power source which could very likely dramatically reduce the amount of power we expend on a wide range of common, everyday things; Gray Water. Yes, that water which we run down our drains, out of our tubs, down the sink, and down other drains.

The question is, how do we tap gray water as a power source, and what benefits would it provide if we were able to. Here’s where my lack of smarts shows through, but I’m pretty sure I have a workable idea here. First, we need to figure out ways to collect that power as a coherent energy source.

I thought about putting little paddle wheels on drains everywhere, thinking that the collective collection power of lot of little sources could be routed into one large gain, but then I thought about plumbers. We stick a little wheel in everyone’s drain and we’ll be asking plumbers to come clean them out all the time, at $150/hr. for the privilege!

I wrangled back and forth over how to achieve a paddle configuration which could de-gunk and/or clean itself, and I soon realized that I was working at the wrong end of things. We need to collect that power at its point, or points, of greatest potential. The Los Angeles River is a good start. We have lots of bridges that go over the LA River and its various “tributaries”.

My first idea would be to place flotillas connected to the bridges over the LA River so they could rise and fall as the water did the same. The paddle wheels would always be spinning, collecting energy would could then be put back into the power supply and pay back on the cost of producing the water in the first place.

Another thought I had was that the aqueduct over which the water is dropped into the LA area could also be tapped for energy recovery. In fact, a large percentage of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system could be tapped for such power recovery purposes. If you have no idea how large and complex the LA water system is, take a look at this.

Of course, we’re not just talking LA, here. We’re also not just talking about gray water as a power source. We clearly need to rethink the idea of what hydroelectric means. It doesn’t have to be Hoover Dam sized to work! Imagine flotillas of paddle wheels lining large parts of the Ohio river. Think of all of the water sources which flow that can be tapped for this kind of energy recovery.

Most people, I’m sure, think of water-based power as being some large scale project, but I assure you it doesn’t have to be. I’m sure that there are a number of scientists out there who may read this and be able to do some helpful calculations on how this can all work. Let’s keep in mind, however, that I envision this as a way of reducing or canceling the cost of the power produced to create the water source in the first place.

To recoup the cost of that energy expenditure would be great, but if we could get more power out of it than we put into it to get it to where it needs to be, then we can start reducing the amount of power produced to do it in the first place. Imagine, if you will, the possibility of closing the loop and using the power of water to generate energy to move the water!

Wow!

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: COT Migration