Quantum Levitation

[red-beard]

GE has been putting hundreds of millions of dollars into Super Conducting generator research. The problem isn't just temperature. Once you start flowing more than a small amount of current, the super conductor looses the super conducting properties.

If the power density issue could be fixed, we'd have liquid nitrogen generators. Hell, most of the generators above about 100 MW are Hydrogen cooled to reduce windage losses. Liquid nitrogen would in some ways be easier.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

trying to think of a practical use....anybody have any thoughts?

Well, I won't have to buy a lift for the car.

[sammyg2]

Much like the gererator, they need to figure out how to get more out of it than they have to put into it.

Until that happens it's just a really neat lab trick.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, I won't have to buy a lift for the car.

Seriously, could you imagine how easy that would make working on a car? Oil changes would take 10 minutes - you could position the car at a comfortable height, and angle it exactly where you can easily access the drain plug, then tip the car back once it's open to drain. Or you could tip it upside down and shake it to get all the crap out from under the seats.

Sometimes I think I was born 50 or 100 years too early!

[kach22i]

Locked in space....................cool.

How come his fingers don't freeze to the puck?

Association of Science-Technology Centers

An old post of mine from back in 2005.

HTS - The Future of Navy Motors - high temperature superconductor
HTS - The Future of Navy Motors - high temperature superconductor - Boat Design Forums

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, I won't have to buy a lift for the car.

Yeah, all you'd have to do is dip it in liquid nitrogen first.

[crustychief]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

trying to think of a practical use....anybody have any thoughts?

U.F.O.! Wait, I guess if you knew what it was it would be an I.F.O.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Yeah, all you'd have to do is dip it in liquid nitrogen first.

Hell no. Float it on a few insulated LN pucks.

[Brando]

This would be REALLY useful for moving objects around in space, where there is minimal gravity.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Why not just run liquid N2 through the bottommost portion? Wouldn't that work and support whatever's above it?

[cstreit]

Holy Crap that's cool.

[sammyg2]

how much energy does it take to compress and cool N2 until it becomes liquid?

[djmcmath]

Originally Posted by quicksix

Yes,yes they do.. but even with that much do..err scratch, that still have not..
So the question is..
You are a large corporation,with all the dough n the world..and you don't
build this....why?

As pointed out, some of them are (GE, for example). But the reality is that while the concept of a room temperature superconductor is probably something that can eventually created, nobody knows how long it will take, or how much money. Give $M to researchers every year in hopes of making the breakthrough, or put it to use doing something with statistically better odds of success? (shrug) Science is business too.

Dan

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

how much energy does it take to compress and cool N2 until it becomes liquid?

Party pooper !!

[nota]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sammyg2 View Post
how much energy does it take to compress and cool N2 until it becomes liquid?

Originally Posted by Aurel

Party pooper !!

you get energy as you remove heat
we need to use not lose the energy of the heat
think systems not bits of the total

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Holy Crap that's cool.

Literally...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

how much energy does it take to compress and cool N2 until it becomes liquid?

Liquid Nitrogen is cheaper than milk.

I talked with one of my buddies about the superconducting generators. Apparently the costs did not match the increased efficiency. With a Hydrogen cooled generator, you are already up to 98.9-99.2% efficiency.

[Flieger]

So Liquid Hydrogen is cheaper than LN2? Then what is all the fuss about the availability of H2 for fuel cell or hydrogen combustion cars?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Flieger

So Liquid Hydrogen is cheaper than LN2? Then what is all the fuss about the availability of H2 for fuel cell or hydrogen combustion cars?

Who said anything about liquid hydrogen? In a generator it is extremely pure and a gas.

The problem with Hydrogen as a motor fuel is the extremely wide range of flammabilit. 5% hydrogen - 95% air will burn. 95% Hydrogen and 5% air will burn! Methane will burn from about 12.5% Methane to 87.5% air all the way to 4.5% Methan and 95.5% Air. Outside that range it will not burn. It is very easy to ignite hydrogen and the fuel air range is extreme. Not safe.

We have hydrogen purity meters making sure air isn't getting into the generator. You do not want the generator exploding.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

how much energy does it take to compress and cool N2 until it becomes liquid?

chill out, dude