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Future Inventions (pg. 5)
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| cammaxwell |
| quote: | Originally posted by Playa24_7
I think BloomEnergy is far more important than being able to connect a TV to power wirelessly, that should be an after thought. This is related in being off the grid, no wires from a power plant, which is why I brought it up (and yes I know it's still not exactly what you mean when you say "wireless" as in over the air waves).
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I remember seeing the BloomEnergy on 60 Minutes, it's amazing technology for sure. I think this is MUCH more important that just wireless energy. This could eliminate our reliance on other forms of energy like coal and nuclear that are harmful to the environment. Plus, I hate the idea of ALL our electrical currents running through the air. Some long term studies would have to be done to see the impact on us once the technology was available.
You know what really bothers me? That we obviously have some pretty AMAZING technologies out there right NOW but are not living up to their true potential because of lack of funding. What gives? Both this BloomEnergy and the Space Elevator should be top priorities for everyone on a global scale, no matter what the cost. Could you imagine in 100 years our planet dies and we become extinct.......just because we couldn't AFFORD the proper technologies? It's just money……something we INVENTED!!!! |
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| Playa24_7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Endlesswave
There are still issues w the reliability of these Bloom boxes apparently. Amazing though nonetheless!!
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Where are you getting this information from? I haven't heard anything.
Google, eBay, Coca-Cola, Amazon, Fed-Ex, Bank Of America, and Staples are all using these right now, and have been using them for well over a year before this was even unveiled to the public. The CEOs of ALL these companies talked about it and answered questions about it in the main press conference earlier this year in 2010, as well as General Colin Powell.
| quote: | Originally posted by cammaxwell
I remember seeing the BloomEnergy on 60 Minutes, it's amazing technology for sure. I think this is MUCH more important that just wireless energy. This could eliminate our reliance on other forms of energy like coal and nuclear that are harmful to the environment. Plus, I hate the idea of ALL our electrical currents running through the air. Some long term studies would have to be done to see the impact on us once the technology was available.
You know what really bothers me? That we obviously have some pretty AMAZING technologies out there right NOW but are not living up to their true potential because of lack of funding. What gives? Both this BloomEnergy and the Space Elevator should be top priorities for everyone on a global scale, no matter what the cost. Could you imagine in 100 years our planet dies and we become extinct.......just because we couldn't AFFORD the proper technologies? It's just money……something we INVENTED!!!! |
+1
I agree with you on all fronts.
In regards to the money issue, the good thing about BloomEnergy is that they were given around $400 million in private funds, years and years back (the idea was first pitched in 2001). This helped them to create this, get it out to some big companies, PROVE that it works and is being used currently by ALL these companies. They didn't reveal it to the public until this was done, which took years. Now people are finally starting to take notice, as it's not just an IDEA, it's a product that works and is being used. Even with the initial funds, like you said, if we put mass amounts of money and time into this, they could get these boxes to homes faster than the 5-10 years they are hoping. |
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| Endlesswave |
| quote: | Originally posted by Playa24_7
Where are you getting this information from? I haven't heard anything.
Google, eBay, Coca-Cola, Amazon, Fed-Ex, Bank Of America, and Staples are all using these right now, and have been using them for well over a year before this was even unveiled to the public. The CEOs of ALL these companies talked about it and answered questions about it in the main press conference earlier this year in 2010, as well as General Colin Powell.
+1
I agree with you on all fronts.
In regards to the money issue, the good thing about BloomEnergy is that they were given around $400 million in private funds, years and years back (the idea was first pitched in 2001). This helped them to create this, get it out to some big companies, PROVE that it works and is being used currently by ALL companies. They didn't reveal it to the public until this was done, which took years. Now people are finally starting to take notice, as it's not just an IDEA, it's a product that works and is being used. Even with the initial funds, like you said, if we put mass amounts of money and time into this, they could get these boxes to homes faster than the 5-10 years they are hoping. |
I searched one article, maybe wikipedia'd it. Can't remember, brain is dying, been at work since 6am.
It's all about 'cost benefit analysis' no??
If it can't be made cheapely and be massed produced as such it's why it's not affordable to the consumer.
Cam, you say who cares about cost, it's ALL about cost for the most part.
Half of the things invented aren't cost effective. If it were up to me I'd say screw the cost but it doesn't work like that unfortunately. |
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| Playa24_7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Endlesswave
It's all about 'cost benefit analysis' no??
If it can't be made cheapely and be massed produced as such it's why it's not affordable to the consumer. |
and this is one of the companies highlights, affordability. They had to get some big companies to purchase the initial ones, to prove they DO work, and are being used currently.
They are now working on producing more compact and lower cost units, which they hope to have in the next 5-10 years for homes.
The ceramic plates in these fuel cells are made from sand, heated and treated to create the plates. Special inks are applied to either side of the plates, sandwiched between cheap metal alloy plates. There's no crazy expensive processes, no precious metals, no corrosive acids, no molten metals. Everything used is cheap and easy to come by.
1 plate creates 25watts of power right now (when they first started it only created 5watts, so they are making progress).
A stack of them = 1kW
A module of them (several stacks) = 25kW
A system of them (several modules) = 100kW
and so on.
Basically, the cost isn't because of the materials, its because of the qualitiy that has to be used to create enough power.
What they are working on right now is making each indivdual cell produce more power, which means less of them will be needed, and in turn, less cost overall. |
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| Endlesswave |
| quote: | Originally posted by Playa24_7
and this is one of the companies highlights, affordability. They had to get some big companies to purchase the initial ones, to prove they DO work, and are being used currently.
They are now working on producing more compact and lower cost units, which they hope to have in the next 5-10 years for homes.
The ceramic plates in these fuel cells are made from sand, heated and treated to create the plates. Special inks are applied to either side of the plates, sandwiched between cheap metal alloy plates. There's no crazy expensive processes, no precious metals, no corrosive acids, no molten metals. Everything used is cheap and easy to come by.
1 plate creates 25watts of power right now (when they first started it only created 5watts, so they are making progress).
A stack of them = 1kW
A module of them (several stacks) = 25kW
A system of them (several modules) = 100kW
and so on.
Basically, the cost isn't because of the materials, its because of the qualitiy that has to be used to create enough power.
What they are working on right now is making each indivdual cell produce more power, which means less of them will be needed, and in turn, less cost overall. |
Right.
Like I said though what I read mentioned reliability. Specifically when the things operate at higher temperatures, it was saying something about potential shattering occuring with those plates.
BUT if those huge corporations have been using them consistently, I'm sure they've gotten around some of issues with that? |
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| geroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by Playa24_7
and this is one of the companies highlights, affordability. They had to get some big companies to purchase the initial ones, to prove they DO work, and are being used currently.
They are now working on producing more compact and lower cost units, which they hope to have in the next 5-10 years for homes.
The ceramic plates in these fuel cells are made from sand, heated and treated to create the plates. Special inks are applied to either side of the plates, sandwiched between cheap metal alloy plates. There's no crazy expensive processes, no precious metals, no corrosive acids, no molten metals. Everything used is cheap and easy to come by.
1 plate creates 25watts of power right now (when they first started it only created 5watts, so they are making progress).
A stack of them = 1kW
A module of them (several stacks) = 25kW
A system of them (several modules) = 100kW
and so on.
Basically, the cost isn't because of the materials, its because of the qualitiy that has to be used to create enough power.
What they are working on right now is making each indivdual cell produce more power, which means less of them will be needed, and in turn, less cost overall. |
From the video you posted they mentioned one big block cost the company $800,000 but because it was green technology government in california had to pay a percentage of that but it is still very costly for a regular consumer. what i think will happen first is that power plants will purchase this technology and install it but they will still transfer all the electricity through wires to our home directly from the plant. We are far away from being able to install this at our homes on a mass scale as powerplants will see this as a major threat to their earnings. |
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| The Highroller |
| A great source for new technology being released and developed (in other applications in addition to consumer applications) is The Economist Technology Quarterly. |
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| geroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by The Highroller
A great source for new technology being released and developed (in other applications in addition to consumer applications) is The Economist Technology Quarterly. |
but how about things that you think should or will be developed in the future. That's the most interesting part :p |
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| Playa24_7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by geroin
From the video you posted they mentioned one big block cost the company $800,000 but because it was green technology government in california had to pay a percentage of that but it is still very costly for a regular consumer. what i think will happen first is that power plants will purchase this technology and install it but they will still transfer all the electricity through wires to our home directly from the plant. We are far away from being able to install this at our homes on a mass scale as powerplants will see this as a major threat to their earnings. |
Not only is the cost noted in the video, I posted the cost of these boxes in my first post as well, not trying to hide it.
Keep in mind, those boxes are for providing energy for a huge building, and those are the size of a parking space. Far more than a house hold would need. One to power a house would be as big as a refridgerator. The corporation boxes were to get it out there on a large scale, prove it actually works and is currently being used.
They are looking to have one for a household, price point around $3000, in the next 5-10 years. You can't say we are very far away, when the technology is already here and being used, it just needs to be scaled down. When they first started, the fuel cell panels only produced 5watts each. They now produce 25watts each. The cost isn't in the materials used (as these don't use typical materials that your used to in a fuel cell, like precious metals, etc.), it's in the amount of panels that are needed to produce enough energy. Fast forward 5 years and each panel will be producing a lot more, as this is their main concern for it. The more power one cell produces, the less of them are needed in a unit, and the lower overall cost of the unit. This is happening now, not 30 years from now. |
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| geroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by Playa24_7
Not only is the cost noted in the video, I posted the cost of these boxes in my first post as well, not trying to hide it.
Keep in mind, those boxes are for providing energy for a huge building, and those are the size of a parking space. Far more than a house hold would need. One to power a house would be as big as a refridgerator. The corporation boxes were to get it out there on a large scale, prove it actually works and is currently being used.
They are looking to have one for a household, price point around $3000, in the next 5-10 years. You can't say we are very far away, when the technology is already here and being used, it just needs to be scaled down. When they first started, the fuel cell panels only produced 5watts each. They now produce 25watts each. The cost isn't in the materials used (as these don't use typical materials that your used to in a fuel cell, like precious metals, etc.), it's in the amount of panels that are needed to produce enough energy. Fast forward 5 years and each panel will be producing a lot more, as this is their main concern for it. The more power one cell produces, the less of them are needed in a unit, and the lower overall cost of the unit. This is happening now, not 30 years from now. |
there is no way government will approve the installation and use of these devices on a mass scale in all of our homes in the next 5-10 years, this means billions of dollars in loses.
they are still in testing phase and will be in it for a long time, even though they could be working perfectly today imo UNLESS this technology goes directly to the powerplants first. |
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| infinity HiGH |
| quote: | Originally posted by geroin
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Good posts. I laugh every time idiots come in defending the current energy infrastructure saying it's not economically feasible to move towards "greener" options, bla bla bla. |
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| infinity HiGH |
| quote: | Originally posted by The Highroller
A great source for new technology being released and developed (in other applications in addition to consumer applications) is The Economist Technology Quarterly. |
add www.physorg.com to that. That's my main source for the cool tech stuff. |
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