Trying To Fake Thermo

A few laymen can get _some_ kind of understanding of thermo. The
anchor of NPR for example, has figured out how to avoid saying stupid
things on the subject.

But if most people try to fake knowledge of thermo, they will out
themselves in a few lines.

Here it's one line:

A couple years ago an Israeli company was working on zinc or magnesium
"fuel" systems for motor vehicles. The additional weight would be
like an additional person in the vehicle -- not a biggie. The real
problem was it would require an infrastructure, governmental action,
etc. to be practical for road transportation.

I posted that it would be easier to prototype the system with
something that never went very far and always returned to a home base
where the oxides could be collected and sent for reprocessing.

After it's demonstrated then it could be pushed for motor vehicles.

Problem with prototyping it for short distance runs is that it might
not scale up for long distances

You have any reason for thinking that it wouldn't scale?

Of course not.

That's because you thought you could fake a tech background.

Sorry, Charlie, that ain't gonna happen, certainly not with thermo.

Now, if you don't want to get a Pell grant or work your way through
college or even go to the library and read up on thermo, then go back
to reading your Harliquin romance novels.

And typing:

"LOL"

"Show your calculations"

"Cite?"

"Huge!"


Bret Cahill

 

[Charlie Siegrist]

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:47:41 -0700, dgp wrote:

This thread reminds me of a comic: http://xkcd.com/451/

I thought it was hilarious, but my wife (not an engineer) didn't get
it...

Wow, I like that guy's stuff. Have you shown your wife #162?

 

On Aug 14, 10:19 am, BretCah...@peoplepc.com wrote:

A few laymen can get _some_ kind of understanding of thermo.  The
anchor of NPR for example, has figured out how to avoid saying stupid
things on the subject.

But if most people try to fake knowledge of thermo, they will out
themselves in a few lines.

Here it's one line:

A couple years ago an Israeli company was working on zinc or magnesium
"fuel" systems for motor vehicles. The additional weight would be
like an additional person in the vehicle -- not a biggie. The real
problem was it would require an infrastructure, governmental action,
etc. to be practical for road transportation.
I posted that it would be easier to prototype the system with
something that never went very far and always returned to a home base
where the oxides could be collected and sent for reprocessing.
After it's demonstrated then it could be pushed for motor vehicles.
Problem with prototyping it for short distance runs is that it might
not scale up for long distances

You have any reason for thinking that it wouldn't scale?

Of course not.

That's because you thought you could fake a tech background.

Sorry, Charlie, that ain't gonna happen, certainly not with thermo.

Now, if you don't want to get a Pell grant or work your way through
college or even go to the library and read up on thermo, then  go back
to reading your Harliquin romance novels.

And typing:

"LOL"

"Show your calculations"

"Cite?"

"Huge!"

Bret Cahill

This thread reminds me of a comic: http://xkcd.com/451/

I thought it was hilarious, but my wife (not an engineer) didn't get
it...

 

[Bret Cahill]

This thread reminds me of a comic:http://xkcd.com/451/

I thought it was hilarious, but my wife (not an engineer) didn't get
it...

Wow, I like that guy's stuff. �Have you shown your wife #162?

I'm still trying to back calculate the title of the Harliquin romance
novel that inspired her theory that scaling up adiabatic engine
systems could be a problem.


Bret Cahill

 

[Uncle Ben]

On Sep 1, 12:54 am, Bret Cahill <BretCah...@aol.com> wrote:

This thread reminds me of a comic:http://xkcd.com/451/
I thought it was hilarious, but my wife (not an engineer) didn't get
it...
Wow, I like that guy's stuff. Have you shown your wife #162?

I'm still trying to back calculate the title of the Harliquin romance
novel that inspired her theory that scaling up adiabatic engine
systems could be a problem.

Bret Cahill

Bret, thanks for the link. I read almost all of them. The later ones
are funnier; some early ones I couldn't get at all even with the
flyover hints.

Uncle Ben

 

On Aug 14, 7:19 am, BretCah...@peoplepc.com wrote:
.....

A couple years ago an Israeli company was working on zinc or magnesium
"fuel" systems for motor vehicles. The additional weight would be
like an additional person in the vehicle -- not a biggie. The real
problem was it would require an infrastructure, governmental action,
etc. to be practical for road transportation.
I posted that it would be easier to prototype the system with
something that never went very far and always returned to a home base
where the oxides could be collected and sent for reprocessing.
After it's demonstrated then it could be pushed for motor vehicles.
Problem with prototyping it for short distance runs is that it might
not scale up for long distances

....

Zinc or magnesium, how? Magnesium reacts with steam to yield
hydrogen, but now you have to 1) provide water, and 2) heat it to
steam.

Maybe sodium or potassium metal - those react with room-temperature
water to yield hydrogen gas and the metal hydroxide. But still, you
need water: so you have to fill up twice: once with the (hazardous)
metal, and once with water.

Then again there are energy density considerations... compare the
volume and mass of these alternative fuels with those of gasoline.

???

Michael