I’m actually interested in using this for terraforming Venus. We’ve got plenty of energy from sunlight and very concentrated co2. To keep them at the right temperature We could build floating blimps with these machines on board.
Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
51–60 of 187 posts
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#52Will this result in an increase in O2 levels? If yes, what risk does that bring?
Giant predatory dragonflies the size of seagulls, if the fossil record is anything to go by.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101029132924.h...
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#53So let's do some math. Let's consider natural gas. According to the US government [1], natural gas produced 1.358x10^12 kWh of power and 5.6x10^8 metric tons of CO2 so 1 metric ton of CO2 equates to ~2400 kWh of produced power. This post suggests the energy cost is ~230kWh/ton. This is an important sanity check because it means that (capital costs aside) and if it scales you could technically remain carbon neutral fo…
They stated it operates at room temp so I am assuming that one could in fact pipe in CO2 from factory stacks once some processing of cooling the CO2 from the factory stacks has been implemented.
Give you an idea. Gen plant burning natural gas produces CO2, use some of gen electric to cool the emitted CO2 down then mine the result battery artifacts
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
"how the CO2 needs to be delivered": The experiments described in the paper have used pure CO2. The conversion process is unlikely to work directly with air, because it decomposes CO2 into solid carbon partially oxidated and dioxygen. If one of the products of the catalyzed reaction, i.e. oxygen from the air, would be present in a much larger concentration than the input substance (CO2), like in the air, the conversi…
A big issue with renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, is that the power output is variable and an electric grid needs a base load to operate. Now I firmly believe the future here is ultimately space-based solar power collectors. I've seen estimates that a panel in space around Earth can generate ~7 times the power it can on Earth. This is a deep topic but generating power in space for use on Earth isn't as…
"I've seen estimates that a panel in space around Earth can generate ~7 times the power it can on Earth"
Contrast it with the fact that that panel is 1,000x more expensive, and thats a net loss. We are constrained by capital cost, not lack of sunlight or anything else.
Also consider transmission losses, orbital solar collectors must convert that power into microwaves, which are made of photons, then they must be converted back into electrons on earth. That inefficiency is compounded by atmospheric water absorbing microwaves. (you are heating clouds) You have destroyed that 7x advantage.
If you can place a panel in orbit and deliver power to Earth, then you can put a million panels in Sahara Desert and relay that power anywhere on Earth. Solar panels are made of sand, we are not short on sand. If we covered 1% of uninhabitable deserts in panels, thay would produce more power than we could use, and it would be reliable.
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#55So let's do some math. Let's consider natural gas. According to the US government [1], natural gas produced 1.358x10^12 kWh of power and 5.6x10^8 metric tons of CO2 so 1 metric ton of CO2 equates to ~2400 kWh of produced power. This post suggests the energy cost is ~230kWh/ton. This is an important sanity check because it means that (capital costs aside) and if it scales you could technically remain carbon neutral fo…
This also assumes pure CO2 input. That's perhaps possible if you are collecting CO2 fresh off an engine or similar process.
However if you are talking about CO2 already in the air, you have a MASSIVE amount of energy required to separate/concentrate the CO2 FIRST.
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#56So let's do some math. Let's consider natural gas. According to the US government [1], natural gas produced 1.358x10^12 kWh of power and 5.6x10^8 metric tons of CO2 so 1 metric ton of CO2 equates to ~2400 kWh of produced power. This post suggests the energy cost is ~230kWh/ton. This is an important sanity check because it means that (capital costs aside) and if it scales you could technically remain carbon neutral fo…
>I'll repeat here--that I don't believe altruism will solve greenhouse gas emissions and global warming: it'll only be solved when it becomes economic to do so. Completely agree. We need governments to ensure externalities (both positive and negative) are reflected in market pricing so that economic forces can operate efficiently. Implication: there must be a debt to pay for past and present GHG output. It should not…
Who would pay that debt for past emissions, and what price should they pay?
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I've seen estimates that a panel in space around Earth can generate ~7 times the power it can on Earth How do you get that power back down to Earth where it can be used?
Presumably, laser beams to heat terrestrial mountains of salt. What could possibly go wrong? /jk Seriously, I'm curious about this too. Edit: a quick search shows I was close: https://earthsky.org/earth/space-based-solar-energy-power-ge...
If you want to place solar panels in a hostile and distant environment to triple their efficiency, we have the Sahara Desert for that.
That article does not mention inefficiency of space that microwave transmission, it is going to wreck that 7x advantage.
Also lifting a solar panel from Earth will cost more energy than it will ever generate You have to have cities and factories in space before any solar collector could even be considered.
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#58So let's do some math. Let's consider natural gas. According to the US government [1], natural gas produced 1.358x10^12 kWh of power and 5.6x10^8 metric tons of CO2 so 1 metric ton of CO2 equates to ~2400 kWh of produced power. This post suggests the energy cost is ~230kWh/ton. This is an important sanity check because it means that (capital costs aside) and if it scales you could technically remain carbon neutral fo…
The cost of 230kWh is around €30 in Norway (lower during the summer), the CO2 quota price is around €60/ton. Norway is now building pipes to pump CO2 down to the old oil wells. Seems like it starting to get economically profitable to grab CO2 from the air and sell the quota?
Most developed nations produce circa 10 tons of CO2 per person. Assume €100 to cover capital costs and inefficiency.
At ~€1000 per person we could easilly afford to go CO2 neutral. It's just a question of will
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#59So, for $4.3 trillion dollars / year we can turn the 43 billion tonnes of CO2 we emit per year into oxygen and carbon crust. Which is twice the annual revenue for the global oil industry.
"Which is twice the annual revenue for the global oil industry."
That means that for every $1 the oil industry makes, it is creating $2 of debt for future generations.
This is vandalism, pure and simple
Re: Gallium helps convert CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen
#60Will this result in an increase in O2 levels? If yes, what risk does that bring?
O2 levels are currently decreasing. In a thousand years we will run out