Tornadoes as an energy source

[George Kourounis]

Here's an interesting article I found. It's still a few years away from being a reality but it sure would make chasing a lot easier.

http://green.yahoo.com/index.php?q=node/1193


George Kourounis
www.stormchaser.ca

 

[Dave Gallaher]

There was an article in a 1970s Popular Science (or similar mag) that discussed this idea, though I don't think the heat source was linked to cooling output at that time. These particular 'tornado turbines' were to be contained in huge tanks--I don't think it went very far.

I wonder how he plans on keeping the heat consistent while transporting it a long way off. And--I can see how a heat source will keep it functioning, but how will it keep it in place? Anything a kilometer in height is going to deal with whatever the daily weather pattern brings, and it sure could be expensive to have to keep restarting a tornado.

I'll ignore the humorous ideas that are popping into my imagination, but will be interested to read what the more scientific STers think of this idea.

 

[Justin E. Reed]

That's all i really have to say about this idea. We could definetly use our money for better things, i.e. , getting my fellow sailors and service members outta the Sandbox.

 

[Willie Dines]

I'm having to type this reply out again, because my stupid IE window taking a cramp, piece of junk.

Ok, I have a few questions that I feel are worth asking, some of which were very briefly pointed out by you Dave

1. What way are the going to anchor/set up the turbines that would be used to generate the tornado?.... If the turbines aren't anchored well, enough, consider them to be ready for the scrap yard.

2. How are they going to be able to generate the right amount of heat required to give the tornado enough intensity, without it being effected by other natural weather patterns on a daily basis?

3. How would the go about keeping the turbines proficiantly maintained?... and what do you think would happen if say 1 (Or more) of the turbines malfunconed on 1 particular side of the tornado?... I think that the latter would large risk of a man made tornado going AWOL?

4. What kind of wind speeds are they looking to harness energy from?... If they are looking to harness EF0 - EF1 strength, then that would be reasonable, as long as it being performed in wide open plains, where the risk to damage from any potential wandering tornadoes, be minimized, but if they were looking to harness from EF2 - EF4/5 (Or Higher, as there is no telling of what kind of wind speeds that they would be looking for to generate more energy), which I would be having very large ?'s on the saafety aspect of it, because of a potential risk to public safety and/or property, should a man made tornado of extreme velocities, happen to wind up going AWOL, due to a possible malfunction of any turbine(s) used.

5. Who will be the ones to really be fitting the bill for such a project?.... The cost to set this up alone, would be nothing short of a handsome random, and also the running costs, would be considerably high as well, purely because it would require a team of specialists to operate the machine, that have a very good understanding of tornadoes, e.g. dynamics, structures, etc, plus the amount of energy that it takes for a tornado of that magnitude to get going would be quite high as well, (Depending on the number and size of turbines being used) and so, I would imagine that over the first 3/4 years or so, would be working out more expensive to run such a set up.

Overall, I would've thought that if they wanted to set up a tornado machine for a wind energy generator, then why not have the same type of set up as the 40' tornado machine, that Reel FX did for the Volvo commercial, (Starring Gene Rhoden) but only if the wanted too, extend the machine's hieght to 100ft?... In saying that, I am not so sure that this idea could work, but then again, I guess anything is possible nowadays.

What are your thoughts on this, people?

Willie

 

[Willie Dines]

That's all i really have to say about this idea. We could definetly use our money for better things, i.e. , getting my fellow sailors and service members outta the Sandbox.

I agree wholeheartedly

Willie