Can We Generate Energy by Drilling Deep Ocean Holes?

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The discussion explores the theoretical concept of generating energy by drilling deep ocean holes to harness geothermal heat. It proposes using a generator at the bottom of a deep hole, where high temperatures would evaporate water, allowing steam to rise and drive turbines. While the idea presents significant potential energy output, estimated at around 40 gigawatts per ton of water per second, practical challenges include the technical difficulties of deep-sea drilling and maintaining system efficiency. Concerns about environmental impact and the feasibility of such a project are also raised, suggesting that simpler geothermal methods on land may be more viable. Overall, while innovative, the concept faces substantial engineering and ecological hurdles.
  • #51
andrewbb said:
Capillary force is determined by the electromagnetic charges of the molecules. Different molecules have different strengths, so you could have a 2 material tube. Strong at first that pulls up, slope down on the weaker strength tube and gravity will overcome the cohesion.

No references. It's an idea I had about 4 weeks ago and am researching now. Given that hydrogen bonds are essentially a magnet, this seems doable. FYI, I do consider hydrogen bonds as the same force governing "capillary action". Just on the molecular level.

I really mean no offence by this but... what utter crap.

The single biggest overriding factor that governs capillary action is having a very narrow tube and the relative pressures at either end.

Water isn't attracted by 'magnets' like you are thinking becuse it has a dipole, the attraction has to be induced and water has extremely low permeability. (Ie it doesn't magenetise well.)There is much much more interesting (similar) thing being done like this already. It uses a membrane and salt and fresh water. Due to the different concentrations the water crosses the membrane by osmosis raising the levels and forcing the water up and through a nozzle that drives a turbine.

Only really any good if you live next to a river and the sea but, it's pretty cool.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8377186.stm
I'm trying to find the video I saw of it.
 
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  • #52
andrewbb said:
Capillary force is determined by the electromagnetic charges of the molecules. Different molecules have different strengths, so you could have a 2 material tube. Strong at first that pulls up, slope down on the weaker strength tube and gravity will overcome the cohesion.
Where gravity overcomes the capillary force, the water will stop rising in the tube. It won't make it to the top.
No references. It's an idea I had about 4 weeks ago and am researching now. Given that hydrogen bonds are essentially a magnet, this seems doable. FYI, I do consider hydrogen bonds as the same force governing "capillary action". Just on the molecular level.
Hydrogen bonds are not "essentially a magnet", they are electrostatic in nature.

To put things nicely but honestly, it sounds like you do not actually understand the science behind what you are proposing.
 
  • #53
Um... what do you think "dipole" and "electrostatic" are? They are forms of ELECTROMAGNETISM.

Why do you think water molecules form hydrogen bonds? The negative charge of the O is attracted to the positive charge in the H. That's essentially a magnet my friends.

Why is water attracted to its glass container? Well.. take a look at the structure of a molecule of glass. Lots of H's my friends. What is attracted to those H's? Why that would be the O's in the water molecules.

Why does water evaporate most quickly in butane? Again... take a look at a butane molecule. A few C's surrounded by a bunch of H's. What is attracted to those H's? Well a bunch of O's in water molecules.

It is YOU that doesn't understand the science. Why don't YOU explain water cohesion and its attraction to glass? If you use "dipole" or "electrostatic", please look up the words first.
 
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  • #54
andrewbb said:
Um... what do you think "dipole" and "electrostatic" are? They are forms of ELECTROMAGNETISM.

Why do you think water molecules form hydrogen bonds? The negative charge of the O is attracted to the positive charge in the H. That's essentially a magnet my friends.

'Essentially' a magnet. Do you know what permeability is? Water has a similar permeability to air and aluminium. They don't respond to regular strength magnets, and neither does water.
 
  • #55
xxChrisxx said:
'Essentially' a magnet. Do you know what permeability is? Water has a similar permeability to air and aluminium. They don't respond to regular strength magnets, and neither does water.

Individual molecules act as tiny magnets with each other, but the effect is not additive across chains of hydrogen-bonded molecules.

EDIT: water molecules are affected by electromagnetic fields. EG. microwaves will spin the molecules.
 
  • #56
andrewbb said:
Why is water attracted to its glass container? Well.. take a look at the structure of a molecule of glass. Lots of H's my friends. What is attracted to those H's? Why that would be the O's in the water molecules.

Why does water evaporate most quickly in butane? Again... take a look at a butane molecule. A few C's surrounded by a bunch of H's. What is attracted to those H's? Well a bunch of O's in water molecules.
Did you learn this chemistry in school or are you going on your own deductions?
 
  • #57
andrewbb said:
Individual molecules act as tiny magnets with each other, but the effect is not additive across chains of hydrogen-bonded molecules.

EDIT: water molecules are affected by electromagnetic fields. EG. microwaves will spin the molecules.

This is all just mental masturbation. You try to 'suck' water up using a magnetic field it WILL fail. Water just doesn't magnetise, that is really as simple as it gets. You can use magnets to polarise molecules (a la NMR machines), but this is a very far cry from acutally moving molecules with them.

Applying a strong magnetic field does have a very small effect on the surface tension. By stong I mean on the order of 100000's gauss to give small percentage changes in surface tension.

Top marks for creative thinking. However like all things, creative thinking and pratical useage are worlds apart.
 
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  • #58
xxChrisxx said:
This is all just mental masturbation. You try to 'suck' water up using a magnetic field it WILL fail. Water just doesn't magnetise, that is really as simple as it gets. You can use magnets to polarise molecules (a la NMR machines), but this is a very far cry from acutally moving molecules with them.

Top marks for creative thinking. However like all things, creative thinking and pratical useage are worlds apart.

I agree. You won't suck up water using magnetism. But individual molecules do respond to electrical charge.

The strength of the charge of a single molecule is a function of where the electrons are in relation to the protons. On water, the hydrogen atoms' electrons are covalently bonded to the Oxygen so the Hydrogen's protons' positive charge is exposed. Since there are 2 un-bonded electrons on the Oxygen, that side is negatively charged and can attract the Hydrogen side of another water molecule. That attraction is electromagnetic, but the effect is certainly not additive, so hydrogen-bonded water molecules are not going to form a magnet.

At high temperatures, the above is not a huge effect because hydrogen bonds are weakened, however at room temperatures, this effect is important. I am trying to find ways to accelerate condensation of water vapor at room temperature.
 
  • #59
look water is magnetized like matter is.. just check those videos on youtube with high power magnets and you will se water foating like zero-G
 
  • #60
and we all know no one fakes stuff on utube
like the cell phone popcorn thing
somehow the idea of a magnet that strong brings the image to mind of the coyote road runner cartoons, where the coyote shallows the magnet, then everything magnetic comes chasing after him

dr
 
  • #61
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  • #62
Erazman said:
Theres already methods of harnessing energy from gravity (like from the flow of water), but not in very massive amounts.

The highest capacity power plant in the world is the Three Gorges complex currently above 20,000 MW of hydroelectric power.

The water mass of the complex is so great that it has bent the Earth's crust.
 
  • #63
thats from its mass, not its magnetism

dr
 
  • #64
Redbelly98 said:
Water's relative permeability, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeability_(electromagnetism)#Values_for_some_common_materials", is only μ/μ0=0.999992

If you're going to make fantastic claims, at least post a link to "those videos" so we have something to critique.

He's going to link the levetating frog. Not realising that it's BECAUSE water has a low permeability (ie it's a diamagnet) that it levetates which isn't the same as magnetising it. It also required enormous field strengths.On a different note, I believe I misread what andrewbb was talking about (just reread the thread). The talk of capillary action made me thing he was trying to increase that effect by magnetism :redface:. Not that just a charged rod would encourage condenstation. Which I've never head of, but don't know enough about to comment.
 
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