Is a 5 Ton Jack-Powered Generator Feasible and Profitable?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and profitability of a 5-ton jack-powered generator concept. Participants explore the idea of using a mechanical system, potentially involving both manual and electric motor components, to create a generator that could produce energy for home use and sell excess back to the grid. The scope includes theoretical considerations of energy generation and mechanical design.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a system where a 5-ton jack alternates between lifting and lowering to generate energy, suggesting it could lead to a perpetual generator.
  • The same participant estimates that lifting 5 tons could produce around 50 kW per hour and discusses the potential profitability of selling excess energy back to the grid.
  • Another participant questions whether the proposed system constitutes a perpetual motion machine, implying that such machines are not feasible.
  • A later reply challenges the feasibility of the idea, pointing out confusion regarding the definitions of force, power, and energy, and explains that the energy expended in lifting is equivalent to that recovered when lowering.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the feasibility of the proposed generator concept, with some questioning its basis in the principles of energy conservation and others defending the idea. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on the viability of the proposal.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in understanding the relationships between force, power, and energy, indicating that these misunderstandings may affect the feasibility of the proposed system. There are unresolved mathematical steps in the energy calculations presented.

JLBRATCHER14
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Hi I’m new to this site.
Iv had this idea in my head for months and I’ve finally started doing some research to find off if it would be feasible or even work.
My idea is to have a 5ton jack powered by a man jacking away or maybe design a electric motor system to pump 2, alternating from one to the other as ones getting pump the other one is being released back down. If this would work then you’d have a perpetual generator.
Now make some gearing system to power a motor of the right size, this is what I need to no because I’ve been doing some research online converting tons to nm and into watts but I just can’t get my head around it.
My plan then would be to make a generator connect it the House and feed the excess back into the grid which I’d get paid for.
I learned that 5 tonnes would produce 50kw per hour est. So I’d need a 50kw motor?
in 24hr I’d yield 1200kw and on average you can sell back to the grid at 5p/1kw so that’s £60 a day
taking into account the average house uses a fraction of that a day this sound like a pretty good idea. Make 4 of of them and your doing pretty sweet
 
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Welcome to PF.
Is this a perpetual motion machine, being used to generate free energy ?
 
Baluncore said:
Welcome to PF.
Is this a perpetual motion machine, being used to generate free energy ?
Yes if it works?
 
Sorry, but we don't discuss perpetual motion machines here. They aren't possible, and discussion of why tends to not be very productive. Here's a primer on PMMs in general and why we don't discuss them:
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/why-we-dont-discuss-perpetual-motion-machines-pmm/

For your specific ideas, it looks like you are confused about definitions/units for certain concepts. For example, force and power or energy are not interchangeable/directly convertible and I think if you get that straightened-out you'll see why what you are suggesting doesn't work. Lifting 5 metric tons, say, 3 meters would be 5,000 kg * 3 m * 9.8m/s2 = 147,000 Joules or 0.04 kWh. And it's the same tiny amount of energy expended when lifting as recovered when lowering it.

You can PM me if you have any questions.
 
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