Please help to check the efficiency of renewable energy system design

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the evaluation of a renewable energy system design proposed by Tom Chacko, which utilizes gravity and buoyancy forces for power generation. Experts unanimously agree that the design is fundamentally flawed as it resembles a perpetual motion machine, which is impossible according to the laws of physics. The analysis indicates that the work produced by buoyant forces and the work required to operate the system will result in zero efficiency, confirming the impracticality of the design.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of buoyancy principles and forces
  • Familiarity with the laws of thermodynamics
  • Basic knowledge of mechanical work equations (w=mgh)
  • Awareness of perpetual motion machine concepts
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  • Research the laws of thermodynamics and their implications on energy systems
  • Study buoyancy and its applications in engineering
  • Explore the historical context and examples of perpetual motion machines
  • Learn about energy efficiency calculations in mechanical systems
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Engineers, physicists, students of renewable energy systems, and anyone interested in understanding the limitations of perpetual motion concepts.

tomchacko
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Hello experts,

Please help to verify the attched design of renewable energy system which uses combination of gravity and buoyancy forces for power generation. I am looking use balls of 10c.m radius and water column of 10m height. It will be very helpful some experts could advice me on how effective will be system as it expect some mechnical effort to run the system. Your valuvable advice to fine tune system most welcome.
Thanks & Regards,
Tom Chacko
 

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This is a perpetual motion machine (impossible). It will never work.
 
I'm afraid so. This is a variant of the ancient and popular buoyancy machine perpetual motion device that people have been trying (and failing, of course) to build for the past several hundred years. The museum of unworkable devices has a section on them: http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/museum/themes/buoyant.htm

A high-level analysis is pretty easy, though. The equation for work due to buoyant force is w=mgh and the equation for work due to dropping an object is also w=mgh. So depending on the particulars of the device, you'll get some variation of mgh-mgh=0 work out of it, for a theoretical maximum of zero efficiency.

What you are no doubt underestimating is the amount of energy your three input devices require. For example, how much work a piston pushing pressurized water does.

Anyway, we don't do 'debunk my perpetual motion machine' threads here, so this thread is locked. I am willing, however, to give you more assistance in learning about these concepts via pm if you wish.
 

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