Bridging the Gap... Between Conventional ... and ExtraOrdinary!
Steven R. Elswick • Publisher, ExtraOrdinary Technology
296 E Donna Drive • Queen Valley, AZ 85218
(520) 463-1994 • steve @teslatech.info
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A Captive Market...
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Our civilization is virtually dependent upon fossil fuels! Furthermore, our very survival is dangerously
tied to the availability of inexpensive fossil fuels. Currently gasoline and diesel internal combustion
engines are the primary portable means of power... our prime movers. Powered by fossil fuels, they provide
nearly every mode of transportation (cars, trains, trucks, ships), enable us to undertake massive
construction projects, and is essential for mining and agriculture! Fossil fuels are an indispensable
part of our energy paradigm.
Energy is a critical factor in an industrialized society. When Niagara Falls was tamed using Tesla’s alternating current electrical system, Buffalo, NY blossomed overnight into a major industrial center.. Cheap electricity from the Colorado River’s Hoover Dam helped industrialize the American Southwest. Similarly, hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River provided the Northwest with cheap power. However, demand for electricity far outruns this country’s hydroelectric supply! In 1999, hydroelectric facilities supplied only 7% of our nations electrical needs.
Over half of the nation’s electricity came from coal fired plants. At first glance this may seem somewhat comforting as our country has immense coal reserves. However, most generating plants need to ship their coal hundreds of miles from the coal mines. Railroads (using diesel-electric locomotives) provide the most reliable and cost efficient method of transporting the coal needed. In essence, a significant portion of our electric generating capability is tied to the availability of oil!
We are captives of an oil-based economy. A severe oil shortage could unravel the fabric of our society. Anyone who has lived for any amount of time without power knows the dramatic impact it has on home life... not to mention at work.
Electric Power Generation in the US.
This graph shows the types of resources used in the generation
of electric power in the US (1999).
- A Clear and Present Danger...
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Every day it becomes increasingly clear that the days of traditional “cheap” power may well be over. Since
2000, our government has chosen to accelerate the consumption of oil rather than encourage and nurture
energy conservation. SUV subsidies, repudiation of the Kyoto Accords, outsourcing, and an ill-advised
military adventure have contributed to a global energy crisis. Continuation of such policies at this time
is insane.
We live in a very unsettled world with a political crisis occurring in three of the countries which control 40% of the world’s oil supply: Russia, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia. In Venezuela, national strikes against President Chavez crippled the nation’s oil exports. Around the world, the Russian oil giant, Yukos is embroiled in a battle against its own government throwing oil exports into disarray. Meanwhile, back in the Mideast, The Saudi government is confronting a surge in terrorism whose target appears to be oil production facilities.
Furthermore, seemingly daily attacks by insurgents in Iraq has caused a wildly fluctuating oil futures market which is destabilizing the economy. Already, inflation is rearing its head and soaring oil prices threaten the anemic recovery. Some economists have raised the prospect of “stagflation”-- similar to the economic experience of the late 1970s, early 1980s!
Our utter dependence on fossil fuels leaves us in a precarious position. In addition to the ever present terrorist threat, the centralization of the industry makes the infrastructure susceptible the vagaries of nature... for instance, oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are exposed to hurricanes, while those off the California coast are subject to earthquakes. The time has come for radical concepts for our energy industry. Instead of deregulation, we need to consider decentralization!
Revolutionary Wind Power System
Instead of relying on a shaft to directly drive an electric generator, this particular configuration of the Kollitz Energy System features a hydraulic storage system. The turbine drives a pump to pressurize an accumulator which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid which drives the motor turning the generator. A major advantage to this system is that optimum efficiency is attainable over a wide range of wind strengths.
This clever system stores the excess energy generated at higher windspeeds to be used during those periods when there is little or no wind available! Furthermore, the horizontal configuration features a vertical shaft. This allows the shaft to be subjected only to the torque forces of the turbine blades. There are no gravitational forces acting along the drive shaft, thus reducing wear and tear. This style of blades is referred to as a “Savonius rotor” and is noted for its high torque capability.
- Decentralization...
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Extraordinary events demand extraordinary efforts. God willing, we can make a difference if we apply
ourselves in the right direction. The first step is political. During an election year, politicians pay
more attention to the average citizen than normal. Through email, and hand written letters, we can exhort
our elected representatives to end the insane policies that the government is pursuing!
We don’t need deregulation.... that is merely a codeword for taxpayers to fatten the pockets of corporate utilities! Instead we need to decentralize... and encourage everyone to take responsibility for creating the energy they consume. Ultimately, this means home sized, offgrid systems which are primarily solar, wind, and possibly fuel cell driven.
We can start a drive today to reinstate the solar and energy conservation tax break incentives that were so popular in the late 1970s, and early 1980s. Perhaps we can have those credits expanded to include all renewable energy resources. Finally, we can vote for the politician who has the best energy plan (and don’t let them fool you into thinking that opening up wilderness areas for private exploitation by oil companies is a solution!)
On an individual level, we can begin conservation measures of our own. They can range from simply turning off an unused light to replacing incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs such as the compact fluorescent bulbs. Other areas of interest to examine would be driving habits and auto maintenance. Every little bit of effort helps... as Ben Franklin stated... “Little strokes fell BIG oaks!”
Radical Louver Design...
Typically a savonius rotor is 15-18% efficient, however, Kollitz proposes to attain higher efficiencis through the use of a clever louver design.. In a manner reminiscent of Tesla’s valvular conduit, louvers deflect onrushing wind into a pattern which will assist in spinning the turbine.
- Natural Alternatives
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While many people are considering the feasibility of moving off grid, at this time, there is no magical
extraordinary technology, based on cosmic rays or magnetic motors sitting on the shelf for us to buy... such
devices may not come out for years. However, advances in more traditional alternatives can fill in the gap!
Recent advances in solar technology and offgrid power processing have created a climate in which solar power
can provide a significant portion of residential and small office electrical power requirements.
In our last issue we looked at a new solar community being developed in Arizona. Key to this development was the concept of including the cost of the home’s solar system in the mortgage--amortizing the home’s energy costs over the life of the mortgage! Moreover, much of the equipment used in a conventional off-grid system may be necessary to harness future exotic energy sources.
Solar power is only one of the alternatives readily available to the average homeowner, and... it is severely limited to daylight hours and by available surface area. An excellent, compatible backup (and in some areas, primary) source of power is the wind. Wind, which results from the warming of the atmosphere by the sun, is an indirect form of solar energy in which the radiant energy of the sun is transformed into mechanical energy- the movement of air molecules.
Wind is sporadic over much of the Earth's surface, varying in direction and magnitude; and, like direct solar energy, wind power is a highly dispersed form of energy. Harnessing wind energy to generate electricity has great potential, and it is likely that someday wind will have a more prominent role in filling our energy needs. It is currently the most cost competitive of all forms of solar energy.
In the 1920s and 1930s, wind power provided electricity to midwestern farms long before rural electrification programs linked them to the grid. In the past, I have been opposed to wind power on aesthetic grounds. Although traditional windmills in Holland can be cute and aesthetically appealing, modern towers with propellers are quite ugly to say the least. In addition, they are very dangerous to wildlife and require intensive maintenance. However, as early as 1993, I was exposed to a wind power device that was aesthetically appealing!
Utility Wind PowerGenerator
Whether it is in the mountains, or in the desert, these Kollitz megaturbines are designed to be less of an eyesore, and more efficient than conventional units!
Small Scale Electric Power Generation
Office and residential units on rooftops could fulfill every building’s electrical requirements.
- Wind Power Systems...
- I had the privilege of meeting Gerhard Kollitz at the 1993 Hydrogen Conference in Kansas City, MO. Mr. Kollitz was dedicated to the research and development of new products related to the improvement of the environment through the use of clean energy. To this end, he invented a versatile windmill whose basic design could be used on a mega-scale by utilities in remote areas, or in small scale stand-alone applications.
The Kollitz Energy System wind turbine is highly adaptable in design. The heart of the machine, is a proprietary air maximizing array of louvers which employs the maximum frontal area of the turbine. By deflecting wind towards the direction of rotor rotation, the array captures the wind energy for optimum efficiency. A major advantage to this system is that optimum efficiency is attainable over a wide range of wind strengths.
Through the innovation of a high torque “Savonius rotor” with its vertical axis orientation, the turbine has less mechanical stress and fewer moving parts. Consequently, operation is low in maintenance. All of these positive aspects together with simplicity of design and a wide range of uses create a cost effective marketable product.
I do not know if Kollitz was able to produce a working prototype as I have lost track of him over the years. However, the recent developments of the Aeroturbine may well render Kollitz’s work obsolete with regards to the commercial and residential applications he envisioned. Aeroturbines encompass a radical new approach to windpower which overcome shortcomings of conventional wind turbines, while embracing the favorable attributes of the Kollitz devices.
Unlike conventional wind turbines (and Kollitz’s megaturbines), the aeroturbine employs a modular design (similar to that of solar panels) which is geared to a homestead, rather than to feeding directly to the grid. This allows aeroturbines to be placed in locations where they can take advantage of air turbulence which is useless to conventional wind turbines. By employing them in conjunction with solar power, one is assured of an independent, stable power supply.
- Fuel Cells in Our Future? ...
- Although solar and wind power systems are well suited for stationary facilities, they don’t resolve the issue of portable power sources. This immense category includes automotive type engines, aircraft turbines, portable generators, small internal combustion engines, as well as devices such as portable computers and cell phones. The sheer variety of devices to be replaced makes it unlikely that any single power source will be sufficient.
In the automotive field, it appears that the only practical nonpetroleum based solutions at this time incorporate electric motors. Traditionally, electric vehicles required a heavy bank of batteries which had to be frequently recharged. NASA’s search for portable electric power may have given us a better solution. Over the past 40 years, NASA has relied on expensive, complex fuel cells to power their manned space craft. Now, this technology is coming down to earth.
As fuel cells gain in popularity, so has the types of available technology. Research is currently occurring on the following types of fuel cells:Proton-exchange fuel cells (PEM) · Direct-methanol fuel cells · Solid-oxide fuel cells
Molten-carbonate fuel cells · Phosphoric-acid fuel cells · Alkaline fuel cells
Some of the newer fuel cell technologies (such as metal-air ) are great for the home researcher. Home-made aluminum can fuel cells could go a long ways in providing portable power around the house... and help eliminate a steady source of solid waste! Initially, home researchers could focus on low power, battery applications. Later, as their skills increase, larger projects can be undertaken.
Basic PEM Fuel Cell Operation...
As hydrogen is exposed to a PEM membrane, the proton passes through, leaving the electron behind. When the proton is exposed to oxygen, the electron is drawn through a wire to the oxygen side and forms water. Along the way, the electron can be used to perform work (light up a bulb!)
- Source Generation
- While onsite energy production would be ideal, the fact is that there are still an economic advantages to be gained from grid power. However, one of the great inefficiencies of conventional coal-fired power plants is that they are located hundreds of miles from their source of fuel. This means that the fuel (which is massive and bulky) must be hauled in by trains at great expense.
During a good portion of the last century, when the art of electrical power transmission was in its infancy, this made good economical sense. However, as our coal fired plants reach obsolescence, and massive renovations and reconstruction become necessary, we should take a new look at how we site our power plants.
Economically, in the near future, it may make more sense to build ultra-modern plants at the coal mines! Modern technology has made it a common practice to ship electricity across the country through a network of electrical grids. By locating generators at the mines, utilities can deliver the electricity directly to the consumer. There are a number of benefits to this radical approach:-
1) Eliminates the cost of transporting the coal across hundreds of miles saving thousands of gallons of
oil used by locomotives.
2) Eliminates a major source of pollution form urban areas
3) Dramatic reduction in pollution through the use of ultra-modern pollution reducing technology
4) Releases valuable urban property for other commercial uses (or sale!).
5) Better cost control as exposure to radical oil price increases (transportation costs) is reduced!
Tesla’s Magnifying Transmitter... This radical power transmission system would allow immemse amounts of power to be transmitted around the world from central transmitters to “substation” receivers for local distribution. Tesla trepeatedly stated that this system would be essentially lossless... without wires! Cedit: Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla by Marc Seifer
- Wireless Transmission ...
- There are a couple of major shortcomings with the source generation approach. Many more miles of high voltage transmission lines would have to be strung across our horizons, thus cluttering up our vistas with towers and a web of wires. Furthermore, if multiple plants were emplaced on one site, there would need to be multiple transmission corridors to handle the tremendous energy density.
Ironically, Tesla’s wireless transmission system may eliminate both shortcomings. Tesla often stated that his wireless system could transfer unlimited amounts of power around the world without wires. In effect, the earth itself would serve as a wire and transfer the power without significant loss!
Such a system would be aesthetically pleasing as the blight of transmission towers and miles of wires could be removed. Millions of tons of copper and other metals could easily be recovered, saving those resources for future generations. Tesla’s worldwide system would make widespread energy blackouts a thing of the past as this global network wouldn’t be shutdown by isolated breakdowns.
This system was introduced by Tesla in the early 1900s, and Wardenclyffe was the first element. Unfortunately, fear and ignorance led to its demise. Tesla was not content to allow his system to be used for large scale stationary power distribution. He advocated its use as a source of power for cars, and aircraft as well. Such “portable” applications would use antennas to tap into the power beam. The utility interests didn’t have a way to meter this power, and abruptly pulled the plug on Tesla’s dream project!
- ExtraOrdinary Research ... and the Second Law!
- Throughout this article, we have been examining fairly conventional alternative energy sources of power. As a short term solution, these can go a long ways toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. However, one must not forget, that every solution to a problem tends to bring an entirely new set of problems. Therefore, we must continue to search for new energy sources to prevent us from becoming overly dependent on any single form of energy.
TeslaTech, Inc champions radical new technologies that defy many of the precepts held sacred by orthodox physics. The pursuit of these technologies may not be as absurd as once thought , as one standard after another gives way to newly acquired knowledge. In the past twenty years, I have noted many departures from orthodox physics including the demise of the speed of light limitation, exploitation of zero point energy, cold fusion research, and applications using low temperature plasma.
One of the most basic sacraments of orthodox physics is the Second Law of Thermodynamics. I believe it is the most overused “laws” of orthodox physics. It basic tenet is that systems always travel from a high level of order into disorder... from high energy to low energy! Ironically, one cannot strictly adhere to this law and believe in evolution!
Most adherents to this law are blissfully ignorant that since the beginning of time, this law has been constantly violated by the natural phenomenon of osmosis! In this issue, we are proud to bring forth a coherent and convincing argument that the Second Law can no longer be used as a “catch-all” excuse to deny the potential for perpetual motion devices. .. and science can once again move forward!
- Overcoming Limitations..
- The emerging energy crisis demands a radical shift in our approach to energy research. We can no longer afford the close-minded, in-the-box approach that government and industry has used in the past. However, change is unlikely. Once again, it will fall upon the lone wolf inventors of the world to rise up to the task...and at TeslaTech, we are very supportive of their efforts.
Many TeslaTech members are familiar with this mode of research where one is dependent on little, if any, funding. Being underfunded, many of these intrepid inventors rely on selling plans and self published books. Their prototypes tend to be rugged, and purely functional. Initially, measurements tend to be crude, and most evidence is anecdotal due to lack of proper equipment. (In some cases, this is exacerbated by a lack of technical expertise as well.)
Let’s face it... being on the cutting edge in a field in which the results are often anomalous leaves the researcher exposed to denigration. One misstep and critics start screaming “scam” instead of systematically reviewing the data. Nevertheless, many of the researchers highlighted in our magazine have persevered and prevailed against all odds. They deserve our applause, support, and encouragement to continue their research.
- Now More Than Ever...
- Lacking credentials, the work of many independent researchers would never see the light of day. Fortunately, our magazine and conferences provide a necessary platform for independent inventors to introduce their ideas to the general public. Instead of relying on faceless technicians to make a pronouncement on the viability of an invention, investors and members of the general public can see it for themselves.
Today, the trend is for the greater and greater consolidation of wealth into fewer and fewer hands. This is expedited by the rigid control placed on our energy resources and access to medical care. TeslaTech, Inc is dedicated to reversing this trend by informing its members of the latest research and developments in these fields.
Corporate research and development in these fields are geared to industrial-sized applications. Unfortunately, this will lock in the status quo. Our goal is to change the paradigm and focus on individual, stand alone applications. It is my belief, after reading “The Problem of Increasing Human Energy”, that this was Tesla’s intent as well. I encourage you to join us... and who knows... perhaps, you might be the 100th monkey!.__SRE
