From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Tue Dec 11 2001 - 13:57:10 MST
Dossy wrote:
>
> On 2001.12.11, Mike Lorrey <mlorrey@datamann.com> wrote:
> > Dossy wrote:
> > >
> > > I recall seeing an article a long while back that claimed someone
> > > invented a battery cell that used urine as the power source.
> > >
> > > The power output was very low, IIRC.
> > >
> > > Does anyone have any pointers to what I'm talking about?
> >
> > You can generate power from just about anything with non-neutral pH.
> > Potatos, apples, and many other fruits and vegetables will work, but
> > don't expect to base the energy infrastructure of a technological
> > civilization on them, if only for the simple fact that there are some
> > times in the year when such things are not 'in season', and ghu help you
> > when the next blight arrives.
> >
> > Saline differentials are also useful for generating power. A 1 cubic
> > meter per second freshwater discharge into the ocean has an osmotic
> > energy potential of around 1 megawatt.
>
> While useful information, can I say that you didn't answer my
> question? ;-)
>
> You did spark a humorous idea though ... the notion that "urine
> is always in season" ... *chuckle*
In season, but also highly intermittent. Drinking lots of water doesn't
help increase your power output either, since that just dilutes the
concentration of uric acid. Intermittent energy sources are highly
unreliable, and therefore are considered to be low value.
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