Compressed air power is already being used in some major power plants to offset energy production during non-peak hours.
In the interest of going green, imagine if every home and commercial building could operate off the grid, generating its own electricity from air.
Fantasy? Hog wash? Delusion you say? Let me ask you, what does a scuba air tank, real estate and electricity have in common?
Think about what happens when you inflate a balloon and then release it – it propels itself away. Air goes in and air comes out. Clean. Well, that’s the power of compressed air and all three can have a meaningful relationship with each other.
Now imagine if air could be contained and compressed on a larger scale and when released flows out to activate a turbine or motor to create electricity. Well you don’t have to imagine it because this idea has been around in practice for more than a century to power mine locomotives, pumps, drills, trams, and the power tools of your auto mechanic.
For years now a French company called MDI has partnered with Tata Motors of India to develop the world’s first fully powered compressed air car. Take a look at what they’ve been working on.
http://youtu.be/0RBl1LFUQ4c
Check out what this Australian student built using a scuba air tank a few years ago.
http://youtu.be/_ZXVH-r684o
Peugeot Citroën motors of France have been tackling this challenge and are coming out with a compressed air hybrid car in 2016.
http://www.popsci.com/article/cars/car-runs-air
Compressed air power is already being used in some major power plants to offset energy production during non-peak hours, a process known as Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_energy_storage
So here’s a query to ponder until the next newsletter. What if this technology combined with other renewable sources like solar and wind could be scaled to a point where homes and commercial buildings operate independently off the grid? Did I just blow your mind? Pun intended.
Until next time.
– Mitch Gauzas
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