h a l f b a k e r yQuis custodiet the custard?
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All this talk of harvesting wind energy to power shit is really getting on
my nerves. Have we forgotten the joys of the wind itself? Have we
forgotten the wonder of a simple cool breeze? This saddens me...
Now, enough nostalgia, on to the meat and taters of the idea. There
are lots of places
in
the world that have lots of wind, but no people.
There also places that have lots of people, but no wind.
This poses all sorts of problems, not the least of which is pollution
buildup in the air because there's no wind to cycle the air and
disperse the smog. This causes health problems, corrosion in vehicles
and buildings, and unsafe drinking water.
So my solution is to build windfarms in areas with lots of wind but no
people, and transmit their generated electricity via cables to power
nearly identical towers that CREATE wind in stuffy areas with lots of
people! Windmill-powered fan towers!
[link]
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The wind power -> electricity -> wind power conversion is very inefficient. A more efficient approach would be to have a simple mechanical linkage between the windmill and the fan - e.g. a very long bicycle chain. |
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When I first conceived this idea, I envisioned a windmill that
powered itself. Basically, when wind is blowing, it performs as a
normal windmill, but stores all the energy. When the wind dies
down, it uses the stored energy to keep spinning, thus giving the
waning wind a boost and helping ensure an undying wind. Then
I thought of a way to apply the same principle in a more helpful
manner. Sure, there's an efficiency loss, but that's not really the
point. Better less power and some wind where the people who
need it are than nothing. The long chain's a decent idea, but
more difficult and expensive to maintain. I do love the image it
brings to mind, though. Instead of power lines, miles and miles
of elevated bicycle chain... whimsical indeed.
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[+] for your anno, Hippo. |
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From the title, I totally thought this was some kind of wind instrument with which to attack people. I am disappointed in your beneficence, [21Quest], very disappointed.
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I have gotten really chapped, but never to the point of a wind wound. |
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Surely a wind-wound wonder would involve a wound-up spring, or a twisted rubber band.
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And a whimsical wonder should also be musical, or brightly colored, etc..
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Of course, since windmills are, as you said, in quite remote locations, whatever sound is created needs to be loud. A way of producing some really loud sounds, that involves wind (or at least, compressed air), is the auxetophone. |
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I had not come across the auxetophone before. I was thinking of an electrically amplified solidbody aeolian harp. |
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Yes. Of course, you would need a whole bank of them to produce a really effective wind transfer.
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/There are lots of places in the world that have lots of wind, but no people. There also places that have lots of people, but no wind.//
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...and then there are places where you have a lot of people and a lot of wind. Not thinking of anywhere in particular... |
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Denver and Chicago, to name a few. |
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I'm guessing egbert meant somewhere in the 'Southern Hemisphere.' |
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You had me at " ...meat and taters..." -- Bun [+] |
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