Posted by grim (206.162.192.40) on July 27, 2002 at 19:57:33:
I believe the low RPM and low horsepower produced may limit anything these machines can do. I worked in the
electric production industry for awhile, and the equipment and power needed to feed the grid is enormous in size
and specs. The wheels would be competing, for example, let's say a 535 megawatt turbogenerator. At 746 watts per
horsepower, the turbine is cranking out 717,158 horsepower at 3600 RPM (US grid). The best efficiency they can
muster is 40%, so the boiler is producing 1,792,895 HP to drive it. I think I saw someplace where J.B's wheel
was calculated to produce .050 HP. at 26 RPM. Great for third-world energy-starved countrys to pump water or grind
grain, or produce enough Hp to light a 37 watt light bulb. Guess you could charge batteries with it, though. Wonder how
much HP the Costa wheel produces, and if any of these wheels are geared up to produce more RPM, how far can one go
until they stall?