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What do you think?
Frank Lincoln
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EER in Brief
Electronic Electricity Repository (EER) is merely a concept at this time.=
The easiest way to explain it is to use an electric vehicle as an =
example. To power an EV with EER, an array of electronic devices - =
perhaps solid-state capacitors, perhaps another device - would =
contain the electrical charge accumulated from a variety of sources =
of electricity. Renewable energy sources are suggested, but *any* =
source of electricity would work. With the questionable future of batter=
y-powered EV's, and fusion as an energy source, and the political debate =
about fossil fuels, there are strong reasons to take a look at EER. =
In fairness, many say it cannot be done. But, perhaps another war =
- or avoiding one - could put the right minds to work on this concept. It=
*would* provide a way to be independent of foreign =
oil, while providing a structure for the transition to renewable forms =
of energy to power EV's - or any other device powered by electricity.
This is merely a shell of an idea, but perhaps some further thought could=
help bring it about.
A more detailed description - and much criticism - can be found in =
several of the technical forums of CompuServe.
Frank Lincoln....72430,2407=
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Electronic Electricity Repository has been put forth, for some time now i=
n these forums, as a new approach to dealing with energy. Technically, t=
he first effort on this was embarrassingly wrong. This is an effort to t=
ake into consideration the education received over these forums, and then=
see if there is something still worthwhile remaining to this concept. =
The first effort speculated at using trench capacitors to contain electri=
cal energy produced by any of the developing renewable energy sources (o=
r any source of electricity) and using that contained electrical energy f=
or domestic purposes such as electric vehicles and individual storage uni=
ts for home heating. In light of what has been learned, the following is=
a general, unscientific retry as to how EER might still be accomplished.=
There is no claim of expertise in the technologies that might be used, =
just a suggestion as to how to apply their capabilities.
It is understood that high energy density is something that has been soug=
ht for many years - the concept is nothing new. What is suggested here i=
s the possibility that modern technology may now be in the position to ac=
tually attain it - to a degree that could combine the many energy sources=
(new and old) into a common pool. =
=
GIVEN:
- Trench capacitors, at the present time, have nowhere near the capabili=
ty to deal with the degree of energy that would be required in Electronic=
Electricity Repository.
- The area of the plates in a trench capacitor will, for the most part, =
determine the capacitance - not exclusively, but this is the factor that =
is dealt with here as having the most potential for improvement. It is a=
ssumed that progress in the other factors - dielectric strength, dielectr=
ic composition, etc. - will continue, and will accommodate the suppositio=
n of surface area increase made here.
HYPOTHESIS:
- The surface area of a trench capacitor plate can be greatly increased =
without increasing the perimeter, or the space required to store the capa=
citor.
- Etching a groove on the plate surface will do this, to a small degree,=
and it is done, to some extent, today. What is surmised, here, is that,=
as the technology allows, many cross-grooves could be etched *within* th=
e first groove. Then, with increasing precision, these cross-grooves cou=
ld, in turn, be cross-grooved. And, then those cross-grooves cross-groov=
ed. Each successive cross-grooving would be progressively smaller - magn=
itudes smaller. This could be repeated until the molecular level was rea=
ched - each time increasing the surface area of the plate, and thus the c=
apacitance. An inexact estimate of the number of times it could be repea=
ted is 26. It is surmised that each groove, cross-groove, and etc., woul=
d be matched by a ridge, a cross-ridge, and etc., on the opposite plate, =
with corresponding shapes for the dielectric. The resulting configuratio=
n would yield a perfectly matching set of plates (sandwiching an appropri=
ately shaped, and expectedly advanced dielectric). Such a configuration =
and material composition may not be possible at this time, but the direct=
ion of efforts in their respective technologies may lead to their develop=
ment in the very near future. This concept is put forth in *anticipation=
* of those developments.
- In theory, each successive etching would substantially increase the ar=
ea of the plates, and thus the capacitance *without increasing their size=
*, their perimeter, or the volume of space needed for them. Again, the o=
nly barrier seems to be at reaching the molecular level, after each groov=
e is re-grooved, perpendicularly, and then THAT groove is re-grooved, etc=
.. This would take advantage of all the "inner space" available between t=
he plate surface, and the molecular level. (Understand that in place of =
"etching", Scanning Tunneling Microscope Technology might be applied - or=
even nanotechnology, if that ever becomes reality. The point is to conf=
igure the grooves - by whatever method.)
BENEFITS:
- An almost endless storage system for electricity.
- A way to store electricity from *any* source, from renewables to a wal=
l socket.
- A possible solution to the search for a better power plant for electri=
c vehicles.
- A structure within which to make the conversion from fossil fuels to r=
enewables.
- A way to accumulate the "trickle" of the many forms of renewable energ=
y, and combine
and store them in a practical way; a way that could give s=
trength to the many "weak" =
and diffuse renewable energy sources.
An attempt to generally suggest HOW to accomplish EER will be made; this =
will be based on the feedback received so far on this concept. For the =
most part, feedback has come from various forums in CompuServe. All major=
objections will be mentioned, and a way around each one will be suggeste=
d.
.
ENERGY DENSITY - This appears to be the leading objection to EER. In =
the strongest terms, it is postulated, here, that there is no sacred or p=
ermanent universal limit to energy density - there are only hurdles. The=
re *are* limits to present materials and there *are* limits to a given ge=
ometry, but no universal scientific boundary that would stand forever and=
always. There are certainly physical limits to the materials *now* bein=
g used, but, this concept of EER does, indeed, depend upon progress in th=
is area - improvements in materials are bound to happen. Unless human pr=
ogress is at its maximum, there is reason for such an expectation. Espec=
ially since - many say - technology is doubling every day with computer t=
echnology, and since many of the best resources in the world are focused =
on this type of science. (If anything like this concept of EER ever hap=
pens, it will be as a natural development of such materials - and NOT a =
result of this effort; that is quite thoroughly understood.) =
It is suggest here that even without improvements in dielectrics, there =
may be opportunity to vastly improve their capability with the one factor=
- geography of the plates.
Just as computers changed everything about information, some form of EER=
may change the way energy is dealt with. The suggestion, above, regardi=
ng etching grooves in trench capacitor plates, and then etching those gro=
oves, etc., is offered as a possible way to provide the structure that wo=
uld enable a monumentally higher energy density, than has ever been achie=
ved. If the geometry of the plates is configured as suggested here, and =
they are identically wrinkled, it is expected that a very high energy den=
sity could be achieved by taking advantage of the inner space. The accum=
ulation of a massive repelling force between plates is a problem for whic=
h no answer will be attempted here. But, mechanics aside, it appears tha=
t developing technology will, indeed, provide the tools necessary to conf=
igure the plates.
CAPACITOR LEAKAGE - Two points here: 1) Leakage in trench capacitors is=
not nearly as big a problem as it was a few short years ago - holding a =
charge for an electric vehicle, for example, would be well within the cyc=
le of usage. In other words, an EV would be expected to be used often en=
ough to use the charges before they have time to leak. 2) The percentage=
of loss due to leakage could logically be offset by overloading the capa=
citor bank by a like percentage. This is somewhat of a built-in ineffici=
ency, but in time, wouldn't the leakage problem be expected to continue t=
o improve?
ARCHING - The concern about electrical arching between the extremely sm=
all dimensions created by the etching and re-etching can only be explaine=
d away by a layman in this way: the extremely small dimensions would occu=
r between parts of the same plate - and *not* between the opposing plates=
.. The surfaces of the two plates would remain equidistant over the entir=
e area. It is expected that the extremely small dimensions would only oc=
cur between points on the same plate, at the same potential - and, thus, =
no arching would be anticipated.
=
ATOMIC LEVEL - In a pretty thorough analysis in the LEAP forum, it was =
indicated that "the whole idea of a capacitor thus breaks down as we appr=
oach atomic dimensions". (The following assumes abilities predicted by s=
ome as to etching, Scanning Tunneling Microscope Technology, atomic force=
microscope, lithography, or other methods). If you make one groove (G1)=
in a capacitor plate, that certainly does not approach atomic dimensions=
, yet it does increase the surface area of the plate (without increasing =
its perimeter). Then, if you go back and make another groove (G2) WITHIN=
G1's SURFACE, you are closer - but still not near the atomic level. The=
n if the surface of G2 is etched (or STM'd) with G3, you are closer yet; =
closer - but still a long way from the atomic level. How far? Well the =
number 26 seems to hold up as the number of times you could re-etch groov=
es, before you hit bottom. =
( Each successive etching step would be, say, a hundred times smaller th=
an the previous one. G3 is a hundred times smaller than G2. G2 is a hun=
dred times smaller than G1, and etc. G26 would be the smallest, and woul=
d begin to enter atomic dimensions.)
Now, backing up, let's say you made a hundred tiny grooves on the surfac=
e of the original plate - so you have 100 G1's. Within each G1, you etch=
100 much smaller G2's. Within each G2 you etch 100 G3's, which are yet,=
again, much smaller. This is a million grooves at the 3rd of 26 steps. =
If you could continue on in this way for 26 re-groovings of the grooves,=
how many grooves would you have at the 26th step? And, by how much woul=
d you have increased the surface area of that plate? And how much more d=
ipole moment effect would now take place? And how much more ability to h=
old charge would you have? If the number 26 makes you cranky, stop at 20=
, or 12. =
The point is this: there is a tremendous amount of "inner space" availab=
le *before* you reach atomic level. Perhaps an optimum number could be s=
afely reached. Even 12 would seem to provide a monumental increase in ch=
arge storage ability. Subject to mathematicians' scrutiny, there may be =
10^24 grooves, when you are only halfway down to atomic level, and free o=
f the terrible things that happen there. At the halfway point, you have =
monumentally increased the surface area, without threatening stability. =
Assuming that the dielectric follows the shape of the plate exactly, have=
you not vastly increased the number of molecules subject to polar reali=
gnment in the electric field? Could it be said that, even though the ind=
ividual dipole moments would stay at the same in magnitude, there is an o=
pportunity to create a tremendously larger number of them, by taking adva=
ntage of the inner space available?
MASS PRODUCTION - Some of these techniques to reform very small structur=
es are very slow and very expensive. Some question was raised as to their=
adaptability to a mass production situation. As with any change in techn=
ology, first efforts are not usually efficient. But there seems to be en=
ough advantages to EER so that the forces of supply and demand would push=
the costs down. Once in the competitive market, improvements in techniq=
ue could be expected.
=
GROOVES TOO SMALL? - A statement made in one of the forums was, "There i=
s a limit to how small the grooves can be before they don't work any more=
.." As this was from a good source, it is taken seriously. If some of th=
e logic, above, doesn't account for this, there may be difficulty, here. =
DISCHARGE TIME - Capacitors normally discharge very quickly, so wouldn't=
they make a rather bad storage device? No detailed answer will be attem=
pted, here, but can't this be controlled with a very low discharge curren=
t, with a high resistance? =
Electricity is - or can be - the common denominator for all energy sourc=
es - from solar to hydro. It is for exactly this reason that EER could e=
mploy each and every energy source. All the new renewable technology cou=
ld be "fed" into EER - without exception. Yet, at the same time, convent=
ional sources could contribute to it - every drop of oil and every lump o=
f coal on this planet could be used, purposely. Could this captured ener=
gy not then be put to use, as needed, and when needed, by controlling the=
energy bursts to simulate conventional electricity flow?
*******************
=
The technology that would be needed for EER *seems* to be within sight - =
with some faith required, perhaps, for the materials. Basically, it is t=
he ability to sculpt materials at the molecular level which brought about=
this revised approach to EER. I have never seen the etching process, no=
r STM; this whole concept of extremely small sculpting to obtain extremel=
y high surface area is drawn from my imagination - and the little I have =
read about these processes. I am motivated by the extreme advantages tha=
t would come about, and the apparent ability to accomplish this; if not o=
n a production basis, then at least on a prototype basis, to start. I'm =
certain there are still technical errors in this effort - it is hoped tha=
t the general idea was communicated with some adequacy. This *seems* poss=
ible - or within reach - to me, and it *seems* as though it would bring a=
bout profound benefits, and it *seems* to me that it is a logical way to =
approach energy at this point in time. =
But, I defer to the experts.
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A TRIP TO THE STORE IN AN EER POWERED EV
Let's suppose that the EER concept is fully developed, and built
into an electric vehicle. Let's also suppose that the newest and best
technological devices - some of which are now being used in EV's - are
integrated into the vehicle's design. What follows is a description =
of what might possibly have happened during an everyday trip to the store=
in such a vehicle. (This assumes the use of an *advanced* microchip
capacitor).
Ms. Jones notices her "fuel guage" as she starts her vehicle; it
tells her that her microchip capacitor battery is 85% full. This means
that of the vast number of microchip capacitors in her "battery", 85% are=
charged with their very small electric capacitance.
She proceeds to the store, and returns home - a quarter mile
trip. As she pulls in her driveway, she looks again at her guage. It
reads 84%. She thinks that she used only 1% of her battery capacity for
her trip.
But, she is wrong.
She used 10% of her available charged capacitors for the quarter
mile trip. So, why didn't her guage read 75% when she returned?
There were several devices built into her vehicle which were
replenishing used capacitors, almost as fast as she was using them. (All=
figures below are guesses - just to make the point).
1. The advanced solar panel on the roof of her vehicle was, as =
always during sunlight, continuously recharging at a slow, but=
steady rate. Because she had happened to drive and park in =
the sunlight, the solar panel recharged 5% of her capacitors.
2. The air scoops arrainged in her vehicle's design - although
accounting for some drag - were directing the air through =
small dynamos, which recharged another 2%.
3. The regenerative brakes on all four wheels replenished another =
2% of the capacitors.
So, she did, in fact, use 10% of the available capacitor charges,
but 9% were replaced by the activity of her trip.
This is nothing like perpetual motion; it is mearly taking
advantage of the natural surrounding energy to replenish the energy =
spent on the trip.
It is even conceivable that her "fuel guage" might have read a
higher percentage upon her return; a shorter trip on a windier and =
sunnier day, in a more sunlit route and parking spot, and many more
occasions to use the brakes, might have made that possible. The Second =
Law of Thermodynamics is not violated, because energy from outside the
vehicle was being absorbed along the way.
It is noted that a battery-powered EV could have done much the =
same, but the weight difference would have changed the percentages, so
as to defeat the purpose.
Frank Lincoln CS# 72430,2407
=
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