3 ms·

This sounds like too complicated a logistical problem to work properly. By the time something like this was ready to roll out, after doing initial experiments a

This sounds like too complicated a logistical problem to work properly. By the time something like this was ready to roll out, after doing initial experiments and then enough pilot projects to make sure it was sound, there would almost certainly be a better way to recycle all of that heat. For example, you could convert it to electricity using sun free photovoltaics (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/sun-free-photovoltaics-0728.html http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/sun-free-photovoltaics-07...), and then store it in solid state batteries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_battery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_battery) for distribution. Cloud computing is about out-sourcing the pain of managing a server farm - Data Furnaces seems like an idea going in the opposite direction.

karamazov 15y ago
Sun free photovoltaics only work with high-quality heat - heat produced at around 800 degrees Celcius, typically by burning a hydrocarbon fuel [1]. They're not capable of gathering waste heat and converting it to electricity. [1] I'm currently working with the lab from the research article above; if you re-read that article, it explicitly mentions fuel sources a few times.
- padobson 15y ago
  I remember butane being mentioned in the article. I was more or less spitballing an idea on how future technology would make more sense. I don't think sun free PVs or solid state batteries are where they need to be yet to make this work, but you know more about it then me, maybe it will never be feasible. Speaking of which, are you familiar with this work?: http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/8-grams-of-thorium-could-replace-gasoline-in-cars-20110812/ http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/8-grams-of-thorium-... - it was another Hacker News submission, so you may have seen it. Have you approached him about using sun-free PVs instead of mini steam turbines? Or wouldn't the Thorium generate the heat quality you need?

karamazov 15y ago

Sun free photovoltaics only work with high-quality heat - heat produced at around 800 degrees Celcius, typically by burning a hydrocarbon fuel [1]. They're not capable of gathering waste heat and converting it to electricity. [1] I'm currently working with the lab from the research article above; if you re-read that article, it explicitly mentions fuel sources a few times.

padobson 15y ago
I remember butane being mentioned in the article. I was more or less spitballing an idea on how future technology would make more sense. I don't think sun free PVs or solid state batteries are where they need to be yet to make this work, but you know more about it then me, maybe it will never be feasible. Speaking of which, are you familiar with this work?: http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/8-grams-of-thorium-could-replace-gasoline-in-cars-20110812/ http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/8-grams-of-thorium-... - it was another Hacker News submission, so you may have seen it. Have you approached him about using sun-free PVs instead of mini steam turbines? Or wouldn't the Thorium generate the heat quality you need?