2 ms·
Polymetallic nodules obviously will have electric potentials that could maybe electrolyze water slowly, but... whence the energy? Do the metals in the polymeta
by cryptonector 2y ago
Polymetallic nodules obviously will have electric potentials that could maybe electrolyze water slowly, but... whence the energy? Do the metals in the polymetallic nodules mix better -thus reducing the electric potential- as they electrolyze water? Do they oxidize? If they oxidize, how much of the oxygen they produce goes to oxidizing them, and how much is made available to the local biome?
(When you extract energy from a magnet it loses its magnetization. I imagine something similar must happen here.)
How long does it take for these nodules to form, and how long does it take for any process to render them no longer able to electrolyze water?
- tasty_freeze 2y agoI know nothing about the topic, but this comes to mind: the mechanical energy of moving water. When I rub a comb through my hair in low humidity conditions, I can generate sparks. It doesn't seem implausible that water flowing past some alloy might cause some small fraction of H2O rubbing against it to split via some electrical or chemical process.
- magicalhippo 2y agoThere's the magnetohydrodynamic effect, which can be used for propulsion[1], guess the reverse should generate electricity? edit: Hunch correct[2]. Off course requires magnetic field, and while naturally magnetized rocks exist AFAIK, not sure how strong they are. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_generator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_generator