4 ms·
Why do we need to use a chemical battery for large things that aren't mobile? Why can't we store kinetic energy by, say, raising and lowering a big counterweigh
by nerfhammer 12y ago
Why do we need to use a chemical battery for large things that aren't mobile? Why can't we store kinetic energy by, say, raising and lowering a big counterweight?
- bdcs 12y agoSteel is 36 cents per pound. Assume you can move it up and down 300ft (30 story building). This will get you 1pound * g * 300ft of energy storage. This comes out to 300,000 USD/kWh, about a 1000 times more expensive than Li-ion batteries, per kilowatt-hour.
- wtallis 12y agoGravity is too weak. Flywheels are the way to store kinetic/mechanical energy, but the up front cost is pretty steep.
- HNaTTY 12y agohttp://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2011/11/pump-up-the-storage/ http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2011/11/pump-up-the-stor... "The main problem with gravitational storage is that it is incredibly weak compared to chemical, compressed air, or flywheel techniques (see the post on home energy storage options). For example, to get the amount of energy stored in a single AA battery, we would have to lift 100 kg (220 lb) 10 m (33 ft) to match it. To match the energy contained in a gallon of gasoline, we would have to lift 13 tons of water (3500 gallons) one kilometer high (3,280 feet)."