> > G Mann wrote: > > > > I do raise arguement with the segment of thinking that > > leaps forward with the assumption it is a finished and > > practical appliction product accepted by public use. > > > > It's not there yet.. it's not even close, yet.. Perhaps, > > but not yet.
> Andrew wrote: > > Grant, I can just see you watching the Wright Brothers lift > off, saying "they will never be able to compete with trains > - that silly contraption can only carry one or at most two > men" *chuckle* The comparison might look similar at a casual glance - but really it's not. For the Wrights - and other early flier - the challenge was on many fronts. Aerodynamics, engines, control surfaces, user interface, etc. With this current solar airplane, there is nothing new with the airframe, or the motors, or the user interface, or the control surfaces. It is a balance between battery capacity vs. weight vs. photovoltaic (PV) panel output. As pointed out, even 100% efficiency from the panels would not be enough to sustain flight except at high noon in the tropics on a sunny day. With well over 100 years of development, there's a very low probability that electric motor efficiency will be able to increase much. Tiny bits here and there, but unless someone finds "room temperature" superconductors we can't expect much change from the motor. Same with the airframe drag. More than 100 years of study, expanding from the kite that the Wrights and Whitehead flew to the supersonic and high-altitude aircraft, and many points in between, suggest there's little hope of getting lift with less drag. Batteries have a lot of potential for advancement - but that won't _sustain_ flight. Charge 'em to make a flight - yes. But I understood the claim to be that PV alone would be enough. So those PV panels will _never_ be 100% efficient. I dream of the day when maybe, just maybe they will top 60%. It's probably a pipe dream just as much as a 200 MPG carburetor was in the 1970's. (which, by the way, would require the engine to be something like 250% efficient...) So I'm with Grant. Physics rules. Even if a fellow doesn't understand physics, he still can't violate those laws regardless of what Congress does! I expect major improvement in electric storage technology, and hope that I might live to see a rugged 30% efficient PV panel. But even then, our transportation machines require more energy than they can collect from the sun in transit. _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
