Re: Efficiency of utilities

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:34:02 +0100, J G Miller <miller@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:31:06 +0000, Woody wrote:
> It can go from 0 to 1320MW in under 10 seconds, and if the header tank
> is full it would run for a maximum of about 90 minutes. It would take
> about 2.5 hours and soak up over 1600MW to pump the water back up,
> both at full bore.

As we all understand what is happening is that during off peak,
electricity is being used to move water to a higher elevation
and then when needed convert that stored potential energy to
kinetic energy which then drives the turbines to generate electric
power.

So, here's the stoopid, dumb question --

Is water the best fluid to drive turbines?

A more dense liquid eg mercury, be a greater store of potential energy,
but would it produce an equivalent relatively greater generation of
electricity?

With mercury there would not be the worry about water corrosion, but
there would obviously be the concern about the system being fully air
tight to prevent escape of vapors.


A reservoir full of mercury? What have you been drinking this evening?
.

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