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Just some info for those that may have missed it.?
A recently resolved question was as follows. "Why can't Fiber-optic wires be used instead of copper for house-hold appliances?" The *best answer* was, in my mind, correctly attributed, but I was enthralled at something I found and linked to in the post and wanted to share it again for those that may have missed the link. VERY interesting stuff!!
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/the-smarter-grid/e...
In no way am I saying the answer given was incorrect. It was *spot on*, but this bit of information shows where we *might* be headed in the future.
Al
More than likely true about neither of us living to see it bud, (especially this old goat) but it IS interesting stuff. I'll have to look at the numbers and reasoning you gave a little later to get a better understanding of the process, but for now, work becons. That durn four letter word again.
1 Answer
- callipygenousLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Alan, there are lots of ways to transmit power other than excited electronic bands within a metal lattice (one viable alternative already in existence is microwave transmission). The primary problem with photovoltaic conversion and transmission over fiber is that the power sources have to be huge unless the loads are very small. You cannot violate the second law of thermodynamics. The average home has a 200A service at 240VAC. That's 48,000 watts. That's one big laser, my friend. At around 30% maximum efficiency, you'd have to have a 160,000 watt pump source, and that's assuming no loss at the photovoltaic converter. Size is also a major concern. The PV converters get quite large at the power levels you are used to dealing with. The PV converter to run a simple box fan would be the size of a standard entry door.
The technology is fine for sensors in the microamp range, but for real power transmission, you won't live to see it. Neither will I.
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Here's a nice power transmission facility that uses that technology:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Fac...
On another note, everyone says that hard work won't kill ya, but I'm not taking a chance.
