Posted by Bob Myers on August 21, 2010, 2:18 pm
In article <241d78b4-d9a3-465b-b908-
5db6a65799cb@p11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, Rkleinsch1216128@aol.com
says...
>
>
> > True, but that's not the entirely-bad-thing it might appear to be at
> > first glance. Centralized power generation is almost always a whole
> > lot easier to clean up than generating the same amount of power via
> > a much larger number of small "local" generators. And typically a good
> > deal more efficient as well.
>
> Not necessarily. Local generation can allow waste
> heat scavenging for heating and air conditioning. It's
> my understanding that this is already done on some
> university campuses and hospitals.
And hence "typically" instead of "always." But you
generally can't escape the economies of scale. Even
when "waste" heat is scavenged and reused, it's generally
better to do this over a large a system as possible, rather
than in multiple small systems. Those university campuses
and hospitals are actually good examples; the system is
generally made to cover as many buildings as possible in the
interests of maximum efficiency.
Bob M.
Posted by Rob Kleinschmidt on August 21, 2010, 5:04 pm
> In article <241d78b4-d9a3-465b-b908-
> 5db6a6579...@p11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, Rkleinsch1216...@aol.com
> says...
> > > True, but that's not the entirely-bad-thing it might appear to be at
> > > first glance. Centralized power generation is almost always a whole
> > > lot easier to clean up than generating the same amount of power via
> > > a much larger number of small "local" generators. And typically a good
> > > deal more efficient as well.
> > Not necessarily. Local generation can allow waste
> > heat scavenging for heating and air conditioning. It's
> > my understanding that this is already done on some
> > university campuses and hospitals.
> And hence "typically" instead of "always." But you
> generally can't escape the economies of scale. Even
> when "waste" heat is scavenged and reused, it's generally
> better to do this over a large a system as possible, rather
> than in multiple small systems. Those university campuses
> and hospitals are actually good examples; the system is
> generally made to cover as many buildings as possible in the
> interests of maximum efficiency.
I'm also a big fan of rooftop solar. Pretty good match
to peak demand and unloads the power grid nicely.
Another problem with large centralized generation is the
grid needed to get it to where it's needed. Generating
clean 60 Hz sine wave current isn't the kind of rocket science
that it used to be back in nineteen ought whatever.
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>
> > True, but that's not the entirely-bad-thing it might appear to be at
> > first glance. Centralized power generation is almost always a whole
> > lot easier to clean up than generating the same amount of power via
> > a much larger number of small "local" generators. And typically a good
> > deal more efficient as well.
>
> Not necessarily. Local generation can allow waste
> heat scavenging for heating and air conditioning. It's
> my understanding that this is already done on some
> university campuses and hospitals.