Alternative Energy Forums

Hello,

I've been thinking about an idea for quite sometime. I'm no engineer, however it seems possible to me that this may be a new type of renewable energy. I thought that if I were to pass the idea on to a group of people smarter than myself they might be able to do something with it.

Imagine a large weight 20,000 pounds 40 feet high in the air, steel perhaps, raised up by hydraulic wenches or cylinder, whichever is most efficient..

Let me pause for a moment to explain what you probably already know. I can lift the front end of a 5000 lb vehicle with about 25 lbs of force. Now if I connected another hydraulic cylinder mechanism to the first I could then lift the same 5000 lb force with a pound of pressure.

Now consider this hydraulic principal above with a larger weight 20,000 lbs. With the correct hydraulics in place I could lift this amount as well with much less energy than the weight of it pushed by Gravity could create.

Now imagine this 20,000 lb weight in the air being released. However, not to plummet to the floor, but being connected to a gear box(s) similar to that which is in a wind turbine. These Gear boxes are 100:1 ratio and higher. With the correct gearing you may be able to turn a turbine at speeds of 1500 rpm.

Seemingly to me this amount of weight may be able to be connected to multiple turbines all spinning at 1500 RPMs creating much more electricity coming down than used being hoisted into the air with hydraulics.

The ratio of forces, downward to upward may be 5000:1 with the help of hydraulics.

There may be drawbacks to the concept. However if there truly is a positive net energy you would not need wind, solar, or other to keep storing energy. Obviously, it could only created electricity on its way down, however multiple weight systems might be able to keep it storing longer.

Don’t laugh just yet till you do the math. It would be creating electricity from gravity and large weights attached to turbines.

Please pass this on to someone that might ponder the idea. I with no engineering knowledge can do nothing else with idea, but your people can.

I've e-mailed this to several universities today,and now i'm looking for some feedback from you folks regarding this?

I have a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. I commend you on your idea and don’t want to discourage you, but your concept will not work. Sorry to rain on your parade. I am 100% certain. I think the Universities will tell you the same thing. From a non technical stand point, if it were that easy, someone would have done this hundreds of years ago.

Some thoughts:

Force can be measured in lbs

Work can be measured in ft lbs and the same units as energy. Lifting 20,000 lbs 10 ft requires 200,000 ft lbs of work or energy and it is the same as lifting 2000 lbs 100 ft or 200,000 lb 1 ft. If you had a gasoline engine at 100% efficiency (theoretical, does not exist) with no frictional losses coupled to gearing to lift the weights of 2000 lb 100 ft, 20,000 10 ft and 200,000 lb 1 ft, the energy required to accomplish this is the same. Let’s imagine it takes exactly 1 shot glass (1 oz) of gasoline to do this.

With a large lever arm pivoting about a fulcrum point you can lift a 5000 lb weight with 25 lbs of effort as you stated (an automotive jack works on the same principle), but you would have to exert that 25 lb force on the lever 200 inches to lift the 5000 lb weight 1 inch. The same energy put into the system is equal to the same energy you get out of it. You can multiply force but not energy or work. They are not the same. We need energy not force.

Email me if you want to call me about it. Easier to explain over the phone.