Anyone have any ideas for harnessing the power of lightning?

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Comment by Clynton on September 1, 2008 at 11:52am

The charges in the air are relatively constant - that is the potential difference between say 5000 feet and ground are relatively constant. I would start with that hypothesis (I can't say that it's fact). Assuming when clouds come by, there exists palpable moisture that then help to establish a route for charges to flow from mid-atmosphere level to the ionosphere or from the mid-atmosphere to ground. Of course pure water doesn't itself form the route, so it's when each water molecule develops a charge on it.

OK, that being said, you should be able to create a permanent pole that's high enough (or add a laser to reach the high atmosphere) and collect the "jolts" that result. Of course you'll need a "battery" bank that can store the potential rapidly - and only capacitors would really be practical. Now that's practical to a point, because the size and quantity of capicitors would basically be bombs just waiting to go off - so extremely dangerous!

I actually like the idea of channelling the blast into a water solution and spot-generating Hydrogen and Oxygen for storage in tanks. There's no telling what other molucules would be generated in this process though. Sounds like a fun project... I hope you pursue it.

OK, so now that you've read all that, take a look at Wikipedia to learn more (and to dismantle my silly hypothesis).

Cheers

Comment by Americaneedsaplan on August 25, 2008 at 5:04pm

Thank you all for your comments. They are really, really great comments that will enable me to do some studying and research on this topic. Please, anybody, don't be skittish or afraid, please send me more comments about this --- as they are really appreciated!

Comment by BurgessKJ on August 25, 2008 at 11:07am

Didn't Edison & Tesla have competing rapid charging systems? Maybe you should begin by investigating what they did, and why these avenues were not pursued before.

Perhaps with modern materials, knowledge, and technology you can patent a workable solution.

As you already know there are a lot of frequent hit areas (and YES, lighting does strike in the same spot, sometimes very often). Perhaps NOAA or your meteorological peers could build a 'Lightining Corridor' much as Pickens has identified Wind & Solar corridors to us.

Comment by BurgessKJ on August 25, 2008 at 11:03am

If you could do this, and say add battery recirculators to every commercial building's lightning rod, that would be very useful. I think the hard part is rapid collection, and equipment overheating. Maybe the lighting could be used to seperate Hydrogen quickly, or thermally initiate burst steam turbines. More can be done, but this is all long-term speculation. I suggest you contact some universities, and see what's out there, and how you might combine your thoughts with existing experiments, for synergistic output.

Comment by Victor Rhoads on August 18, 2008 at 10:37pm

Fascinating idea. The biggest technological hurdles might involve the unpredictability (in strength) of the lightning bolts. I expect that that could be solved, but I'd anticipate a steep initial learning curve along with a lot of fried equipment in the first few years (hopefully no fricassied experimenters). Nonetheless, a great opportunity for someone (more likely a Consortium) to become "the 21st Century's Ben Franklin".

Comment by Donald Mayfield on August 18, 2008 at 9:15pm

ask Benjamin Franklin

Comment by Lance Calkins on August 18, 2008 at 8:23pm

Hi Ron, Lightning can be directed to hit a particular spot if lasers are used to ionize a path for the lightning to follow. Lightning follows the easiest path. Lightning then can charge a series of capacitors in a large bank. These capacitors would store the charge and then could be discharged individually as needed and supply the power for the laser. Best wishes -Lance Calkins