Millennium Technology Prize Symposium

1
Millennium Technology Prize Symposium Espoo,
Finland 14 June 2004 Big Green Energy
Machines Jesse H. Ausubel Program for the Human
Environment The Rockefeller University http//phe.
rockefeller.edu
2
Bankside Power Station, London Opened for power
generation in 1953, became Tate Gallery in 2000
100m tall
Footprint covers 3.5 hectares
Comparably powerful plant built today could fit
in 1/10th the space
3
Hydrocarbon fuels ranked by heat value
Heat Value
Rank
Source N. Victor J. Ausubel, 2003
4
Basic ZEPP configuration, 400 atm case
1133º C 70 atm
O2
CH4
790º C 400 atm
combustor
regenerator
1500º C 400 atm
120º C 70 atm
80º C 400 atm
1133º C 70 atm
condenser
30º C 70 atm
pump
gas turbine
generator
80º C 400 atm
Source After Ichihara, Tokyo Electric Power
5
Efficiency increases with higher pressure and
temperature.
Temperature, Celsius
Pressure, atmospheres Source After
Ichihara
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(No Transcript)
7
USA Hydrogen production, 1971-1999 semi-log scale
106
Millions of cubic feet
105
104
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Year
Source N. M. Victor and J.H. Ausubel, 2002
8
Major fuels ranked by heat value
108
Natural uranium in FBR
Uranium enriched to 3.5 in LWR
Natural uranium in CANDU
106
Heat Value
Natural uranium in LWR
Natural uranium in LWR
with U Pu recycle
MJ/kg
104
Hydrogen
LPG
Black Coals
102
Natural Gas
Firewood
Crude Oils
Brown Coals
100
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Rank
Source N. Victor and J. Ausubel, 2003
9
Hypothetical SuperGrid energy pipe
50,000 Vdc 100,000 A 10 GW
Electrical Insulation
Liquid H2 _at_ 21 K
Source P. Grant, EPRI
10
Energy SuperGrid pipe could share tunnels with
high-speed, long-distance trains
Source EPRI
11
Like computers that comprise the Internet, power
plants become more powerful AND SMALLER
Dell laptop, 2004
US Ballistic Research Lab computer, mid 1950s
Tennessee Valley Authority coal plant (date
unknown)
Delivery of General Electric 480 MW natural gas
turbine, 2000