My Invention

[TurdFergeson]

I have decided to share my invention idea with the world.

I cannot keep it a secret, for the benefit of humanity.

OK, here it is:

A workout place that pays people to go there.

It pays them because all the workout equipment is connected to generators and then power is stored. Hopefully in the form of Liquid N. Or even hydrogen gas.

I'm sure with simple modifictaions even a bench press unit could be made to generate power with each rep.

Then when you start to think about treadmills, bikes, stairclimbers, etc, you could really get some power outout going. Is this idea stupid?

Imagine all those wasted calories which could be put to use.

 

[firespin]

IIs this idea stupid?

Imagine all those wasted calories which could be put to use.

The going rate is what, ten cents / killowatt-hour? That's a lot of reps.

 

[phrodeau]

Hey, it worked on Gilligan's Island.

 

[TurdFergeson]

The going rate is what, ten cents / killowatt-hour? That's a lot of reps.

That's pretty cheap. It's a bit higher here.

But anyway, the real purpose would be to build up enough hydrogen or Liquid N to become totally self sufficient and be able to sell power back to the grid at a constant rate.

Once that is achieved, eventually all operating costs could be covered.

 

[clutch1]

Hey, it worked on Gilligan's Island.

Damn you beat me to it.

 

[Wilben]

How is liquid nitrogen a form of stored energy?

 

[red_rose]

How is liquid nitrogen a form of stored energy?

You're not supposed to ask questions.

 

[CTYankee]

How is liquid nitrogen a form of stored energy?

Isn't ALL matter really just stored energy? The trick is converting the generated energy into that state.

 

[Belle_Morte]

I'd totally work out more if I got paid for it ;o)

 

[Problem Child]

How is liquid nitrogen a form of stored energy?

When you compress nitrogen gas into a liquid you are converting mechanical energy into potential energy in the LN2.
You could run a car on LN2 and it would work basically like a steam engine, except in a steam engine, you are adding heat to boil water, and in an LN2 engine you can basically just allow the LN2 to boil by running it through a heat exchanger that is warmed by ambient air temperature you (already added the energy to it when it was compressed).
It's a great concept but there are problems with storage and transportation. Obviously it would be very environmentally clean, but LN2 is about 1/30 as energy dense as gasoline, so you would need a much bigger tank to go as far, and the storage tanks would be very expensive, since they have to be specially insulated.

 

[TurdFergeson]

When you compress nitrogen gas into a liquid you are converting mechanical energy into potential energy in the LN2.
You could run a car on LN2 and it would work basically like a steam engine, except in a steam engine, you are adding heat to boil water, and in an LN2 engine you can basically just allow the LN2 to boil by running it through a heat exchanger that is warmed by ambient air temperature you (already added the energy to it when it was compressed).
It's a great concept but there are problems with storage and transportation. Obviously it would be very environmentally clean, but LN2 is about 1/30 as energy dense as gasoline, so you would need a much bigger tank to go as far, and the storage tanks would be very expensive, since they have to be specially insulated.

Exactly. I don't know about use in cars, but an onsite huge storage tank could be possible. Maybe put it underground for better insultion, at least if you live in a warm climate.

Then, just use the stored liquid N to run a conventional power generator when needed.

 

[TurdFergeson]

I'd totally work out more if I got paid for it ;o)

No doubt. Getting paid to do something good for yourself , a novel idea.

 

[TurdFergeson]

How is liquid nitrogen a form of stored energy?

It's actually just highly compressed air.

 

[Wilben]

It's actually just highly compressed air.

Yeah, and really cold. I didn't realize it could be harnessed easily when evaporated.

 

[MissCorrupt]

The fact that my fat ass could power a home for any amount of time brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

 

[TurdFergeson]

Yeah, and really cold. I didn't realize it could be harnessed easily when evaporated.

I think I read it expands to something like 400 times it's original volume. It is dangerous, it displaces oxygen. I would think a smell could be added,like how they do with propane or natural gas, for safety reasons?

The fact that my fat ass could power a home for any amount of time brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

The main thing is that you would actually being paying the gym overhead. Basically, the harder you workout, the more money the gym would pay you.

Hahaha..there would have to be a limit. People might go crazy.

 

[firespin]

That's pretty cheap. It's a bit higher here.

But anyway, the real purpose would be to build up enough hydrogen or Liquid N to become totally self sufficient and be able to sell power back to the grid at a constant rate.

Once that is achieved, eventually all operating costs could be covered.

Voodoo economics at its finest. You should feel proud.

Here's a place to run some tests: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/03/08/human-powered-gyms-in-hong-kong/

They get people to do this even without paying them. Good thing, cause at 50 watts / person, you can only pay them like half of cent per hour. Even Walmart does better than that. Not sure about Nike tho.

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

A couple of hundred years too late.





MCRD, San Diego...

 

[BlackShanglan]

I have decided to share my invention idea with the world.

I cannot keep it a secret, for the benefit of humanity.

OK, here it is:

A workout place that pays people to go there.

It pays them because all the workout equipment is connected to generators and then power is stored. Hopefully in the form of Liquid N. Or even hydrogen gas.

I'm sure with simple modifictaions even a bench press unit could be made to generate power with each rep.

Then when you start to think about treadmills, bikes, stairclimbers, etc, you could really get some power outout going. Is this idea stupid?

Imagine all those wasted calories which could be put to use.

I'm almost afraid to say this, but I've wondered similar things about whether we couldn't solve our obesity and power generation issues in some constuctive joint project.

There is such a thing as "net usage" (or similar name - it's been a while and I'm fuzzy on it) meter that measures both what energy you consume from the power grid and what energy you give back to it. That spares you actually needing to store the energy created on site; you can just sell it back to the electric company. I've seen some stories on people who do this with home-based energy sources (solar panels, windwills, etc.) - some of them have managed to get a net gain out of it. I'm not sure whether this type of meter is available in all areas; I believe that in California, the power company is required to give you the option of having one.

I just don't know if human-driven power generation devices would put out enough power to be worth it. Interesting thought, though, if you could work it so that the increasing resistence in higher-strength exercises was driven by the user working a stronger power-generating setup.

 

[Sean]

How is liquid nitrogen a form of stored energy?

Just what I was thinking.

 

[Sean]

When you compress nitrogen gas into a liquid you are converting mechanical energy into potential energy in the LN2.
You could run a car on LN2 and it would work basically like a steam engine, except in a steam engine, you are adding heat to boil water, and in an LN2 engine you can basically just allow the LN2 to boil by running it through a heat exchanger that is warmed by ambient air temperature you (already added the energy to it when it was compressed).
It's a great concept but there are problems with storage and transportation. Obviously it would be very environmentally clean, but LN2 is about 1/30 as energy dense as gasoline, so you would need a much bigger tank to go as far, and the storage tanks would be very expensive, since they have to be specially insulated.

Ever hear of an Atmospheric Railway?

 

[firespin]

I just don't know if human-driven power generation devices would put out enough power to be worth it.

They seemed to work just fine in the Matrix. That should be proof enough it works.

At least as a proof of concept.

.
.
.

Or anyway, you can't prove it WON"T work.

 

[Flyin_Free]

You wouldn't really have to pay them...you could just offer free gym memberships. Interesting thought.

 

[BlackShanglan]

They seemed to work just fine in the Matrix. That should be proof enough it works.

At least as a proof of concept.

.
.
.

Or anyway, you can't prove it WON"T work.

It's Sunday, and I was trying so hard not to be maliciously gleeful ...

 

[firespin]

It's Sunday, and I was trying so hard not to be maliciously gleeful ...

Consider my post sort of an homage then.

Here's a carrot and some sugar cubes, tho. Better?