• 3 Posts
  • 330 Comments
Joined 9 months ago
cake
Cake day: February 22nd, 2024

help-circle






  • IIRC there was a real world test of this idea some time ago and the results weren’t great. But imagine you do this in a tunnel- that will help improve the results and answer your question.

    If you’ve ever been in a subway you’ve probably noticed the train pushes a wall of air ahead of itself. This is the energy you would need to capture. But by “capturing” it, you would inherently increase resistance on the airflow, and therefore the vehicle.

    The reason you can’t imagine this being an issue in a typical roadside is the same reason the effect yields poor results. There is little in the way of channeling the air across the turbines, which also means there is little resistance on the passing vehicles. Of course the air in the atmosphere, pushing against the air your car moves ahead of itself, is the classic example of this overall effect.




  • I had to know, so I asked the AI why someone would plead guilty:

    Pleading guilty when charged with a serious crime can have several potential benefits, though it often depends on the specific circumstances of the case and the legal strategy. Here are some of the main benefits:

    1. Reduced Sentencing: In many cases, pleading guilty can lead to a reduced sentence. This might be the result of a plea bargain where the prosecution agrees to recommend a lighter sentence or drop some charges in exchange for the guilty plea.

    2. Avoiding a Lengthy Trial: Trials, especially for serious crimes, can be lengthy, expensive, and emotionally draining. By pleading guilty, the defendant can avoid the uncertainty of a trial and possibly a harsher outcome if convicted.

    3. Mitigation of Consequences: A guilty plea might be seen by the judge as a sign of remorse or acceptance of responsibility, which could result in more lenient sentencing. The court may take into account that the defendant is saving resources and the emotional toll on victims by not going to trial.

    4. Potential for Probation or Alternative Sentencing: Depending on the crime and jurisdiction, a guilty plea may open the door to probation, community service, or other alternatives to incarceration that might not be available if the defendant is convicted at trial.

    5. Certainty of Outcome: Pleading guilty provides the defendant with a certain outcome. Trials can be unpredictable, and even strong cases can have unexpected results. By pleading guilty, the defendant knows what the sentence will be (or at least the likely range if not part of a plea deal).

    6. Preservation of Relationships: A guilty plea can sometimes preserve relationships by avoiding a public trial where more damaging evidence and details could come to light, which might strain relationships with family, friends, or business associates.

    7. Potential Impact on Co-Defendants: In cases with multiple defendants, a guilty plea might benefit others involved, such as receiving lighter sentences or having charges against them dropped as part of a broader plea agreement.

    8. Expedited Process: The criminal justice process can be slow, and a trial can drag on for months or even years. A guilty plea can expedite the process, leading to quicker resolution and allowing the defendant to begin serving their sentence and eventually move on with their life.

    However, it’s important to note that pleading guilty is a significant decision and should be made after careful consideration and consultation with a legal professional, as it involves waiving the right to a trial and the possibility of being found not guilty.







  • A novel variation on compressed air energy storage that should directly help replace a coal power plant by:

    converting carbon dioxide gas into a compressed liquid form and then converting that liquid back into a gas, powering a turbine to generate electricity, according to the Department of Energy. The gas will be stored in what officials call an “energy dome.”

    From a linked article discussing the proof of concept installation:

    The company says its technology has an energy storage density 10-20 times higher than other compressed air energy storage (CAES) solutions and two-thirds that of liquid air energy storage (LAES). However, Energy Dome points out that its solution does not require the cryogenic temperatures of LAES which can increase system complexity and competitiveness, it claims.

    The DoE adds:

    Through the use of compressed CO2, the system aims to improve efficiency compared to similar systems, as it produces less heat during the compression cycle and can be stored as a liquid. Energy Dome’s modular system also offers flexibility that can support a more resilient power grid.

    Compressed air energy storage currently tops out with round trip efficiencies of 67-71% in complex setups.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202723002045# Search: “Compared to other adiabatic systems”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed-air_energy_storage#