Comments on John Adam's articles RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/author/john-adam/articles http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-338437 338437 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:30:30 -0500
Wrong.

If more mechanical energy is applied to an electrical generator than is being withdrawn as electricity, it will speed up. And the frequency of your voltage will speed up...a very bad thing it that were to occur. But this does not happen because generation is automatically controlled by the existing utility computer control systems. The frequency of the AC outlet in your home is well regulated -- your synchronous motor driven clocks rely on it! As the total system load varies, so does the power input to the electrical generators. It is easy to throttle hydro-electric systems. Nukes, not so much.

Yes, we need to generate electricity from the cheapest sources, and that can -- and is being done. An I assure you, as an electrical engineer, very little energy is wasted.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol?source=feed#comment-324198 324198 Very simply, there are three major types of sorghum that can be used > in ethanol production. > > 1. Grain sorghum (aka milo) - grown in the center “belt” of the nation > and currently used interchangeably with corn for starch based ethanol > production. > > 2. Sweet sorghum - grown in the warmer Southern regions of the U.S. > Sweet sorghum is being used for ethanol production in India but the > market scale production of sweet sorghum ethanol in the U.S. is not > yet reality because of logistics issues. Oklahoma State University > is researching harvest and in-field distillation equipment. > > 3. Cellulosic or energy sorghum - used in ethanol production schemes > for its high biomass. These plants can be 10 or more feet tall and > can be grown all over the U.S. > > For more information, visit the National Sorghum Producers website > at http://sorghumgrowers.com.]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:22:14 -0500
In Kentucky they produced over 1 million gallons of sorghum molasses in 1899. They used 1899 varieties that produced more juice than grain and harvested it with horse power and the implements they had then. They processed it like they process sugar cane now in Brazil, but with ancient equipment. When I was growing up I did listen to what my elders had to say even if some of them were old farmers.

I could mention another plant that George Washington grew and produced numerous products like sorghum, but you people would go crazy. That plant is another potential huge source for cellulose to sugar for butanol, ethanol, etc. It was also used for sails of ships and rope and also for its edible seeds. New varieties of this plant are grown all over the Earth, but not in the USA.

History is important. If you know how to feed questions to a search engine you can find answers on the WWW.



On Nov 17 10:28 AM National Sorghum Producers wrote:

> Very simply, there are three major types of sorghum that can be used
> in ethanol production.
>
> 1. Grain sorghum (aka milo) - grown in the center “belt” of the nation
> and currently used interchangeably with corn for starch based ethanol
> production.
>
> 2. Sweet sorghum - grown in the warmer Southern regions of the U.S.
> Sweet sorghum is being used for ethanol production in India but the
> market scale production of sweet sorghum ethanol in the U.S. is not
> yet reality because of logistics issues. Oklahoma State University
> is researching harvest and in-field distillation equipment.
>
> 3. Cellulosic or energy sorghum - used in ethanol production schemes
> for its high biomass. These plants can be 10 or more feet tall and
> can be grown all over the U.S.
>
> For more information, visit the National Sorghum Producers website
> at sorghumgrowers.com.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-314586 314586 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:14:45 -0500
It would be nice if a human dispatcher could "instantaneously" do what you imply he can. If that were actually possible "off peak" rates would not exist or make sense! What I described is computer process control of electric power transmission, distribution and use system by adjusting the number of electric vehicle batteries being charged. The dispatcher does not have a clue as to how much electric power customers are currently considering using to dry clothes or charge batteries. Computers at millions of homes could make requests over a smart grid and computers controlling the grids could schedule them and authorize them to manage the grid at a micro level that your human dispatcher obviously could not.

The dispatcher could reduce the amount of electricity being generated but this takes time. However the burning coal producing heat can not be put out nearly as rapidly. Even if you could extinguish the burning coal you would waste energy extinguishing and reigniting it over and over again. It would be nice if your dispatcher had such god like power, but unfortunately massive hot processes are not easily controlled.

Computer process control for smaller processes does work in most of the things we do already. Humans can be a good fail safe control but otherwise computers are clearly superior. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-314023 314023 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:43:39 -0500
It would be nice is a human dispatcher could "instantaneously" do what you imply he can. If that were actually possible "off peak" rates would not exist or make sense! What I described is computer process control of electric power transmission, distribution and use system by adjusting the number of electric vehicle batteries being charged. The dispatcher does not have a clue as to how much electric power customers are currently considering using to dry clothes or charge batteries. Computers at millions of homes could make requests over a smart grid and computers controlling the grids could schedule them and authorize them to manage the grid at a micro level that your human dispatcher obviously could not.

The dispatcher could reduce the amount of electricity being generated but this takes time. However the burning coal producing heat can not be put out nearly as rapidly. Even if you could extinguish the burning coal you would waste energy extinguishing and reigniting it over and over again. It would be nice if your dispatcher had such god like power, but unfortunately massive hot processes are not easily controlled.

Computer process control for smaller processes does work in most of the things we do already. Humans can be a good fail safe control but otherwise computers are clearly superior. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-312520 312520 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:20:22 -0500
You are almost suggesting stripping hydrogen from methane to then burn the hydrogen - when when should just burn the methane at no additional enegy input or cost - unless the application justifies the additional cost (such as needing hydrogen for it's specific impulse in a nuclear propulsion system in outer space).]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-312510 312510 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:09:44 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311751 311751 jonebury - making and storing Hydrogen to then burn it is a waste > of energy and money.]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:07:05 -0500
What proportion of electrical energy should be produced from these sources depends on the engineering and economic factors beyond the scope of my ability to discuss (and I am serious student of economics with a Ph.D in Physical Chemistry). If there have been comments from true experts in this area on Seeking Alpha, I have not read any of them.

By the way, the economics of using hydrogen (or any other chemical storage system for energy) depends (among other factors) on the cost of the energy needed to create hydrogen from the raw material (water). If the energy is surplus and would otherwise be wasted (rather than stored) the cost of the energy is essentially zero. Of course, there are other factors, such as storage (which you mentioned), distribution outlet facilities and transportation which are part of the economic equation.

Finally, technically, hydrogen is not burned in the sense of combustion, unless you are thinking of the Hindenburg. The use proposed for hydrogen as an energy source is to use the electricity produced when it reacts with oxygen under controlled conditions to reproduce the original water. The system proposed for this is called a fuel cell. Fuel cells are similar to batteries except that they are "open systems" that keep running as long as the "fuel" is supplied. Batteries are closed systems that do not introduce additional material after they are made. To be used for energy storage, the battery must be "rechargable".

I apologize for sounding like a professor, but maybe these comments will be of use to someone.


On Nov 20 01:47 PM nakedjaybird wrote:

> jonebury - making and storing Hydrogen to then burn it is a waste
> of energy and money.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311748 311748 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:05:23 -0500
The author misses the intent of peak shaving which I assume is the crux of the project discussed. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311029 311029 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:04:05 -0500
Don't puke, now: just listen up.

Let's have Uncle directly take 1% of the 2%(+) of total assets that all financial management firms take from us as management fees and apply it to the Nations' debt. It's really our money, first. The firms take the 2% whether they make of lose money. It's a win-win. Pays the debt AND CUTS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (a form of "legal" white collar theft).

It is a myth you know, that we have to pay lots to get the best managment. The proof is overwhelming.

And what's best, we Joe Blow's won't feel the pain.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311023 311023 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:02:00 -0500 www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin...
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311019 311019 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:57:15 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311017 311017 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:55:11 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311013 311013 jack]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:52:44 -0500
well if you go to florida you will see that the executives get reserved spaces with a roof over each. this helps make your paint & vinyl upholstery last longer. the plebians get to sit out in the direct sun. just put solar panels on the roofs that already exist. better yet give everybody a solar roof.
> jack]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-311010 311010 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:47:39 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310975 310975 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:12:06 -0500
This entire aspect of our energy future is in such lack of focus right now. Some comprehensive engineering and economic analysis is needed to get a foundation for planning. As things stand, we are all just grasping at straws. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310931 310931 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:18:47 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310923 310923 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:16:18 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310920 310920 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:13:43 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310898 310898 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:01:33 -0500
Furthermore, the margin reserve and spinning reserves in the USA are on average around the 15% mark, further showing that even if every single car were to plug in at the same time during PEAK load periods, we would not suffer any such black out. It is very annoying when people such as yourself try make a point but fail to do the necessary research. You are not doing anyone any justice, unless you by any chance work for the oil industry, then it all makes sense why you would be trying to mis-inform the general population with your unjustified claims.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310878 310878 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:49:26 -0500
Charging plug-in hybrids during off-peak will be big, not only at night when demand drops, but during the late morning when solar is near peak but air conditioning is not going full speed. Employers could build solar farms in their parking lots that employees could use to re-charge their cars. The rate could be adjusted during the day so employees would charge at the best time. Excess electricity would be used for office AC and to sell back to the grid.

All of this would be electronically monitored to get the most out of the solar output. For example, if it is a cloudy and hot day, then the rates to charge cars would be high all day. Cars that don’t need an extra to get back home could skip charging that day.

I like your comment on diesel electric drive systems for large trucks. We don’t need to think in terms of eliminating oil use in the next 2 decades. We need to think about drastic reductions like this one. If diesel electric drive systems for large trucks sounds like something “lame”, note that railroad locomotives have been diesel electric for decades.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310873 310873 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:46:21 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310687 310687 jack]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:51:08 -0500
not so.

fossil-fueled installations are built with load-following capability. if the dispatcher wants more juice in his lines, he can ramp up output from one or more of his units according to 'lowest-cost dispatch' or least-emissions dispatch' principles.

nukes don't like to be cycled this way, they last longer if base-loaded. that's why we have pumped storage as a load-leveling device.
> jack]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-310537 310537 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:00:59 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106821-a-smart-electricity-solution-for-transportation?source=feed#comment-309912 309912 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:33:10 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol?source=feed#comment-307874 307874 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:28:27 -0500
1. Grain sorghum (aka milo) - grown in the center “belt” of the nation and currently used interchangeably with corn for starch based ethanol production.

2. Sweet sorghum - grown in the warmer Southern regions of the U.S. Sweet sorghum is being used for ethanol production in India but the market scale production of sweet sorghum ethanol in the U.S. is not yet reality because of logistics issues. Oklahoma State University is researching harvest and in-field distillation equipment.

3. Cellulosic or energy sorghum - used in ethanol production schemes for its high biomass. These plants can be 10 or more feet tall and can be grown all over the U.S.

For more information, visit the National Sorghum Producers website at sorghumgrowers.com.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol?source=feed#comment-306410 306410 John, please define the term 'Sweet Sorghum'. Is this the tall (6ft.) > 'cane' I saw being grown for cattle feed in Kansas when I grew up > in the 1940-50's? Or is this the shorter version, 'Milo', grown > all over the western Midwest for grain? The terminology is causing > some confusion in my mind. Many thanks! > > I worked in the feed industry for several decades, and if I don't > understand the terminology, there must be many others in the same > category.]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:43:38 -0500
I have been working on Sweet Sorghum to ethanol projects for the past 4 years. Currently, India has the only Sweet Sorghum to Ethanol facilities in the world. It produces 50klpd and went online 3 months ago (this is hardly a commercial quantity)

While a number of business plans exists to produce ethanol utilizing Sweet Sorghum here in the US, most of them have no operational experience in handling Sweet Sorghum as a feedstock.


On Nov 13 07:56 AM redbaron wrote:

> John, please define the term 'Sweet Sorghum'. Is this the tall (6ft.)
> 'cane' I saw being grown for cattle feed in Kansas when I grew up
> in the 1940-50's? Or is this the shorter version, 'Milo', grown
> all over the western Midwest for grain? The terminology is causing
> some confusion in my mind. Many thanks!
>
> I worked in the feed industry for several decades, and if I don't
> understand the terminology, there must be many others in the same
> category.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol?source=feed#comment-305487 305487 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:59:40 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol?source=feed#comment-305232 305232 Redbaron I believe that the following link is where author got most of info on "sweet" sorghum. Milo is a short, seed variety popular in central and southern US grown mainly for the feed you are already familiar with. http://www.agribusinessweek.com/sweet-sorghum-a-new-smart-biofuel-crop/ Rikiki ]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:08:11 -0500 Redbaron

I believe that the following link is where author got most of info on "sweet" sorghum. Milo is a short, seed variety popular in central and southern US grown mainly for the feed you are already familiar with.

www.agribusinessweek.c.../

Rikiki

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol?source=feed#comment-305142 305142 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:59:31 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/105779-the-future-of-ethanol?source=feed#comment-305012 305012 John, if sweet sorghum is such a great idea, then why are 99% of > the existing ethanol plants based on corn? Surely a company like > ADM or VSE would have not been dumb enough to have overlooked the > biofuel equivalent of money lying on the table.]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:43:15 -0500 look at how even Obama is in the tank for corn ethanol...dismissing the idea of doing away with the 54 cent tariff on cane ethanol...


On Nov 13 08:54 AM Subsidy Eye wrote:

> John, if sweet sorghum is such a great idea, then why are 99% of
> the existing ethanol plants based on corn? Surely a company like
> ADM or VSE would have not been dumb enough to have overlooked the
> biofuel equivalent of money lying on the table.]]>