GE proposes to use artificial sink to generate 500 MW of power inSouthern AZ

here's a follow up article with frequently asked questions answered (like how can moist air make for a downdraft)

On Monday, October 28, 2013 2:24:27 PM UTC-7, son_of_flubber wrote:
http://www.industrytap.com/massive-e...tric-grid/3811



2250 foot high evaporative cooling towers to be used to generate power.

here's a follow up article with frequently asked questions answered (like How can humid air create a downdraft? )
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidfer...ions-answered/

Why build an expensive rigid structure? A central mast like a radio tower could be built tall enough for a tiny cost fraction. Reinforced canvass sides to form an octagonal "cooling tower" could be supported from the mast, and even lowered in the event of strong winds. No, I have not worked out the dynamics of this system - not even sure if it could work, especially if the air pressure inside the tower is lower than the surrounding air pressure from Bernoulli effects.

This still leaves the several previously mentioned issues, plus a few more, like
1) Where to get water (assume that it is untreated and full of minerals)
2) Mineral deposits all over the generator equipment
3) Pumping energy losses - to get all that water 2200 feet up in the air
4) Power transmission lines to a remote area

I have to look at it from a conservation-of-energy standpoint. Where is the energy that is converted to electricity coming from?
The only answer I see is from the heat of the ambient air that transfers to the water droplets to evaporate the water, thus cooling the air, making it more dense. etc.
I'd be amazed if that is more energy than it takes to pump if up 2200 feet,(much less desalinate and pump from 50 miles away)!
Also, when the air passes through those turbines at the bottom, that's going extract energy from the air, and probably re-condense a lot of that water.. Are they going to collect and pump that water back to the top? The more they can, the less water they have to desalinate and pump from the ocean.

On Monday, October 28, 2013 2:24:27 PM UTC-7, son_of_flubber wrote:
http://www.industrytap.com/massive-e...tric-grid/3811



2250 foot high evaporative cooling towers to be used to generate power.

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