Reply To: Focus fusion and transportation

[Aeronaut]

Phil’s Dad wrote:

Concerning the need to capture some of the x-rays. Watch Eric’s video. Particularly the question and answer part at the end.

The title of this thread suggests a discussion of converting the grid to DC. How about converting the grid to 3oo Hz?

I wouldn’t count on it in our lifetimes, Jimmy. The reason is the sheer number of 50 and 60hz AC motors built every day and electrical engineering documents built around those freqs. Besides, multiple outputs at those freqs may be more practical for industrial applications.

Yep, 5phase 60hz or 6phase 50hz is the way to go – but my goodness that’s one heck of a distributor cap. :bug:

A 300hz base rate would work well in most of the world, but over here we’d do better with 360hz. The reason is that a 60hz sine wave’ zero crossings (0 volts, where it begins reversing polarity) occur at 120hz.

Now, the real beauty of solid-state ignition is that we can more precisely match output to load. The more predictable the load, the less we need fill-in/filter caps. From what I’ve seen of commercial distribution caps, they’re used for wave shaping.

Personally, I don’t see DC as a distribution format. The grid’s upgrade plan is based on doubling the voltage so they can halve the current. Since power (lost, in this case) = the square of the current times the resistance (impedance here), halving the current should quarter the energy lost in long distance transmission.