lurker2718

joined 2 years ago
[–] lurker2718 1 points 3 weeks ago

You got your units confused.
1 Watt = 1 J/s = 1 N m/s = 1 kg m^2 / s^3
Just moving things horizontally changes does not take energy (except for friction). But when we move something upwards, we move it against the surface acceleration of earth of g = 9.81 m/s^2. So we can say:
1 W ≈ 0,1 kg m/s
This means to store 1 kW, we would need to raise e.g. 1 ton with 0.1 m/s. So 1 minute of medium power cooking (1 kW), corresponds to lifting 1 ton approximately 6 meters.

[–] lurker2718 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

There seems to be an error in your calculation: Up to the 11 000 000 kgm required it is correct. However the Toyota Camry with 7.3 m provides only 11 000 kgm. So you miss a factor of 1000. You would need 1000 cars lifted the height of your home. For just one day (or a few days in more efficient home)

[–] lurker2718 2 points 3 months ago

Ligo provides great science summaries for most publications, here is the one for this.

By comparing the data to these models, we found that these black holes weighed approximately 137 and 103 times the mass of the Sun, respectively. Taking all uncertainties into account, their total mass was likely between 190 and 265 solar masses, dethroning GW190521 as the most massive black hole binary observed so far.
[...]
The merger produced a black hole with a mass likely between 182 and 251 solar masses.

So it seems 137 and 103 solar masses are the best estimates for each single black hole before merger. Due to uncertainty however, their total mass is in the range of 190-265 solar masses, of which 182-251 remain after merger. The rest of mass is emitted as gravitational waves.

[–] lurker2718 2 points 3 months ago

What you describe is more like black start, providing power to the grind when it is down. This has to be controlled well, and only a few plants need to be capable of it.

Grid following means something like whatever the grid does, the inverter injects power supporting it. A grid forming generator or inverter also follows the grid somewhat, but tries to get it to an optimal condition. This entails things like voltage control by reactive power, frequency control by operating reserve, fault ride trough capability and so on. Many of those are naturally provided by large conventional power plants using synchronous generators like gas, nuclear or hydro. For inverter based systems, they have to be considered explicitly. For battery storage most are relatively easy to implement, some also in solar inverters. The tech exists, but yes, in some countries the regulations have not kept up with rapid expanse of inverter based power generation in the last years.

[–] lurker2718 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Der Artikel scheint sehr ungenau zu sein, da Spannungsregelung und Momentanreserve nicht differenziert wird. Den originalen Bericht auf spanisch habe ich noch nicht gelesen, aber laut diesem Bericht, lag es eben an Überspannung bzw Probleme bei der Blindleistung.

Momentanreserve entsteht durch Schwungmasse der Generatoren, und liefert innerhalb von Sekunden Energie. Blindleistung liefert/verbraucht Energie bei jeder schwingung der Netzfrequenz, bereits über eine Periode von 20 Millisekunden gemittelt ergibt sich 0 ausgetauschte Energie.
Der Unterschied ist wichtig wenn andere Länder und Möglichkeiten zur Vermeidung betrachtet werden. Eine Photovoltaikanlage kann nicht einfach mal einige Sekunden mehr Leistung liefern um Momentanreserve zu bilden. Aber Blindleistung ist einfach einzubauen. In Österreich und Deutschland etwa müssen alle Wechselrichter über wenigen kW Leistung, also selbst mittelgroße Heimanlagen, die Funktion haben, damit die Spannung zu stabilisieren.
Dass dies in Spanien scheinbar nicht so vorausschauend gelöst wurde, ist hier relativ gut beschrieben, mit einigen technischen Links

Edit: Ich hab mir den Bericht angeschaut und mit automatischer Übersetzung und ChatGPT versucht zu verstehen. Darin steht, dass ein Anstieg der Spannung das Problem war, eben nicht Schwungmasse, also Momentanreserve. Die Netzfrequenz ist erst abgefallen als sich Kraftwerke getrennt haben. Aber generell haben einige sachen zusammengespielt.

[–] lurker2718 60 points 4 months ago (5 children)

As always, there is a relevant xkcd for this: https://xkcd.com/2608/

Grandma says that because of differences in primate and feline lifespans, the cat is actually my 17,000,000th cousin 14,000,000 times removed.

[–] lurker2718 10 points 4 months ago (2 children)

The AI needs help to cut the loop, perhaps it needs a new set of knives?

[–] lurker2718 6 points 4 months ago

Out of interest I did some estimates and it seems that an asymmetry of three billionth of the total thermal radiation would be enough to rotate the probe once over a timescale of 10 years. So if the radioisotope generator has even just a tiny bit of a different infrared brightness on one side, it would turn voyager in a few years.

notes on calculationVoyager weight: 815 kg
Approximate Diameter: 1 m
Assume mass and thermal radiation emitted with a center distance of this diameter. Then we can calculate as it would need to move 2π 2 m. It should be enough as coarse estimate and underestimate the acceleration. Distance to move: d = 6.3 m

Assume constant acceleration due to thermal radiation
RTG power at start: 3 * 2.4 kW = 7.2kW
RTG power now: 7.2kW * 10^(48/88) = 4.9 kW
Total of thermal radiation: 4.9kW / c = 16 uN
distance moved: d = a t^2 / 2
assuming 10 years accelerated movement movement:
a = 63 mm/yr^2
F = 52 fN
3 * 10^-9 of thermal force

[–] lurker2718 11 points 5 months ago (2 children)

It needs thrusters, because there are still some small forces acting on the probe. For example, asymmetrical emission thermal radiation may rotate the probe slowly. This accelerated the Pioneer probes somewhat, see Pioneer anomaly. So without correction you can't keep the orientation for years. Every tiny force would accumulate over this timescale.

[–] lurker2718 9 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

The thing is, now we have one ~~1-2~~ 3.7 meter sized antenna on the voyager probes and a 100 meter sized antenna on earth with high transmission power. Signal decays with distance squared. To get the same signal power to the voyager probe assuming an relay in the middle, it would need an 25 meter antenna with the large transmitter/receiver currently on earth on space.

In short it's easier to build a 4 times better transmission system on earth than in an relay in space.

One point where relays are used are mars rovers. There the orbiter has an large antenna and is close to the rover, so you don't need to land the large antenna at the surface.

Edit: fixed antenna diameter

[–] lurker2718 9 points 5 months ago (5 children)

If you haven't read it already, try the new book "Project Hail Mary" also by Andy Weir. I found it even more enthralling.

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