M.A.R.S. Turbine Gets Power from the Jetstream

Neat idea, sans the usual "dumbed-down-for-the-rest-of-us" SciFi.com hype. The Jetstream is just a wee bit higher than 1000 feet. More like 15 to 25 km (10 to 15 miles) altitude and 400 kph (250 mph) windspeeds that would shred this thing like so much high-tech confetti.

Other than that, I want one.

Hmmmm, Tapping the jet stream for electrical power. Seems I've seen this before and the major constraints (at that time) were the weight of the electrically conductive tether, the weight of an efficient generator and control system (because helium gas envelopes need lots of volume to lift the weight) , and the obvious air traffic hazard of the tether. However one could eliminate the conductive tether and use something made from a few strands of carbon fiber if the energy could be microwaved to a ground station. Perhaps instead of using a shredable (kudos to Europium) gas bag, an electrically powered aircraft (similar to the NASA electrically powered Paul Mcready design)could be tethered on station. The aircraft would use power to climb to altitude and change position to stay centered in the jet stream, otherwise it would be tethered converting it's propeller driven motors into generators. No doubt this thesis is similar to many other proposals and it propably won't work either LOL.

How much lift could be achieved using a membrane sealed, aerogel construct that has been thoroughly evacuated of its interstitial gases in a high-efficiency vacuum?

I understand that a superlight aerogel solid (up to 99.5% air by volume) that has had its air vacuumed out will float in air until it has had a chance to resorb ambient gases. Given the nanoscale distribution of such an aerogel's solid bits, I'd think that a very thin, nanoscale membrane would be sufficient for sealing it. Is there enough lift potential here?

If so, and if the materials were sufficiently sturdy, lighter-than-air aerogel materials might substitute for many of the heavier-than-air elements of current designs. For example, lighter-than-air wings might better provide lift. Aerogel materials could, perhaps, also be used for the turbine housings, etc. The more such materials could substitute for heavier-than-air materials, the better they could offset the weight of larger turbines, tethers, etc.

I understand that aerogel materials are still expensive to produce so, perhaps, even if there may be some potential for such use, the cost is currently prohibitive. However, if the costs were to come down for such materials, what other uses might there be for lighter-than-air materials with potential for use in structural capacities? How about their use in reducing the weight of conventional aircraft? Personal aircraft? Automobiles? Marine vessels? Buildings? On a practical note, large volumes of such materials might present some unique shipping issues.

1. First of all this generator operates at around 1000 feet , not 30,000 feet in the jet stream so the weight of a tether is not a problem.

2. This is not based on a thesis but was designed in Canada and produced in Ottawa, Ontario and has Distributors in North America.

Best you do a bit of research before you make silly comments .

Laserlover

Everything of any significance whatsoever was invented in Canada.

M.A.R.S. (Magenn Power Air Rotor System) is so smart.

Let us hope it will (partly)solve Humanity's never-eding search for easily gatherable/useable energy availability.

But --- let us pose a few ifs and buts on the way:

• How will Air traffic/War situations affect the serene Energy exploitation?
• How Lightning Stikes will paralyze?
• How Lower Storms will reflect up there -and cause stampedes /wild-goose- chases?
• Going to Newton's 3rd law --what effect will these tethered M.A.R.S farms have on world weather(blocked El-Nino -type prevailing air-currents)

Doubting Thomas!