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Guru

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 44.56024"N 15.307971E
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How Birds Fly Over the Himalayas

02/03/2025 7:33 AM

Birds have a unique respiratory system, much more efficient than mammals.

Similar to a 2stroke engine vs a 4 stroke engine.

Amazing!

Check this out:

https://birdfact.com/anatomy-and-physiology/respiratory-system

Perhaps one day genetic modification can enable human likewise. Imagine flying long distances under your own power! The drawback of course, is you would have to consume calories like a bird.

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#1

Re: How birds fly over the Himalayas

02/03/2025 7:38 AM
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Guru

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: About 4000 miles from the center of the earth (+/-100 mi)
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#2

Re: How Birds Fly Over the Himalayas

02/03/2025 9:21 PM

Thanks, that's fascinating. Here is a video that shows how it works. Since the air flows one way through the lungs and blood flows the opposite way so there is always a gradient in oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration.

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Guru

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: About 4000 miles from the center of the earth (+/-100 mi)
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: How Birds Fly Over the Himalayas

02/05/2025 11:51 AM

The same principle is employed in a counterflow heat exchanger. Heat diffuses from a hot fluid to a cold fluid flowing in the opposite direction, just as O2 and CO2 diffuse in and out of the bloodstream in the bird's lungs.

A counterflow heat exchanger can allow airflow into and out of a building without the loss of heat or air conditioning.

Wading birds use counterflow exchange to avoid losing heat from their bodies to the cold water.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-do-gulls-deal-with-cold-feet/

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Guru

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 44.56024"N 15.307971E
Posts: 7806
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: How Birds Fly Over the Himalayas

02/05/2025 12:45 PM

I installed a double pass counter flow heat exchanger with a reversing valve and a waste dump cycle between cycle reversal. This kept the tubes cleaner for a longer period of time.

It was a rather small unit (400 GPM)@160F that utilized the cooling water from the compressors and waste water from a dying range. There was a supplemental steam source to keep the exit water at 160F and it was sent to a 75000 gallon storage tank and from there to the boiler room as needed.

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"A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child." "Never argue with a stupid person.They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience" "Homo homini lupus"
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Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
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#5

Re: How Birds Fly Over the Himalayas

02/05/2025 9:01 PM

One wing at a time....

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