My idea for alternative energy?

Question

i have an idea of using steam to power turbine engines and give our home in america electricity.the assistance of solar panel can help speed up this process tell whatu think of my idea.

Answer 1

It's an idea.  A few experiments can help you get a handel on what is practical.

Big question is, how is your sunlight?  We got alot of clouds around here so pepole are thinking more wind is the answer for us.  

Experiments:  

How long does it take to evaporate a cup of water?

After fifteen minutes in sunlight, how different is the tempature of the water and the tempature of the air?

Try again with the water in copper pipes, and/or increasing the absorption of sunlight  by various means.

Be sure to not keep the contents under pressure.

Once you have a tempature/time diffrence you should be able to estimate how much energy is being used.

If you want to use superheated steam you should talk the idea over with some steam train buffs.

Don't be discouraged if you don't see imediatly how to use your idea to practical purpose.  Refine it.  Applications will follow function.

Answer 2

Steam turbines are used in coal plants and in nuclear plants in America already.  What America needs is a portable power source.  Start working on that one buddy and I hope you find an answer.

Answer 3

And to make the steam, you need to heat water using:

-burning natural gas

-burning coal

-burning wood

-nuclear fission

-incinerating garbage

-burning manure.

Nothing alternative about your idea, as it's already in use, unless you find a new way of heating water other than the above.

Answer 4

You're already getting your power from turbines. That's what the electric company uses.

Answer 5

i think that...

our goverment needs to take more actions to conservation of energy!

and im sure theyve considered that already. but still, nice idea.

Answer 6

What are you using to produce steam?  That would seem to decidewhether or not your idea will bear fruit.  If it is solar power to heat the water to create steam and turn the turbine then you are probably on the right track.  If you have to burn something else to produce it then probably not.

Answer 7

I think you should use the Internet and research steam power. It is already widely used everywhere from nuclear powered ships, to power grid supply, to solar systems.

It was a great idea many decades ago.

Answer 8

problem is that to make steam u need water, and water is not an abundant source like sun or wind, so we're back to square one.

Answer 9

Steam is an age old power source, the problem is what kind of resources are you using to generate that steam. In the old days they used coal, which is harmful to the environment and is yet another finite resource like oil.

I think solar energy is your best bet.

Answer 10

that's a good idea.  Use solar heat to heat up the water, and add electronical heater to further raise the temperature from the solar power.

you can even extend this by using the heat (after being used to push the turbine) to warm the basement, the hot water boiler (for shower maybe) - bottomline, that's the energy that shouldn't be wasted, extend the idea and use every bit of energy.

however, you may want to do a bit calculation or experiment for the amount of energy spend on heating water then push turbine, it could be more efficient to just use solar power.  Guess one of the parameter is like how hot your area is on average, if it's hot enough, it will require much less energy to boil the water, that means using steam could be more efficient.

PS. to answer some of the contributors:

- it use solar heat to heat up the water

- the water can be recycled, or even generate pure water, so it's not a waste

- can change water to something else to push up the boiling temperature, as long as the liquid can be recycle within the system