Should we develop a method to harness splar energy that is stored during the day then released at night?

Question

Ok, as a matter of full disclosure, I've only had high school science and college Biology. My first love is Math (we'll actually my third love; first is my dear husband and second is the beautiful fruit of our love for each other). I plan to also add either Physics or Chemistry so I really don't know a lot about science at this point (Math also, I'm taking Calculus 1 over the Summer). I remember from high school science when we discussed Meteorology (weather) that energy is stored then released in the upper crust of the earth on a diurnal cycle. I noticed that on a beach sand gets very hot. Why not setup heat sinks of sand to store then process this enery into electrical energy? You can possibly do this individually to power your own electric car or home or office building. Imagine no more power bill because you are using free source of enery and cutting down on fossil fuel. So what is the feasibility?

Answer 1

You won't find the answer to this in your math classes.

Take some anthropology classes, and you'll get a better answer.

Primitive peoples (remember, primitivie does not mean stupid) used exactly the methods you are recommending to help keep their domiciles warm and cool.

Architects today are beginning to return to these simple methods to help with energy efficiency by including large earthen walls that absorb sunlight all day and gently radiate their heat at night, water filled walls that do the same thing, as well as 'sweat' during the ehat of the day to provide cooling during the day.  There is an incredible home in Colorado that has a green house in the middle of the home which houses a tropical jungle.  The owner runs his home completely through a combination of green techniques, including solar panels.

When it comes to using sunlight to power electrical items, this technology already exists, including powering the electric car.

The cost is in the setup of the equipment.  However, you can do much the same by some simple (almost primitative) techniques.

Look online for DIY (do it yourself) solar projects, such as passive water heating or solar cooking.

Answer 2

Do you mean solar energy? Yes...its feasible and i have lots of panels installed in my home that save us money all year. You can check  http://www.greenoholic.com/earth4energy.... for a Review.

Answer 3

Rock, concrete, and the beach sand you mentioned are examples of "thermal masses".  You expose them to some heat source, such as the sun during the day, they heat up, and release that heat later.  Slowly.  The ground does heat up from the sun, but slowly.  That's why the hottest part of the summer is in August, when the days are already getting shorter.  If you want to keep your house warm during the night, then a slow release of heat is perfect.  But you need to release energy quickly to create electricity.

In the desert, companies are working on solar power stations that have hundreds of mirrors focused on a pipe.  Oil is pumped through the pipe, and it heats up to several-hundred degrees.  The hot oil then transfers it's heat to water, which flash boils, creating steam which turns a generator.

Answer 4

I feel like I just read your journal.