Killer Lake Science Channel Missed Opportunity for Free Electricity
This program was on:
Killer Lakes
TV-PG, CC
When Mount Nyiragongo erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2002 molten lava plunged down the hillside and poured into nearby Lake Kivu. Had the eruption spread to the volcanic faults under the lake it could have unleashed lake overturn.
It was not the first time I had seen this particular show, but it is very interesting non the less.
So what does this have to do with a missed opportunity for free electricity?
Well there are 2 lakes that were studied in the program (forgive me if I missed something here it was late mind you). Lake Nyos and Lake Kivu.
If memory serves correctly Lake Kivu has pockets of CO2 and Methane that is being used by a near by brewery for free electricity and heat. This is fantastic to try and mitigate the dangers of the lake exploding. Unfortunately they are not pulling enough gas from the lake to mitigate the danger, but there are plans in works apparently to supply a nearby city with energy from the dangerous gasses.
Then second Lake Nyos, here is where they are missing a full opportunity to capture free energy from a bad situation. Scientist in there attempt to release the CO2 from the bottom of the lake installed (for lack of a better explanation) a straw down in to the lake. This has created a natural geyser that shoots up to almost over 100 feet up in the air.
The force of the water and CO2 gas is not captured in any way in fact it looks like a water fountain in the middle of the lake.
Hey what a great place for a modified turbine??
The force could be captured, reclaimed, and turned in to free energy.
What do you think?? Is this just a pie in the sky notion? Or really should we be looking for things like this to reclaim some of the earths natural resources and make a bad situation in to something good?
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