Forrest Gumpp

You mean that by publishing instead of patenting, I've forfeit my chance to become feelthy reech?

That'd be right :(

Sylvia.

Gonzo,

It appears as if we have been subject to a paradigm shift in topicality, rather than a thread hijack. Re-categorized. The thread has merely been displaced in the space-time continuum. I hope the transporter delivers you to this new location undisrupted. Everything looks the same, but do not be surprised if it turns out to be a different planet. Maybe the planet Halite, orbiting the star Academe, in that part of the galaxy reserved for the punishment and exile of heretics. Only time will tell. Hope you receive this message.

Sylvia,

Thank you for the URL on Osmotic Energy. I had never stumbled across it before. I have only just skimmed through it, and maybe I have missed something, but it was surprising to see no apparent recognition by the authors of the possibility of its use for desalination, as opposed to power generation. Amazing what a difference perspective can make: I guess they don't get too thirsty or dry in Sweden.

As for forfeiting the chance to become feelthy reech, try not to feel too bad about it. All may not be lost. Indeed, the apparent forfeit may be to your ultimate advantage. You must remember how, throughout history, contemporaneously such visionaries have often been rewarded. Insalt and ingratitude oft has been the prize. This device of yours (can we call it the Watt-Else Salt Powered Desalinator? go on!) is so simple and scaleable up or down, and the small net energy input so amenable to being supplied by other natural energy sources available at the same place, that it may not have to wait for the large scale mobilization of capital to be put into production. Bear too in mind that by having put the device into the public domain you have destroyed the capacity of any large corporation to suppress the technology by buying up the patent. (Seen any Sarich orbital engines around lately?) You are now consequently probably safe from assassination or kidnap, at least from that quarter.

There are other implications of the device, but they'll await another post.

Sylvia,

You made an interesting observation in your third post on this topic about there being a need to dig up and transport salt from salt lakes and transport it to the coast in order to obtain the more highly concentrated brine necessary for the device. Why would you not go the other way, and pump the seawater to the salt lake?

The geography of South Australia lends itself to this approach. The large salt lakes, like Lakes Gairdner and Eyre constitute an enormous salt resource. The route of a seawater pipeline or aqueduct to them does not have to cross country that rises very far above sea level. Pumping would not appear to be inordinately difficult or demanding of a lot of energy. (Indeed it may be able to be achieved through wave power at the seaward end of the line.) Any eventual surplus of sea water and more concentrated brines could be disposed of by evaporation in an area already covered by salt. The land for this is plentiful and flat. There exists enormous scope for scaling up such an operation, and possibly associated solar pondage for power generation, in these sun blarsted barren wastes.

The desalted water would be piped to where it was required, presumably primarily the area around Adelaide and the nearby wine growing areas.

This approach would also overcome that enormous eco-legal roadblock that would doubtless be thrown up by the Greens, objection on the grounds of putting yet more salt into the sea. You would be taking salt and water together FROM the sea!

Sylvia,

Regret to report potentially enormous problems with respect to applicability of the Watt-Else Salt Powered Desalinator in the context of the Med-Dead Power/Water Scheme in Israel and Jordan.

Reports to hand indicate difficulty in the two states reaching agreement on the share of any net electricity surplus arising from the hydroelectric part of this scheme. The Israeli position is thought to be that since the declivity down which the seawater will fall to generate the power is all in Israel, so too should Israel be entitled to all electricity generated. It is difficult to resist this logic. The Jordanian view, on the other hand, is that the whole scheme is in a bit of a hole without their agreement. All of this, strictly speaking, has nothing directly to do with the desalinating device, except that it is because of the desalinator that the hydroelectric aspect of the scheme is viable. It gets worse.

It seems there is a much larger problem, an essentially theological one, anticipated. It is expected that the fact that this revolutionary salt powered desalinator was invented by a female nudist infidel Australian JUST FOR FUN will pose (no pun intended) a problem for some Islamic clerics. It is considered that such clerics will ensure that a problem is created for the Jordanian government with respect to its being able to use such morally tainted water from an infidel invention. From the Israeli point of view this could well be viewed as a positive development, in that Israel could agree to take all of the morally tainted water produced, as well as all the power. The question is, would the Israelis be smart enough to do this?

There is thus a basis for conflict. Perhaps you could pour water upon troubled oils by agreeing to submit to divine judgement; walking the length of the Arabah covered from head to toe in a burkhar as penance, to stand, at the end, where Lot's wife stood, look back, and see if you get turned into a pillar of salt!

Hi Forest, Gonzo & Sylvia,

Yes Solar ponds are an ideal form of renewable energy for Australia and fit in well with our situation (saline aquifers, lakes, cheap land etc). They have been overlooked in our national strategy (if there is one lol).

Our group www.gsen.org is working from a community approach (city country community partnerships) toward getting a large demonstration solar pond system up and going on saline water from the SA murray salt interception scheme. We are working with land holders to enhance their operations as well as solar desalinating our own water. We will be using both the raw heat for various projects as well as generating electricity with a rankine cycle engine

If you are interested in knowing more about the community approach and the solar ponds please email the address in 'contact us' on the website (web presence is still in early form - more effort being placed on the actual community network).

Thanks for the great discussion and look forward to hearing from you if you are interested - Rob Paterson

Sylvia / Forrest:

Have been speaking to a few scientists at CSIRO about the viability of the "Sylvia Salinator" and they, whilst not overly excited, have pointed me toward the UNSW membrane research facility.

I am involved in a number of Industry steering groups and have a few contacts around the place and would like to advance this thing to a trial stage. the concept of 'perpetual flow' seems to have merit and, my idea, would be to have a number of these 'chugging' along producing small amounts of purer water - provided the capital investment does not become prohibitive.

Sylvia - I have/will not forget the fact that this is your baby and will run progress by you if/when it occurs for your comment and approval. Early days yet but we need to keep the acorn in mind.

Gonzo