Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 14/02/2012 16:27:11

Title: Could you generate useful electricity from the flames of oil
Post by: thedoc on 14/02/2012 16:27:11

Could you generate useful electricity from the flames of oil refineries?

Asked by Android Neox, Second Life


                                        Visit the webpage for the podcast in which this question is answered. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/20120212/)

 

Title: Could you generate useful electricity from the flames of oil
Post by: thedoc on 14/02/2012 16:27:11

We answered this question on the show...



Laurie -   Possibly, but you're going to have big engineering issues.  If you put something into a flame, you might have some mechanical issues, you might burn off the electrical connections and that would defeat the purpose of putting it there.
Chris -   Is it really that much energy?  It’s big and visual but it’s probably a trivial amount in a grand scheme of things, isn't it?
Laurie -   Yes, it probably is pretty trivial.

Title: Re: Could you generate useful electricity from the flames of oil
Post by: imatfaal on 15/02/2012 12:21:02

In real terms the answer is no.  If they could generate useful electricity (which I presume means at a lower cost than generation) then they would - these guys are only in it for the cash, when they burn off the gas (and not every field will ) it is because it is the safest and cheapest way of disposing of it