Random Links 2011

Got a funny, interesting or unusual link you want to share? If so then post it in this thread. Please consider adding a one line description of your video or link, especially when the content isn't obvious. The folks 'round here will definitely appreciate it.

The previous Random Links thread is still around, but has been locked due to pagination issues. Afer more than 1.2 million views, it's probably time it took a rest!

 

I don't think it's new tech or anything. Looked like fractional distillation to me, abet at a small scale.

The problem is, there is no way this process is energy efficient. The electricity you need to use to heat and separate the plastics into oils is probably more than the energy value of the oil you get out of the process.

And that electricity that is used is probably created by burning coal and emitting CO2 anyway. We still need better sources of clean energy to make something like that worthwhile.

 

It doesn't use electricity? Then how does it produce the 350C needed to break down the plastics? You only really generate those kinds of temperatures with either chemical reactions, like burning something, or electricity.

Unless i'm missing something, it already exists on a larger scale. Fractional Distillation is how we get usable oil from crude and works with anything made up of hydrocarbons.

I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything. I have a genuine interest due to my engineering background. And i'm not saying it's not worthwhile either, but if it's something that runs on mains electricity then it's no more environmentally friendly than just burning all the plastic to produce electricity and scrubbing the waste fumes. Something that already happens on a large scale.

 

Nuclear power for the win. 4th Gen reactors are the way forward. Solar should be more widely used, but is expensive. Wind power is too inconsistent. Tidal and Geothermal based power are better, but can't be used everywhere.

Hybrids are still bad for the environment. Just less bad than most other cars. If you want to be environmentally friendly the solution is a bicycle LOL.

 

made me LOL so very hard