Comments on: …and now for some really awesome news!… https://www.habitablezone.com/2013/04/15/and-now-for-some-really-awesome-news/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bowser https://www.habitablezone.com/2013/04/15/and-now-for-some-really-awesome-news/#comment-23208 bowser Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:01:41 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=31043#comment-23208 Unless they can make and apply the membrane for next to nothing and keep it moving, it will simply clog. Unless they can make and apply the membrane for next to nothing and keep it moving, it will simply clog.

]]> By: TB https://www.habitablezone.com/2013/04/15/and-now-for-some-really-awesome-news/#comment-23202 TB Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:59:10 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=31043#comment-23202 About 40 percent of the world's population lives within 100 km of a coastline. About 1 in 10 people live on coastlines near sea level (a number gotten from papers on rising seas). This technology would make an enormous difference. About 40 percent of the world’s population lives within 100 km of a coastline.

About 1 in 10 people live on coastlines near sea level (a number gotten from papers on rising seas).

This technology would make an enormous difference.

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2013/04/15/and-now-for-some-really-awesome-news/#comment-23201 ER Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:46:37 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=31043#comment-23201 Even if it were possible to convert seawater to fresh for free, with no downside to the environment or other collateral damage, there would still be problems. It will take energy to pump that water from sea level up to the farms and cities where it is needed. Potential energy U due to the effects of a gravity well of depth h near the earth's surface is delta U = M g delta h where U is in joules, M in kg, the gravitational constant g is 9.8 m/s**2 and h is in m a perfectly efficient pump capable of lifting a kg of water 1 meter every second would consume 9.8 Watts. So, approximating in English units, if your farm or city is 300 feet above see level and it requires a thousand cubic yards of water per second, it will need a power source capable of generating about a Megawatt. That's not unreasonable, we routinely pump water from deep wells all the time. But it is not free. Even if it were possible to convert seawater to fresh for free, with no downside to the environment or other collateral damage, there would still be problems. It will take energy to pump that water from sea level up to the farms and cities where it is needed.

Potential energy U due to the effects of a gravity well of depth h near the earth’s surface is

delta U = M g delta h

where U is in joules, M in kg, the gravitational constant g is 9.8 m/s**2 and h is in m

a perfectly efficient pump capable of lifting a kg of water 1 meter every second would consume 9.8 Watts.

So, approximating in English units, if your farm or city is 300 feet above see level and it requires a thousand cubic yards of water per second, it will need a power source capable of generating about a Megawatt.

That’s not unreasonable, we routinely pump water from deep wells all the time. But it is not free.

]]> By: FrankC https://www.habitablezone.com/2013/04/15/and-now-for-some-really-awesome-news/#comment-23198 FrankC Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:45:44 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=31043#comment-23198 Good news, I hope it is as real as it sounds Good news, I hope it is as real as it sounds

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