Editing Appropedia talk:AT CAD Team/Solar updraft tower

== Reducing initial construction costs ==

A solar updraft tower has been proven with some experimental versions in Spain, however I feel that the cost to construct the whole chimney is too high to be feasible.

Why wouldn't it be better to construct on a hillside facing a plain or valley in the south. With pipes being able to lay on the surface layer of the hill, at any angle, it would be cheaper and simpler task to build, with less amount of materials. a turbine could be made with sturdy framework attached to the mountainside. Would probably increase longevity, possibility to repair/upgrade/remove (once someone else buys up the property rights to develop something)

what do you think?

It could even become possible to drill/dig holes just below the surface for tubes that "suck" down the air as it passed the turbine, down inside insulated layers, to reach the cold rock of the bottom of the valley, to be then reheated on ground level from the sun.

would this be feasible? would it improve efficiency with a closed or semi-closed loop?
granted that a updraft tower works thanks to difference in pressure, temperature and speed of flowing air on different altitudes.

possibility to harvest moisture out of the air within this concept? to make it more valuable to construct by being able to taking out more valuable assets from the process?

i would appreciate a discussion around these angles on the updraft-technology --[[User:Yeahvle|Yeahvle]] 06:36, 28 June 2011 (PDT)

::What i just discovered at a further analysis, is that it exists theoretical plans to build downdraft towers (standalone chimney model) by spraying water mist around the top edge of the chimneys rim, to make the air become chilled and fall down the inside of the tower. But I cannot see anyone suggesting to connect these two methods in a closed or open loop. And leaning it down at approx 45° angle on a hillside. What I actually really are talking about is like a huge sterling engine? Would you agree or disagree with the feasability? 
:: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_tower   --[[User:Yeahvle|Yeahvle]] 07:52, 28 June 2011 (PDT)

:::Interesting ideas! I'd love to hear from people who have some expertise with the practical side and/or the physics. --[[User:Chriswaterguy|Chriswaterguy]] 23:19, 8 August 2011 (PDT)


:::::Yes, me too. It would be especially fun to get these ideas to some people that are involved in the Enviromission Updraft towers in Spain and Australia.
:::::And I am discussing with a friend about the potential of RepRap-robots constructing a standalone chimney by "rolling along" on top of the previous layered wall. To create much lower cost of construction of these chimneys. --[[User:Yeahvle|Yeahvle]] 00:43, 9 August 2011 (PDT)