Tornado Power - A Future Energy Source?

By: Lisa Zyga

Background

• Tornadoes– Violent, rotating column of air that extends from a

thunderstorm to the ground level

• Atmospheric Vortex Engine (AVE)– Generates artificial tornadoes by mixing hot air with cold

air

– Hot air comes from nearby coal plants, sun or other ambient heat source

Background

• A potential energy source in the future

• Potentially world changing technology

– Ability to generate nearly 700 watts of electricity to power a city of

500,000 people

• Takes the concept of green technology to a whole new level

Interesting Points and Observations• Possibility of harnessing and utilizing such a dangerous and

highly unstable natural force

• Supposedly cheaper electricity can be produced– Cost of electrical energy produced predicted to be just half other

alternative energy system

• Nothing is wasted in the process– Cost of cooling wasted steam - $20 million / cooling tower

Key Takeaways

• Potential energy sources are always available in the environment around us

• Human innovation has no bounds

• Technology can become so advanced to control even the most devastating natural phenomenon

Personal Assessment and Rating

• 7.5/10

• +ve: Very in-depth explanation on this new technology

• -ve: Does not offer many criticisms of the innovation

Issues for Discussion

• Do you think it is safe for us to toy around with potentially fatal natural phenomena?

• Should we abandon older sources of energy for this new sources of energy?