Lake Kivu gas: Turning an explosion risk into a power source

[Tank]

Lake Kivu gas: Turning an explosion risk into a power source

Deep at the bottom of the lake, about 1,000 feet (300m) down, Kivu's water is heavy with dissolved gas. The lake contains an estimated 256 cubic kilometres of carbon dioxide (CO2) and 65 cubic kilometres of methane.

"It's a highly volcanic area and much of the CO2 enters the lake from the volcanic rock beneath it," says Professor Brian Moss from the University of Liverpool.

Bacteria in the lake then convert some of the CO2 into methane...

[Buddy]

Hey, if we can get methane from cows, why no lakes as well?

[Ecurb Noselrub]

Maybe they should attach a similar system to the rear ends of cows.  For that matter, humans - we could each be our own power source, especially after a dinner of pinto beans.

[Crow]

Maybe they should attach a similar system to the rear ends of cows.  For that matter, humans - we could each be our own power source, especially after a dinner of pinto beans.

"Fuck green go brown"

[Tank]

When I was 15 (1975) I went on a school trip to the largest sewage farm in the UK on the south side of London. It was a net generator of electricity. They skimmed off the solids and mashed them up into huge 'digesters' and used the methane produced to power massive engines to drive electric generators.

[Crow]

I bet that smelt lovely.

[Tank]

I bet that smelt lovely.

It wasn't too bad at all. They had perfume dispencers across the site.

[Dobermonster]

I think this is a similar system to what they use in landfills. All those gases from decomposition have to go somewhere, might as well use them to our advantage.

[Tank]

I think this is a similar system to what they use in landfills. All those gases from decomposition have to go somewhere, might as well use them to our advantage.

Yes. The land fill not far from us has a polethene 'cap' below about a metre of earth and a network of pipes that draws off the methane and powers a couple of lorry sized generators.

[Crow]

I bet that smelt lovely.

It wasn't too bad at all. They had perfume dispencers across the site.

Thats good I remember as a kid how ill I felt due to the smell when driving past a sewage farm, even the thought of the smell still turns my stomach.

[Crocoduck]

I bet that smelt lovely.

It wasn't too bad at all. They had perfume dispencers across the site.

I've been to the sewage treatment plant in my town and I honestly didn't think it smelled that bad either. The perfume they use has some fancy enzymes in it and is more high tech then my Old Spice.