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Reply #5: What's the weight (without helium?) [View All]

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Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Environment/Energy

muriel_volestrangler

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Sat Dec-31-05 07:09 AM
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5. What's the weight (without helium?)

I'd think it might be quite a lot - you need the generator as well as the turbine up there. So the question is then: how much helium is needed - and how quickly does it escape, and need replacing? What, then, would be the world demand for helium if these became popular, and could it be met? (I think helium largely comes as a by-product of natural gas wells now, doesn't it - it gets trapped after emission as alpha particles from radioactive rocks. Do we think we have a decent supply of helium for the future?)

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