Rescue Mission_Fighting Global warming, Generating Electricity Through Thunderstorm And Lightning Bolt

With advancement in technology ensued increase in global warming which is majorly due to combustion of carbon compounds in the quest to generate enough power for machine operations. Over the years, scientists have being on a mission to rescue the earth from global warming. However, to achieve a positive result, the combustion of carbon compounds must be annihilated, which means, that power has to be generated from alternative means. Practically, I have discovered that power can be generated through thunderstorm and lightning bolt(strike) :

while holding a metallic window protector during a rainy night, thunderstorm accompanied by a cloud to ground lightning bolt occurred, and in microseconds, I felt an electric shock which made me flinch. This means that lightning possess energy and from the law of conservation of energy, we can convert energy from one form to the other
Lightning strike or lighting bolt is an instantaneous electrostatic discharge that mostly occurs during thunderstorm. Thunderstorm also lightning storm or electrical storm is a storm usually accompanied by heavy rain, strong winds, snow, hurricane, tornado, thunder or hail.

A single lightning strike contains a very high magnitude of energy(approximately five billion joules 5 X 10⁹Joules) and a strike occurs in about 10-microseconds. The estimated power contained in a lightning strike is 500 trillion watts(P=E/t) while the average power is about 100 billion watts, this is due to varying voltage and current of a strike. 5-billion joules of energy is equivalent to that of a 145 liters of fuel._ref From my calculations, 145 liters of fuel can burn in 1KVA generator for about 90 hours.
So, if we can arrest a lightning strike, it can supply constant electricity for a residential apartment for 90-hours.

Arresting Lightning Bolt

Lightning strike or bolt can be arrested with lightning arrestor. Lightning arrestor are mostly used in power systems and telecommunications line for protection against damaging effect of lightning strike. The fundamental of this arrestor is that it captures lightning strike and channels it to the earth through an earthing conductor. However,instead of linking to the earth, we can channel a lightning arrestor to an electrical storage and later utilize the energy stored for various purposes.

Steve Leroy, an Illinois inventor had reportedly power a 60-watts electrical lamp for 20-mins harnessing the energy captured from a small flash of artificial light._ref If he was able to light a bulb for 20-mins with an artificial light which just possesses just a small amount of energy, what would be the outcome of lightning that contains 5-billion joules of energy in just a strike?

The Challenges And Limitations

A single bolt of lightning entails a very large fluctuating amount of energy which is passed in microseconds, this means a very high power if involved and this magnificent power has made the harnessing of lightning strike impractical. Scientists have not been able to develop an electrical storage capable of storing 5-billion joules of energy in just microseconds. Such a high power would damage the physical structure of the storage and probably destroy the cells inside it. Also, excess heating of conductors might arise due to very high current(H=I²Rt) and excess heat causes fire explosion(this is the basis of explosives)
Another limit is that where the cloud to ground lightning strike would occur cannot be predicted accurately. This made it impossible to determine where to install lightning arrestor bank. Also when thunderstorm will occur is unknown. It might occur during rainfall, hail, snow, tornado, heavy wind or occur without any of these.

My own Little Contribution As a Scientist

Due to my passion for science and engineering, and my zeal to contribute towards rescuing the earth from global warming I have done some home assignments in few years. I have monitored from my apartment the direction of some cloud to ground lightning bolt and I can predict with upto 40% accuracy the range of location on which lightning strike would occur. However, I lack sufficient financial support, technical support and man power to embark on a project of harnessing this lightning bolt into electrical energy.

Conclusion

Every human on earth can help rescue the earth from global warming in some little ways. Even a farmer can start afforestation process to help curb the effects of combustion of carbon compounds. You as a #stem publisher can have a small garden in your house and even teach others the need of fighting global warming. With cooperate effort, we will rescue our precious planet from global warming.

Thanks for your ample time, I remain your brethren @ikchris

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References

If you seek for an in-depth knowledge in harnessing lightning bold, consider reading the publishes on the links below:

• Lightning bolt
• Harvesting lightning energy
• Heating effect of electric current
• Lightning arrestors
• The law of conservation of energy

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