Say, would you supply some of your erudite explanation of the following quote found elsewhere on this thread?
Gold, silver, copper and nickel will increase significantly ...
Superconductivity is the wildcard that could send some of these like silver and nickel into orbit once the importance of efficient electrical conductivity is understood by the public. If high temperature superconductivity materials are
found practical, ...
My questions are these:
My postulate is that these raw materials are NOT in short supply either above ground or in proven and probable reserves so I do NOT agree with the writer's conclusion at my current level of understanding.
# copper is in short supply in Canada with some miners. Zinc is definitely not in high supply but its price is not robust. Cominco is looking still. Prices do not reflect long term supply.
1) What is "super conductivity"
# super con.. is conductivity in some materials like copper-yttrium-niobium alloys at liquid nitrogen temperatures that is without electrical resistance, making magnets high power and transmission at a very low loss rate. We are currently looking for room temperature superconductors. I think we may find them in rare metal-liquids/crystals at low but manageable temperatures.
2) What's the advantage of "high temperature s/c materials" over presumably super cold temp.
# energy usage/cost of line to produce low temp and stability of transmission line. Plus the heating of transmission is not as serious a problem to the condition of the line as regards energy drain.
apps?
small high efficiency electric motors. "free" transmission of energy. Practical mass transportation. electric cars, aircraft.
3) What would it take to make high temp s/c materials "practical."
# Lots of research. If they were high temp and high current density (present low temp SC's are low density then they break down so applications are limited.) then they would be cheap and easy to implement and practical/efficient.
4) How far away is the re-tooling and impact of s/c on our daily and corporate lives?
# It is used in magnetic detection devices today (SQUIDS) for certain high tech application devices. Some magnetic geophysical surveys have been done with SQUIDS but they are high cost. Answer is it is far away until costs come down and temp gets higher for SC effect.
I'm one of the "public" that writer is addressing, and he's right...I don't hear much about super conductivity, let alone understand much re: practical applications that would make current proven and probable mineral resources, especially in copious nickel and copper output, "go up in price"
# well, it's one of those popular science type predictions of 50 years from now that never come true. Every single prediction in PS from the 50's we are still waiting for. Practicality and necessity are what drive man's quests. the bottom line. Keeps looney science at bay. But SC at room temp would be an enormous boon, lowering energy costs and reducing power needs.
Class is in session...and use $0.25 words instead of $4.00 on this one, okay? I just know about plugging in my toaster and my toothbrush. Will I get quicker toast in the mornings and a brighter Colgate smile when I understand superconductivities applications?
# definitely. Toast will be browner, hotter and teeth whiter, if and only if they have something to sell that is white hot in turns of monetary return -- and it is the toy of the month.
# I think a Room Temperature, SuperConducting Toaster powered by Liquid Helium plugging into a solid-carbon-dioxide jet-powered tooth brush, with nitric-acid tooth-paste would be the ideal way to start your day. Really freshen your mouth and would win friends far and wide. Set you on fire, so to speak. As a matter of fact, I think if you used that system regularly, people would have a hard time keeping up with you.
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