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Better electric power generation (slrpnk.net)

submitted 10 months ago by Petros to c/technology

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There are two priorities I keep in mind, when thinking about collapse-time technologies.

Maintenance complexity, especially in long-run context.
Shortening the supply chain.

When it comes to electric power generation and various types of generators, I am very reluctant to accept generators based on rare-earth magnets. First, they are "bloody metals" indeed, mined and refined with extreme hurt to the planet and people. Second, their delivery chain is long and quite centralised which makes them possibly unavailable in case of disruption of the logistic system. While we wait for the US-sponsored program to develop alternative materials, still we can explore two avenues of research:

magnets recycling
generator constructions that does not need such magnets.

The recycling topic deserves separate consideration, in respect to a hypothesis of the "scavengers civilisation" as the next stage of human history. Meanwhile, we can have a closer look at constructions, using much more sustainable ceramic (aka ferrite) magnets, or no magnets at all.

If we can develop a "DIY" technology to make ceramic magnets, we can combine it with designs from 19th and early 20th Century and create alter-futurist line of more collapse-friendly electricity generators.

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[–] keepthepace 18 points 10 months ago (2 children)

A few remarks from your friendly neighbor open hardware preacher:

Magnet-less techs do exist, and do not need to be found in 19th century designs, which are usually very energy-inefficient. Modern knowledge of magnetic leakage, more efficient electronic drivers make these designs usually a bad idea.
Open source hardware motors are a thing
The crucial part in making good motors without using too much labor is actually in the coil winding machine that goes with it. Here again, open hardware is in business.
Rare earth are badly named. They are not rare and most of them are usually a byproduct of the refinement of other minerals.
The USGS published yearly reports on minerals, their production, reserves and strategic importance. Here is the 2023 one on rare earths
China produces a lot of them only because it has cheaper labor, US and other countries have tons of reserve.
Iron magnets are easy to make (heat iron and let it cold inside a magnetic field). I believe that rare earth magnets are basically the same with an alloy with a different Curie temperature.

[–] Petros 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Great contribution, thank you. I am an admirer of 19th Century engineering and inventions, and it is good to have someone around, to ground me, so to speak. 😆

By your permission, I would like to tap more of your knowledge.

[–] keepthepace 1 points 10 months ago

Thanks! And yes, no problem