Re: Power from human blood

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Wed Aug 06 2003 - 05:34:33 MDT

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    On Tue, Aug 05, 2003 at 04:50:11PM -0700, Adrian Tymes wrote:
    >
    > That's probably the major research block.
    > Nanofacturing proteins can be done with cloned human
    > tissue - sealed inside the device if there is any
    > question of biocompatibility, and possibly needing
    > replacement every ten years or so.

    You don't need proteins, you need the amino acids. But the body
    breaks down amino acids into amines and urea that are excreted
    mainly through the urine. So you need to either pick up these
    chemicals and make amino acids again, or an external supply. Magical
    nanotech can of course do it, but human cells cannot (the closest
    would be to have plant cells; maybe your own internal greenhouse?).

    > Then again, if
    > you're accepting service appointments for the body,
    > then assuming 50% efficiency at producing energy as
    > glucose from electricity, how much does a
    > (100*(1/.5)*24*365=)1752 kWh set of batteries weigh,
    > and how practical would it be to leave such in a body
    > for a year?

    According to http://www.rsc.org/pdf/books/batterysc.pdf that roughly
    correspond to a traction battery of the kind used in electric
    vehicles, fork-lift trucks and tractors. Sounds rather heavy :-)

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    Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
    asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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