59 replies to this topic

[corydoras]

The Severn has been running half a meter above normal for the last two weeks. Divert that, store it and distribute it under gravity and you go a long way to solving the problem of "drought". Digging the distribution tunnels might even create a few jobs if our government could resist the temptation to give the work to a foreign contractor.

We've been through this before. It's not all downhill and pumping water is expensive. Water is a heavy fluid.
You would need about 8 pipes all 1.5 meter in diameter and huge pumping stations every 15 - 20 miles. The energy costs would be enormous and the project would be held back for decades by public bloody enquiries.

Edited by corydoras, 16 April 2012 - 11:29 PM.

[Ken L]

We've been through this before. It's not all downhill and pumping water is expensive. Water is a heavy fluid.
You would need about 8 pipes all 1.5 meter in diameter and huge pumping stations every 15 - 20 miles. The energy costs would be enormous and the project would be held back for decades by public bloody enquiries.

Well, as you may know, I grew up in Birmingham which gets much of it's water from the Elan valley in Wales.
Way back in the 19th century using Victorian surveying and engineering technology, the team appointed by Joseph Chamberlain (The school that I attended now bears his name, as does a square in the city centre) managed to not only build a dam but also a series of pipes to transport water from the Elan valley to Birmingham under gravity without the need for pumping stations every 15 - 20 miles.
Is it really beyond he ken of modern engineres to replicate the feat ?

[barry luxton]

Well, as you may know, I grew up in Birmingham which gets much of it's water from the Elan valley in Wales.
Way back in the 19th century using Victorian surveying and engineering technology, the team appointed by Joseph Chamberlain (The school that I attended now bears his name, as does a square in the city centre) managed to not only build a dam but also a series of pipes to transport water from the Elan valley to Birmingham under gravity without the need for pumping stations every 15 - 20 miles.
Is it really beyond he ken of modern engineres to replicate the feat ?

Roman britain used to move water around using lead pipe and culverts, what did they know.

[corydoras]

Well, as you may know, I grew up in Birmingham which gets much of it's water from the Elan valley in Wales.
Way back in the 19th century using Victorian surveying and engineering technology, the team appointed by Joseph Chamberlain (The school that I attended now bears his name, as does a square in the city centre) managed to not only build a dam but also a series of pipes to transport water from the Elan valley to Birmingham under gravity without the need for pumping stations every 15 - 20 miles.
Is it really beyond he ken of modern engineres to replicate the feat ?

That depends on how far you want to move the water. The water that Glaswegians drink runs from the bottom end of Loch Katrine to Glasgow is carried in two 1.5m pipes to the water treatment plant in Milngavie under gravity. That's because it's all down hill. There is a 50 metre drop between the Elan Valey and Birmingham.

[chesters1]

if this rail link goes ahead from london to the north just put into the building contracts pipes are fitted below it ,trains do not enjoy hills so the route could take into consideration having as few pumping stations as possible ,the electricity would be available from the lines to run them.
once you have a main set of pipes connections can be made from sources to be pumped into it ,if they're so anti electric use windmills

its nothing to do with it being impossible ,perhaps its one water company regarding water as theirs and theirs only.

they have a point worldwide theres far more concern over water than oil

Edited by chesters1, 17 April 2012 - 08:52 AM.

[Ken L]

and pump at night only using power that would otherwise be run to earth.

[chesters1]

i thought at night they just powered down power stations?

[corydoras]

i thought at night they just powered down power stations?

They certainly don't just run it to earth. A coal burning power station cannot be just "powered down" at night.

[corydoras]

its nothing to do with it being impossible ,perhaps its one water company regarding water as theirs and theirs only.

I never claimed it would be impossible, just not economically viable.

[chesters1]

They certainly don't just run it to earth. A coal burning power station cannot be just "powered down" at night.

I'm sure letting the stokers half the amount of shovels chucked in would reduce the output some what ,or just chuck in less biofuel so it runs leaner
there are only 14 so not such a problem

not sure i was having a go at you personally Cory in your second reply otherwise i would have quoted you
i was just musing on why (after every water shortage its suggested building a water system to transfer water about) the cost compared to the railway above it and the "site" construction of the rail bed would be minimal for the pipe/s themselves ,where the electricity is supplied to the rails (they have substations along the track) they could also supply the power to the pumps or stick a windmill on it doing it mechanically ,they drained the norfolk broads with them its not a new idea

perhaps if the goverment used their heads instead of silly advisers laying the pipeline with a railway above it would have been easier to get action on than just a railway most of the land owners along it will never use

"were going to connect the north to the south so everyone can get their fair share of water " HOORAHH (say the masses) about time too
"OH and to save money we will pop a railway on the top while were at it" HOORAH and hats being thrown in the air

the landowners will still get recompensed but the pipeline would get far more approval from everyone rather just from rail users wanting to save a few minutes

Edited by chesters1, 18 April 2012 - 12:42 PM.