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THE MICROWAVE MAGICIAN
Popular Science ^
| 12/2007
| RENA MARIE PACELLA
Posted on 12/11/2007 9:06:07 AM PST by #1CTYankee
Frank Pringle has found a way to squeeze oil and gas from just about anything
I’m not sure if I’m watching a magic trick, or an invention that will make the cigar-chomping 64-year-old next to me the richest man on the planet. Everything that goes into Frank Pringle’s recycling machine—a piece of tire, a rock, a plastic cup—turns to oil and natural gas seconds later. “I’ve been told the oil companies might try to assassinate me,” Pringle says without sarcasm.
The machine is a microwave emitter that extracts the petroleum and gas hidden inside everyday objects—or at least anything made with hydrocarbons, which, it turns out, is most of what’s around you. Every hour, the first commercial version will turn 10 tons of auto waste—tires, plastic, vinyl—into enough natural gas to produce 17 million BTUs of energy (it will use 956,000 of those BTUs to keep itself running).
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
TOPICS: Science
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To: djf
Most informative, thanks!
61
posted on
12/11/2007 11:15:18 AM PST
by
NVDave
To: dread78645
You’re right — mea culpa for the terminology error.
62
posted on
12/11/2007 11:15:52 AM PST
by
NVDave
To: djf
Candy bar (in a shirt pocket)
63
posted on
12/11/2007 11:15:56 AM PST
by
dread78645
(Evolution. A doomed theory since 1859.)
To: djf
"What was the very first food ever cooked by microwave?" Chocolate bar?
64
posted on
12/11/2007 11:16:18 AM PST
by
#1CTYankee
(That's right, I have no proof. So what of it??)
To: dread78645
Correct, but that was incidental. What was the first food ever INTENTIONALLY cooked by microwaves?
You obviously know the answer. Others might be surprised.
65
posted on
12/11/2007 11:18:27 AM PST
by
djf
(Send Fred some bread! Not a whole loaf, a slice or two will do!)
To: #1CTYankee
The machine is a microwave emitter that extracts the petroleum and gas hidden inside everyday objects TANSTAFL.
To: mnehrling
Would it be more convincing if I showed you a fancy picture?
67
posted on
12/11/2007 11:21:58 AM PST
by
#1CTYankee
(That's right, I have no proof. So what of it??)
To: djf
68
posted on
12/11/2007 11:22:32 AM PST
by
#1CTYankee
(That's right, I have no proof. So what of it??)
To: #1CTYankee
69
posted on
12/11/2007 11:25:12 AM PST
by
djf
(Send Fred some bread! Not a whole loaf, a slice or two will do!)
To: subterfuge
Yeah, the auto companies in cahoots with the oil companies, the Japanese government, Saudi Arabia, the CFR, and the Bilderbergers have suppressed the water car.
70
posted on
12/11/2007 11:25:31 AM PST
by
nuke rocketeer
(File CONGRESS.SYS corrupted: Re-boot Washington D.C (Y/N)?)
To: nuke rocketeer
You left out the jesuits my FRiend!
71
posted on
12/11/2007 11:27:21 AM PST
by
subterfuge
(HILLARY IS: She who must NOT be Dismayed)
To: subterfuge
Oooppsie!! My bad!!! How about the Masons too? And the illimunati?
72
posted on
12/11/2007 11:29:55 AM PST
by
nuke rocketeer
(File CONGRESS.SYS corrupted: Re-boot Washington D.C (Y/N)?)
To: nuke rocketeer
Oooppsie!! My bad!!! How about the Masons too? And the illimunati? Nonsense.
The article is about "microwaves" ... Gotta be those evil "Build-a-Burgers"
73
posted on
12/11/2007 11:36:14 AM PST
by
dread78645
(Evolution. A doomed theory since 1859.)
To: nuke rocketeer
Ha. Skull & Bones anyone?
74
posted on
12/11/2007 11:40:14 AM PST
by
subterfuge
(HILLARY IS: She who must NOT be Dismayed)
To: #1CTYankee
Looks like my home brew setup.
75
posted on
12/11/2007 11:43:03 AM PST
by
mnehring
To: redpoll
“Exxon and Mobil are going to kill the guy. What a load of crap.”
I totally agree. It’s BP that’s out to get him.
Seriously, I agree with your rant. I mean, like nobody else could invent this thing now that the concept is out (assuming for a brief moment it’s legit). Or doesn’t he have the this thing patented and the plans for the machine in multiple, safe locations?
How stupid is that.
76
posted on
12/11/2007 11:52:12 AM PST
by
Lee'sGhost
(Crom! Non-Sequitur = Pee Wee Herman.)
To: #1CTYankee
77
posted on
12/11/2007 11:55:55 AM PST
by
Kevmo
(We should withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran. And Duncan Hunter is just the man to get that job done.)
To: #1CTYankee
I used to work at an industrial testing laboratory, and one of the tests we used to run was vacuum pyrolysis. We did this to rubber samples. Put the sample in a test tube, pump out the air & then energize a heating element. All the organic hydrocarbons in the sample volatilize but do not combust because of the lack of oxygen. Whats left is an oily goo inside the test tube and carbon ash. If I had to guess, something similar is at work here.
78
posted on
12/11/2007 2:19:28 PM PST
by
ADemocratNoMore
(Jeepers, Freepers, where'd 'ya get those sleepers?. Pj people, exposing old media's lies.)
To: fella
I remember destructive distillation — our science teacher liked to use it on cigarettes, to show us all the gunk in the tobacco.
To: djf
"Bingo." A good guess, what would make someone think.
"Hey I should put some popcorn in here to see what happens?"
Guess they figured the moisture trapped inside would heat and maybe they would pop.
80
posted on
12/11/2007 3:10:30 PM PST
by
#1CTYankee
(That's right, I have no proof. So what of it??)
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