Rosemary:
Here is a link explaining how you can use electric currents to prevent corrosion:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathodic_protectionFor larger structures, galvanic anodes cannot economically deliver enough current to provide complete protection. Impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems use anodes connected to a DC power source (a cathodic protection rectifier). Anodes for ICCP systems are tubular and solid rod shapes or continuous ribbons of various specialized materials. These include high silicon cast iron, graphite, mixed metal oxide, platinum and niobium coated wire and others.
and I'll go further and propose that this is the thing that prevents the rusting on Bill's and Laser's rigs.
You're not getting it. When the current flows one way, the metal corrodes. When the current flows the other way the metal doesn't corrode. For a oil rig platform, you force the current to flow in the direction that prevents corrosion. With an earth battery, the magnesium corrodes by definition.
The simple test for Bill's or Laser's rigs is to do a control experiment where you have rigs where the current flow is HIGH. In both of their rigs the current flow is intentionally minuscule. Do a high current test with a robust electrolyte and look for corrosion like that.
The question, as Bill rightly points out - is what is expended in this generation of current flow?
The pdf document I linked to in a previous post explains all of that quite clearly. There is inherent chemical energy in the ordered arrangement of the metal atoms that is liberated when they oxidize, which is what I have been saying all along. The entropy of the system increases and electrical and probably heat energy is given off in the process. The current flow is a result of the oxidation, but as the pdf document I linked to says, it's like the chicken and the egg.
It's no good saying that moisture in the air is responsible or even ions in the water. Bill's rig is buried - and it's debated that it requires moisture at all. And laser reckons he can get the rotor to turn using distilled water.
I have already told you my take on that. Bill is wrong and it's literally impossible for one of Lasersaber's batteries to contain pure distilled water. You have to understand that the moment the distilled water enters his battery it starts to dissolve impurities into solution. Water is a good solvent.
whether this is a battery or a generator
A generator from what, Rosemary? The invisible polka-dot genie? You are back to speculating that these simple galvanic batteries generate electricity out of "nothingness," or some "unknown" source, just like Steorn allege that they create magical energy from nothingness.
All of you that are making these wild speculations should try to collectively turn your hypothesis upside-down, which in reality would mean that you would be turning it right-side up. Start with the assumption that it
is a galvanic battery, and then see if you can come up with any alternative explanations.
Anyway, I am done with this issue. The suggestion for you guys and gals on OU is to think outside of the box, because you are stuck inside an "alternative" box. I have proposed some simple control tests, and congratulate you for wanting to try to measure the power output from Lasersaber's battery. That will not be an easy thing to do at all. Assuming that you can do that, the next logical step is to do the research to see how much metal should be consumed after say, six months of running the device. It could be a very interesting exercise. You have to calculate how much metal should corrode, otherwise there is no point in making the power measurement.
With respect to those earth batteries, it's the same story. They are simply galvanic batteries and nothing more. I know that supposedly Nathan Stubblefield made an extensive earth battery setup in the area around his house and that gave him free power to run all of his electrical appliances. If I recall correctly this was done in the late 19th century or the very early 20th century. That was the era of the "BIG LIE" because the public was not as cynical or as well informed or educated, especially with respect to scientific matters. It was the era of Yellow journalism. As far as I am concerned the whole Nathan Stubblefield story is pure fabrication, a LIE. The evidence is right there if you want to open your eyes and look at it. You can only get minuscule amounts of power from a typical earth battery setup, and if you do research on telluric currents you will conclude that you can't possibly use them as a power source. You are not going to bury tens of thousands of dollars worth of corroding metal in a 10-acre farmer's field so that you can make a pot of hot water on your electric stove. It was ridiculous then and it's even more ridiculous now.
Good luck to the OU group, this is where I jump off the train.
MileHigh