Presumably the carried "fuel" could be water (converted to hydrogen just before use) and I'd rather carry a tank of water than a tank of 4-star (assuming that's possible)-
Anyhow, not *that* much hydrogen - and certainly not in an flimsy-uneathed container.
(The Hindenburg *did* make it all the way across the Atlantic without making any squeeky-pops - the actual cause is still unknown {Don your foil hat, and forget about magic bullets for a second})
No dispute there, but it's not petroleum we use in cars, but gasoline.
There's a reason we use gasoline and not, say, methane or kerosene in cars - it's not especially explosive. Substituting hydrogen would be a step in entirely the wrong direction, even when it's generated by breaking down water.
All these hydrogen schemes are predicated on some yet-to-be-developed magic fuel cell solution that somehow allows you to store and burn the hydrogen safely.
Generating gasoline, or some similar product, from organic sources other than petroleum (household garbage, say), is something I've long been in favor of. Even when petroleum isn't wiping out bird populations, is still running out as a resource.
Except the bit about the explosivity of kerosene. I thought it was less volatile than petrol (gasoline) but more volatile then diesel? I know it is a whole lot easier to get bulk petrol to ignite than kerosene (aka paraffin).
Yes, they do, but you can still light diesel fuel and burn it, though you need a wick, whereas petrol vapour will ignite without a wick. Petrol will also "diesel", though at much lower compression ratios.
Hm....looks like I garbled things somewhere since college. But I'm still not going back and re-taking Chemistry!
Flammability limits (the ranges that things are flammable). Hydrogen has one of the widest ranges, making it one of the most dangerous fuels. Kerosene is indeed safer than gasoline and diesel, all those being safer than butane and propane, in turn safer than methane. The only thing "worse" than hydrogen is acetylene.
The point is that, even with a catalyst, some form of energy is being used to create the hydrogen/oxygen mix for the fuel cells.
Either you take that energy along with you, in which case why are you bothering with the electrolysis? Or you take the hydrogen along with you, in which case you're risking life and limb to no great advantage.
Ah, yes, I soooo want to power my car off hydrogen - NOT!
ReplyDeleteI *so* want to carry on using petroleum.
ReplyDeleteNot.
Presumably the carried "fuel" could be water (converted to hydrogen just before use) and I'd rather carry a tank of water than a tank of 4-star (assuming that's possible)-
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, not *that* much hydrogen - and certainly not in an flimsy-uneathed container.
(The Hindenburg *did* make it all the way across the Atlantic without making any squeeky-pops - the actual cause is still unknown {Don your foil hat, and forget about magic bullets for a second})
Um, how, exactly?
ReplyDeleteWell, using the petrol-powered generator set - duh.
ReplyDeleteNo dispute there, but it's not petroleum we use in cars, but gasoline.
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason we use gasoline and not, say, methane or kerosene in cars - it's not especially explosive. Substituting hydrogen would be a step in entirely the wrong direction, even when it's generated by breaking down water.
All these hydrogen schemes are predicated on some yet-to-be-developed magic fuel cell solution that somehow allows you to store and burn the hydrogen safely.
Generating gasoline, or some similar product, from organic sources other than petroleum (household garbage, say), is something I've long been in favor of. Even when petroleum isn't wiping out bird populations, is still running out as a resource.
Ow, I don't know! I didn't bleedin' invent it! I don't even know how instant boil taps work!
ReplyDeleteNot much I disagree with there.
ReplyDeleteExcept the bit about the explosivity of kerosene.
I thought it was less volatile than petrol (gasoline) but more volatile then diesel?
I know it is a whole lot easier to get bulk petrol to ignite than kerosene (aka paraffin).
I thought diesels somehow relied on pressure (PV=RT?) rather than "ignition"
ReplyDeleteYes, they do, but you can still light diesel fuel and burn it, though you need a wick, whereas petrol vapour will ignite without a wick.
ReplyDeletePetrol will also "diesel", though at much lower compression ratios.
[Googles.]
ReplyDeleteHm....looks like I garbled things somewhere since college. But I'm still not going back and re-taking Chemistry!
Flammability limits (the ranges that things are flammable). Hydrogen has one of the widest ranges, making it one of the most dangerous fuels. Kerosene is indeed safer than gasoline and diesel, all those being safer than butane and propane, in turn safer than methane. The only thing "worse" than hydrogen is acetylene.
The point is that, even with a catalyst, some form of energy is being used to create the hydrogen/oxygen mix for the fuel cells.
ReplyDeleteEither you take that energy along with you, in which case why are you bothering with the electrolysis? Or you take the hydrogen along with you, in which case you're risking life and limb to no great advantage.
A water splitter with a double role
ReplyDelete