|
This doesn't make sense to me...
"Researcher: Aluminum-based pellets make hydrogen when wet, offering alternative fuel source."
CNN- http://www.cnn.com/2007/AUTOS/05/18/...eut/index.html More detailed version - http://freerepublic.info/focus/f-news/1835011/posts Eveybody is all excited about this but I don't get it. Basically this uses the energy stored in pure aluminum (as compared to Aluminum-oxide) to seperate water leaving you with AlO and H to power a fuel cell or hydrgen car. Interesting, but aluminum has to be "refined" from AlO in the first place using all that energy so basically you are using the almuminum as an overly complicated battery. So many of these alternative methods for powering cars like compressed air and even fuel cells just come down to an inefficent, complicated and heavy battery. The only real advantage is an "instant" refuel. I'm glad people are trying to think about this stuff but if the energy originates from the power grid, I don't see the point. ...and what the hell is a "gallon of hydrogen"? (from CNN) |
You have to start somewhere.
|
yeah but I wish they would just call it what it is and say "we are researching a new way of storing energy." its not an energy source and neither is hydrogen. The only enrgy you get out is (some of) what you put into it.:mad:
|
Originally Posted by bnuk
(Post 3500266)
"Researcher: Aluminum-based pellets make hydrogen when wet, offering alternative fuel source."
CNN- http://www.cnn.com/2007/AUTOS/05/18/...eut/index.html More detailed version - http://freerepublic.info/focus/f-news/1835011/posts Eveybody is all excited about this but I don't get it. Basically this uses the energy stored in pure aluminum (as compared to Aluminum-oxide) to seperate water leaving you with AlO and H to power a fuel cell or hydrgen car. Interesting, but aluminum has to be "refined" from AlO in the first place using all that energy so basically you are using the almuminum as an overly complicated battery. So many of these alternative methods for powering cars like compressed air and even fuel cells just come down to an inefficent, complicated and heavy battery. The only real advantage is an "instant" refuel. I'm glad people are trying to think about this stuff but if the energy originates from the power grid, I don't see the point. ...and what the hell is a "gallon of hydrogen"? (from CNN) The idea is that we can use cleaner means of power to run items. Gasoline is not replenshible the same way this would be. The only downside (as I've read so far) is the cost for the aluminum can't compete with the same energy from $3 of gas. We need to recycle the aluminum and then maybe it'd work. The gallium is a one time purchase. Just what I got out of the article. |
The concept could eliminate major hurdles related to developing a hydrogen economy. Replacing gasoline with hydrogen for transportation purposes would require the production of huge quantities of hydrogen, and the hydrogen gas would then have to be transported to filling stations. Transporting hydrogen is expensive because it is a "non-ideal gas," meaning storage tanks contain less hydrogen than other gases. "If I can economically make hydrogen on demand, however, I don't have to store and transport it, which solves a significant problem," Woodall said. |
We have to find ways of renewable fuel sources. Right now we are mainly just leaching. And it will run out. While this (OP) is not an end all solution, it's better than current methods and we are still learning along the way. It's a step not an end.
|
I'm not really comparing it gas, more to electric cars using modern Li-ion tech. It is still just another method for storing energy, only unlike batteries you have to ship all the byproduct to a smelter in some remote location. If they can show that the catalytic reactor, a sufficient supply of aluminum and the fuel cell is significantly lighter then an equivalent Li-ion battery then maybe we can talk. It also has to make up for the cost (and energy) of collecting all the alumina byproduct and transporting it to a smelter.
My main gripe is the way the journalist try to make this into something it isn't. It isn't some magical way to produce H2 out of thin air, it is just a way to store energy that is very stable and therefore easy to transport. |
Originally Posted by bnuk
(Post 3500976)
My main gripe is the way the journalist try to make this into something it isn't. It isn't some magical way to produce H2 out of thin air, it is just a way to store energy that is very stable and therefore easy to transport.
|
Originally Posted by bnuk
(Post 3500976)
I'm not really comparing it gas, more to electric cars using modern Li-ion tech. It is still just another method for storing energy, only unlike batteries you have to ship all the byproduct to a smelter in some remote location. If they can show that the catalytic reactor, a sufficient supply of aluminum and the fuel cell is significantly lighter then an equivalent Li-ion battery then maybe we can talk. It also has to make up for the cost (and energy) of collecting all the alumina byproduct and transporting it to a smelter.
My main gripe is the way the journalist try to make this into something it isn't. It isn't some magical way to produce H2 out of thin air, it is just a way to store energy that is very stable and therefore easy to transport. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:44 AM. |
© 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands