Jack Briggs
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 1999
- Messages
- 16,805
That's why it's so fun, Ange. Why, this thread is a gas!
This thread can't decide if it's a scientific discussion or a pun factory
I think it's more like a pun discussion....
Would this stuff work in fuel cells?
Yes. Hydrogen is what original fuel cells were designed to use.. I believe.
I, on the otherhand seem to have a "nearly limitless" supply of methane.
Hydrogen is what original fuel cells were designed to use
My understanding is that hydrogen fuel cells were going to be based on a metal hydride paradigm. Basically, the fuel cell would be like a massive battery in your car. Once the hydride was used up, you would simply recharge the system with hydrogen.
But I could be wrong. The methanol fuel cells are the most likely candidates because they will not require a huge shift in the way we manufacture the fuel. Oil refineries will have to change, but the same basic chemical processes are still valid and it won't render these things obsolete. In an unrelated note, it might be pretty destructive to marginalize OPEC all of a sudden, so the idea that we will use a liquid-methanol fuel would still keep the refineries open, but drastically reduce our consumption.
The whole idea of having hydrogen gas powering our cars seems a bit far fetched to me, in large part because you are a moving bomb.
"Skywatch here giving you the latest traffic report. We have an accident on I-95 south near exit 35. Two cars collided and detonated 100 more in heavy traffic, killing 150 people. Work crews are attempting to repaint the pavement lines so traffic can resume." I don't think so.
The whole idea of having hydrogen gas powering our cars seems a bit far fetched to me, in large part because you are a moving bomb.
So a hydrogen tank would explode more readily than a gasoline tank?
Isn't our sun one big hydrogen explosion?
Say will this stuff power my Flux Capacitor? Plutonium is getting hard to find.
Fusion vs. Fission. Two different things. Looks like you'll have to keep it under 88mph.
Hydrogen is combustible in concentrations above 4%. It's an explosive hazard in concentrations above 8%. Pure hydrogen spontaneously ignites in the presence of oxygen. No flame is needed. Put the two together, and kaboom. We used to do electrolysis in Chem in high school, and separate the hydrogen into a sealed beaker. Remove the seal, and POP, instant mini-explosion.
That said, the fear of a bunch of cars spontaneously exploding (a la 1972 Ford Pinto) is way overblown (man, I can't get away from the puns!). BMW has run hydrogen-powered cars in Germany for years, using conventional internal combustion engines, and a pressurized hydrogen tank. The tanks are well constructed (multiple walls, kevlar jackets, etc), and contain safety features that minimize the danger.
Fuel cells are a more efficient way (than combustion engines) to use hydrogen, though. In fact, fuel cells for the home will likely to be able to generate equivalent KWs for about half the cost of your local fossil fuel plant (excluding the cost to build both). It's coming.
Todd
Pure hydrogen spontaneously ignites in the presence of oxygen.
Do you mean this "nearly limitless" store of hydrogen under ground could explode the planet!?!? This sounds like the plan of a mad scientist... where's Spider-man?
[/attempt to get back on topic]