Hydrogen

[Speedwagon]

There is a process, vitrification, that turns nuclear waste into a glass "log" that is then stored in a steel container. This process, as I understand it, makes it very safe for handling and storage. And it would seem to me that some time in the future we will have a way to deal with this waste. So wouldn't it be better to go nuclear, than to continue burning petroleum and coal? Emissions from fossil fuels are kind of a deal-with-it-right-now problem.

edit: I just realized I replied to an old thread... that's what you get when you do searches.

 

[krugford]

actually, common industrial photovoltaics run at about 20% efficiency. i have heard of high end experimental cells that have been tested in labs at about 40% efficiency.

even still that is a massive amount of area that would need to be covered with solar panels to get the kind of energy that we would want to produce all the hydrogen that we would ever want.

it may be possible in the future but if we want to get serious about cutting down on the use of fossil fuels, the solution is nuclear power. it is clean energy. and you know what the best part is? we dont have to develop the technology cause its already here and we have been using it for years!

I believe the key would be to take the state of New Mexico and cover it with solar cells. As for efficiency, upper grade terrestrial cells are about 20%. I believe the peak reached in a lab was 40.7% by Spectrolab/Boeing with a triple juntion cell.

 

[Defective]

There is a new company in our area studying possible alternative energy available in our community.

One thing they mentioned was possibly sealing off abandonded coal mines and burning "bio-matter" in them to build pressure. The pressure would then be used to drive air power generators. Supposedly there are some of these in operation already in the "states."

Another thing somebody is actually trying to do is coal bed methane drilling. This amounts to a small building that has a shaft drilled under it. This shaft has many many arteries that stretch out over hundreds of acres that tap into methane pockets. The cool thing about this one is anybody who owns land that they are tunneling under gets paid royalties. One is supposed to be being built now, they have permits for at least one more, and a location and talk for a third.

 

[MAKG]

One thing they mentioned was possibly sealing off abandonded coal mines and burning "bio-matter" in them to build pressure. The pressure would then be used to drive air power generators. Supposedly there are some of these in operation already in the "states."

Good God, I hope you're kidding.

Abandoned coal mines have FLAMMABLE WALLS and it's next to impossible to put a fire out once it has started.

The first mine explosion will end THAT real quickly....

And it sounds VERY dirty.

 

[red85]

I see "the expert" has spoken again. When I built my system, it drew very heavily. I corrected this by using 4 gauge wire. The draw as measured by my ammeter (a Snap On AVR) is now at 8-10 A. It produces enough hydrogen that I have saved approximately 30% in fuel costs. Now before someone starts quoting antiquated NASA based reports, think about this: just because someone other than an engineer or fuel systems expert comes up with something that works does not make it crap. As much as some people around this site purport to be experts, I know how to use google too. They are just unwilling to put aside the theories they might have read about in a textbook somewhere. I am well educated too but I decided to tinker with this (against my own notions of how it wouldn't work. It's a cheap investment and at $1.23 a L, I'm willing to try a few things to not pay the oil companies. In short, keep an open mind.

 

[Jason]

Good God, I hope you're kidding.

Abandoned coal mines have FLAMMABLE WALLS and it's next to impossible to put a fire out once it has started.

The first mine explosion will end THAT real quickly....

And it sounds VERY dirty.

True about the coal mines. Maybe we should organize a meet in Centralia, PA. I have been there a few times on the bike and it's pretty eerie.

http://www.centraliaminefire.com/

 

[JFA_Spyderman]

Yo red85, Do you happen to have any pics/specs on your setup? Thanks!

 

[dougs3.0L98]

www.hydrogengarage.com

...incase anyone wants to see

 

[Simple_serf]

Gasification can and does work. Methane producers work too. There are lots of ways to make a wheel turn...most people just don't care enough to learn how.

I just finished up the upgrade on my solar power system... Still getting a feel for the system. I upgraded to a Zantrex C35 charge controller, Xantrex Xpower inverter (After a few more panels in the future, I AM getting a Xantrex DR series...I have been drooling over these for years), an updated 500Ah battery bank, fullly monitored by a TriMetric 2020 Battery monitor system, and a couple more small panels. Thusfar, it has been performing well. One more step on trying to be more self sufficent. Hopefully in the next few years I will be able to get off grid completely, and get more into the farm work that I have been doing, as opposed to floors.

Anyhow, my point is that The "alternatives" aren't that far away anymore... They are here now.

We just need to get used to doing things a bit differently!

 

[Jason]

...
We just need to get used to doing things a bit differently!

The solution is there. People need to learn to live differently. Change is good and we all will have to change. Either on our own terms or through necessity.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I haven't learned anything about hydrogen yet. I was in the doctors office today and saw a Shell ad for hydrogen and figured I better see what I can find out.

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=hydrogen-en

I am very interested in alternative fuels and vehicles that run on something other than gas or diesel.

I'd like to get involved with some people to see if we could build an off-road vehicle that didn't run on gas or diesel. My latest thoughts have been electric and found where you could buy the electric motors Ford was going to put in the Rangers a few years ago.

I don't want anyone to feel like they can't express their ideas without getting flamed. I'm really into looking for alternative power and would like to read more discussions on it. If someone has a closed mind and starts giving you a hard time, I'll give them the boot.

red85,

I'd really like to see and hear more about your truck and how the whole hydrogen vehicle works. Please share.

 

[Jorley]

I am very interested in alternative fuels and vehicles that run on something other than gas or diesel.

I'd like to get involved with some people to see if we could build an off-road vehicle that didn't run on gas or diesel. My latest thoughts have been electric and found where you could buy the electric motors Ford was going to put in the Rangers a few years ago.

I don't want anyone to feel like they can't express their ideas without getting flamed. I'm really into looking for alternative power and would like to read more discussions on it. If someone has a closed mind and starts giving you a hard time, I'll give them the boot.

I think that would be a great idea, not only from the energy standpoint, but also for the enviromentalist that want to shut down wheeling parks. Maybe their arguements would have less impact if the truck was non-polluting.

 

[Jim Oaks]

red85,

Are you using one of these types of setups:

http://water4gas.com/2books.htm

 

[bobbywalter]

jim.

the best working setup i made so far was concentric stainless cups(measuring cups with the handles removed) in a big stainless container with a 4 in rubber plumbing cap spaced with nitrile washers and roundstock....


it will pull a shitload of amps, but past 12 or so is just boilin water.

i get burnable gas but not in the amount ther hfi units get...not even sort of...those burn a steady tiny little flame, mine you have to wait and light every few seconds. but the water vapor/gas combo will definatly improve combustion in a diesel...especially one that is slightly over fueled. didnt really see anything in the long term with my 302.

 

[hihoslvr]

I have a bicycle that that is partially run on hydrogen molecules along with an oxygen molecule. I was commuting 50 miles a week with it, worked pretty good. It helps to add a few cups of coffee, and some pancakes too...