Why Jeremy is a nobber.
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it's a half-baked idea.- posted
13 years ago
Re: OT Hype about hydrogen (cars)
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- posted
13 years ago
I stopped reading after "nor will its use reduce global warming, because of the cost and greenhouse gases generated during production" as the article seemed half baked, regardless of the merits (or not) of hydrogen.
MBQ
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- posted
13 years ago
Why? that is, in fact, entirely correct, unless you know a way (other than nuclear of generating a lot of reliable electrictity from non fossil sources.
Most wiki articles that don't agree with peoples prejudices seem that way.
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- posted
13 years ago
Ding!
It's the blanket dismissal, without considering all the options, in the first three paragraphs that makes the rest of the article suspect. I've got better things to do.
Nothing to do with my prejudices, just sloppy or ill-informed writing.
MBQ
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- posted
13 years ago
Actually, although I'm not a wind turbine fan, surely this is one possible reason to build the things. The reliability of supply is less of an issue when you have the ability to store energy in the form of hydrogen
In general though, I agree that chasing hydrogen as a cure for all our ills is akin to joining a gym to get fit. In your heart, you know it's just displacement activity to stop you doing any *real* exercise that might be difficult or tiring.
Tim
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- posted
13 years ago
Well, given the way that Hydrogen is made commercially at the moment, that is perfectly true. In fact, Unit for Unit, using Hydrogen as currently produced generates rather more greenhouse gases than just burning the Methane in the first place. The only benefit is that it moves the CO2 production away from the point of use, which is also what electric vehicles do.
However, the article is only a book review.
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a book available either on bits of dead tree or as a free download which debunks a lot of global warming myths in an easy to understand way.
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- posted
13 years ago
No, if ou are talking synthetic fuel, on the premise of cheap electricity r some otherpower source, you need to look at teh cost-benefut of hydro CARBON fuel in comparisn.
HydroCARBON fle is a LOT easier to store ad a lot less bulky than hydrogen.
Synthetic diesel and AVJET is probably what we will do finally.
Its only a review of a book. You probably need to read the book..anyway its several years old, and the hydrogen economy as such is already dead.
Now for the wind economy..
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- posted
13 years ago
So you reckon to design a plant that can take and use efficiently random watts off a wind turbine?
Good luck!
Hydrogen is not an avaiable source of primary energy: It has to be made. If you have to make it, why not make something more useful?
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- posted
13 years ago
This one, for a start......
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- posted
13 years ago
The "hydrogen economy" idea appealed greatly to people who didn't grasp the fact the H2 is an energy storage medium, not a source of energy. I actually know someone like this, a guy who was prepared to believe in the car that is powered by water. In other respects he seems to be of well-above-average intelligence.
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- posted
13 years ago
Chris Huhne?
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- posted
13 years ago
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Lithium to creat an anhydride this chap is able to utilise the sunlight available in New Mexico to prepare hydrogen for free. It takes all night to install it into the tanks in the car.
And of course the powers that be don't want you to do this at home dear.
Meanwhile there is no reason it can't be dissolved in LPG or even diesel if wanted by the owner. Hydrogen added to a fuel makes a cleaner faster burn reducing toxic output.
The reason compressed hydrogen isn't used is that it doesn't liquify easily. I can't see how it can be more dangerous to use than heavier petroleum gasses though.
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- posted
13 years ago
Then read up on it and find out. It does liquefy easily, but the result is a liquid that is not only under very high pressure, but is also extremely inflammable with a very low flashpoint and has a molecular size so small that its very very hard to stop it leaking.
Its also very BULKY - too bulky to e.g. be used as aircraft fuel.
Hydrocarbons around the octane or slightly heavier grade pack the most ergs per cubic wotsit. Rings (benzene et al) are good as well, but rather toxic.