[OT] Fuel cell technology.

[Donwill]

Saw this on another NG and thought it might be an interesting subject for discussion.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Ok, its a fuel cell, so it sburning hydrocarbon fuel.

So how is that better than doing it in a power station, possibly at better overall efficiency?

Its still burning hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel.

That's the same as the whole hydrogen economy myth: where do you get the hydrogen? takes power to split it from water...

[Donwill]

Bit early to tell yet. However, have found another ref :

to be officially launched today. It's not April the 1st yet is it :-) .

Cheers Don

[Tim Streater]

True. I suppose you could argue that you could use solar to generate the hydrogen and then ship that around - but the advantage of oil is that it has a high energy density.

[Tim Streater]

Might be. He appears to have invented the gas stove.

[Donwill]

It's supposed to generate at twice the efficiency of [other??] generators of electricity. Don

[The Natural Philosopher]

weight for weight, hydrogen is better, but its bulky.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Right. So 110% efficient. Wow!

[Donwill]

Well, were talking approximations here, I'd be happy with 80% wouldn't you? Don

[The Natural Philosopher]

Id be surprised if they got anything like that.

60-70% for fuel cells operating at sensible output levels. They are quite efficient at low outputs though.

[Donwill]

Well, time will tell I suppose, hopefully it's a breakthrough, however, until proved apply a healthy bit if scepticism I think. Rattlesnake oil springs to mind. Cheers Don

[The Natural Philosopher]

No, just a bit of development.

No, its probably an advance, but its not the answer to any prayers.

[dennis]

A fuel cell doesn't generate anything, it converts from one for to another. A power station does the same.

Now a power station that produces half the pollution for the same amount of energy will take twice as long to pollute the place but it will pollute the place. When they come up with a technology that doesn't need the carbon to make it or to run it there may be a solution, this isn't it.

[The Natural Philosopher]

well its nice to know that there is no need to have the word 'generate' in the English language at all, since everything that is 'generated' is in fact a conversion of one thing from another.

Only God, presumably, generates anything at all.

I am so glad, you pointed that out Dennis..

About 40 years after everyone else knew it for a fact..

[Donwill]

The same as "generators" then, they convert mechanical energy to electrical energy but they are still called generators.

and are usually full of generators or they used to be when I did my apprenticeship in the 50s

You'll wait a long time for perfection, You will probably achieve it when the Earth is free of humans which wont be long now. Cheers Don

[Rod]

Not sold through Rolls Razor by any chance?