Potential electric fuel...liquid?
- Thread starter Spacey
- Start date
10 kW
So four things struck me immediately about this video:
1) there are probably billions of research dollars studying this exact problem (fuels from sunlight) right now all over Europe and the US and have been for years. I have no idea why someone in the video doesn't mention this.
2) "can't fly an aeroplane on electricity". Ummmm, really...? Anyone see the electric float plane video posted here lately?
3) So what is the magic solar fuel that will solve these problems? No mention. That blue liquid in the beaker? Probably methyl viologen, which turns deep purple when reduced. Not a fuel.
4) Anyone see a picture of what happens when a tank of gas explodes? It's not pretty either.
(EDIT #1: Sorry to post only negative comments. I am actually very excited about this type of work. Just annoyed that the video doesn't mention that these guys aren't the first to think of it. Not by a long shot. Professional society meetings have entire sessions devoted to the subject.)
(EDIT #2: Google "solar fuel")
1) there are probably billions of research dollars studying this exact problem (fuels from sunlight) right now all over Europe and the US and have been for years. I have no idea why someone in the video doesn't mention this.
2) "can't fly an aeroplane on electricity". Ummmm, really...? Anyone see the electric float plane video posted here lately?
3) So what is the magic solar fuel that will solve these problems? No mention. That blue liquid in the beaker? Probably methyl viologen, which turns deep purple when reduced. Not a fuel.
4) Anyone see a picture of what happens when a tank of gas explodes? It's not pretty either.
(EDIT #1: Sorry to post only negative comments. I am actually very excited about this type of work. Just annoyed that the video doesn't mention that these guys aren't the first to think of it. Not by a long shot. Professional society meetings have entire sessions devoted to the subject.)
(EDIT #2: Google "solar fuel")
liveforphysics
100 TW
Hmm... can't store power from solar or wind ehh? Can't fly a plane or power a tanker with electricity ehh?
Any fuel creation means you're going to incur big losses in creation of it, and then in releasing it, the best you can hope to get out is ~50% efficiency.
Absolute best case combined efficiency of ~35% of going from electricity to a fuel and then into performing work. Realistic would be <20%.
Sounds like, what they actually want is batteries with higher energy density. They can accept charge at >99% and discharge at >99% efficiency.
There are a number of real world possible battery energy storage systems that can provide 5-10x increases in battery energy density. Even better, many of them are capable of stacking upon each other.
If you're going to invest money stolen from the people on a project, batteries is the path that makes sense.
Any fuel creation means you're going to incur big losses in creation of it, and then in releasing it, the best you can hope to get out is ~50% efficiency.
Absolute best case combined efficiency of ~35% of going from electricity to a fuel and then into performing work. Realistic would be <20%.
Sounds like, what they actually want is batteries with higher energy density. They can accept charge at >99% and discharge at >99% efficiency.
There are a number of real world possible battery energy storage systems that can provide 5-10x increases in battery energy density. Even better, many of them are capable of stacking upon each other.
If you're going to invest money stolen from the people on a project, batteries is the path that makes sense.
dogman dan
1 PW
I'm 100% in favor of solar liquid fuel. They are hiring to make it in my part of the state. Sunny days we sure do have.
Nothing fancy though, just algea biodesiel. They plan on making fuel for jets too. It's not completely carbon neutral of course, but a lot closer to it than tar sands.
I'd love to see New Mexico making it's own fuel for all those trucks going down I 10 all day.
Nothing fancy though, just algea biodesiel. They plan on making fuel for jets too. It's not completely carbon neutral of course, but a lot closer to it than tar sands.
I'd love to see New Mexico making it's own fuel for all those trucks going down I 10 all day.
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