Posted on 03/04/2023 7:28:39 AM PST by volunbeer
MOSES LAKE, Wash. — The first flight of a hydrogen-powered airplane was a success this week, showing zero-emissions air travel could be on the horizon.
The 40-passenger regional airliner using hydrogen fuel cell propulsion took off at 8:41 a.m. Thursday from Grant County International Airport and flew 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of 3,500 MLS. The aircraft, nicknamed Lightning McClean, was developed by California-based company Universal Hydrogen.
showing zero-emissions air travel could be on the horizon.
Hydrogen must be separated from water using electrolysis. That requires energy. Where did the energy come from?
Would not biologically produced alcohol do well at this?
Bio-alcohol is an ecologically closed system. Plants “collect” co2 from the atmosphere, it’s fermented into alcohol, and conventional engines burn it — like gasoline, but cleaner.
I would think the sheer weight of all the things needed for hydrogen fuel cells would be too heavy for efficient or long-range performance.
—Or, is ONLY 100% PERFECT ZERO CARBON emission the (politically correct) goal here? Is very LOW carbon emission not good enough?
Perfection is the enemy of practicality.
> Hydrogen must be separated from water using electrolysis. That requires energy. Where did the energy come from? <
That’s an excellent question, and one you’re not supposed to ask.
And for the curious, here’s the answer. It doesn’t look like a very green process.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_reforming
What the hell is 3,500 MLS?
Was this article written by a chatbot?
Where do you get the hydrogen?
I just thought this was interesting and I enjoy these discussions here on FR because we do have people who understand this enough to provide worthwhile analysis.
IF you combined hydrogen production using nuclear power it appears to me that it would scale and we could meet some of our transportation needs from the process economically. However, like all the new “green tech”, the rainbows and unicorns crowd will continue to talk about wind/solar despite the fact that we still achieve less than 5% of our electricity from the technologies.
Alcohol is a hydrocarbon that has a lower energy density than gasoline.
>What the hell is 3,500 MLS?
He/She/It likely meant MSL which is mean sea level.
>Was this article written by a chatbot?
Possibly, but it could be an ignorant or dyslexic human too.
15 minutes... Wow!
“Would not biologically produced alcohol do well at this?”
Very good point. Hydrogen has never worked economically as a fuel for just this reason.
If you want an entirely renewable fuel growing it will always be cheaper than electricity.
Perfection is the enemy of practicality.
Absolutely.
The problem with nuclear power is that it’s pollution-free, which means the Left will have nothing to cry about. They’re always quick to point out the dangers and the nuclear waste, which are far easier to deal with than the supposed threat of CO2, but that doesn’t seem to matter. Funny that for all their predictions of doom, they’re unwilling to accept any viable energy alternatives.
MLS???
It is a poorly written article by the KOMO staff but pretty sure they meant “sea level” as an altitude measurement.
Busy little elves running on treadmills in the engine department
From hydroplaning vehicles of course
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