Cheaper Fuel Cells

Technology Review ^ | 4/5/2006 | Kevin Bullis

[strategofr]

"Even if they can get the cost comparable to a gasoline/diesel IC engine, the cost of the fuel will still be prohibitive. Hydrogen is hideously expensive to make and methanol, while cheaper than hydrogen, still takes more energy to create that you can get out of it."

I to believe you. Assuming you're right, do you understand the point behind this apparent scam?

[Krusty]

Hydrogen bonds are hard to break? In water that is true, but it is not true for every hydrogen bond. "The hydrogen bond has only 5% or so of the strength of a covalent bond." http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/H/HydrogenBonds.html


Here is an example of the new technology I'm talking about. Keep in mind, this is just one example. Maybe this one will turn out to be a dead end, but eventually there is a good probability of a breakthrough. All I'm saying is, keep an open mind. And NO I am not endorsing any sort of mandated alternative fuel, so the worst thing that can happen is a few companies go bankrupt (which thousands of companies do every year).

http://amminex.com/index_files/Page374.htm
Ammonia storage for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems

"Ammonia is the perfect fuel for a SOFC. Amminex has developed a compact fuel delivery system, which provides ammonia by desorption from a solid storage unit. The material has a very high ammonia capacity (0.6g/cm3), which is close to that of liquid ammonia). Ammonia is a short-cut towards kick-starting the hydrogen economy (PJ Feibelman, Thoughts on starting the Hydrogen Economy, PHYSICS TODAY 58 (6): 13-14 JUN 2005 ). It is produced world-wide, there is an infrastructure and the corresponding hydrogen density is very high. The Amminex technology bridges the gap between the safety hazard of liquid ammonia and the attractive properties in terms of NH3 as fuel. The ammonia storage material is as harmless as window cleaning fluid. The vapor pressure is 4000 lower than that of liquid ammonia at room temperature. The volumetric ammonia density is less than 10% lower."

[edwin hubble]

Cheap Hydrogen Fuel

GE says its new machine could make the hydrogen economy affordable, by slashing the cost of water-splitting technology.

http://www.technologyreview.com/BizTech/wtr_16523,295,p1.html

"...researchers at GE say they've come up with a prototype version of an easy-to-manufacture apparatus that they believe could lead to a commercial machine able to produce hydrogen via electrolysis for about $3 per kilogram -- a quantity roughly comparable to a gallon of gasoline -- down from today's $8 per kilogram. That could make it economically practical for future fuel-cell vehicles that run on hydrogen."

[lmailbvmbipfwedu]

Its the city, anyway I want to be off grid totally. Our electric company is a joke, and I can't afford to keep replacing equipment every time a storm occurs and causes a surge. The total house surge suppressor is expensive, and in my opinion not necessary if I didn't have to deal with arrogant fools. Let's see, I buy natural gas from the gas company and sell electrons back to the electric company, right? Only fault I can find is that I buying at retail and selling at whole sale. I knew I was selling at cost, but I thought volume would take care of me...............