Alternative Energy

[Vytenis]

I am looking at alternative energy sources for the home.  I'm checking into David M's solar program and have a keen interest in geothermal power for heating and cooling.

 

"V"

[dmano]

Vytenis wrote:

I am looking at alternative energy sources for the home. I'm checking into David M's solar program and have a keen interest in geothermal power for heating and cooling.



"V"

The only problem with Geo is the costs and location. The sun is free all day.

[dmano]

AMoore wrote:

It appears that we are on our way to using hydrogen powered cars within in our lifetime. I'm pretty sure we won't run out of Hydrogen, (from water).

Untill we suck the planet dry of water like we are doing with oil or should I say "did"

The way this world is going we will be sucking the planet inside out in no time.

[Vytenis]

dmano wrote:

The only problem with Geo is the costs and location. The sun is free all day.

Geo is "free" all day and all night, rain or shine.

"V"

[ccm911]

Since we have so many scientists on the board, I hope my question can be answered.

Is Hydrogen a naturally existing gas, or is it processed from something else(water?).  And if so, what is the process?

[Wellardmac]

ccm911 wrote:

Since we have so many scientists on the board, I hope my question can be answered.

Is Hydrogen a naturally existing gas, or is it processed from something else(water?). And if so, what is the process?

Hydrogen is a naturally existing gas, but it has the problem that it is not constrained by gravity, therefore does not stick around on the planet for long. It is not found in very high concentrations and that's a good thing.

[ccm911]

Well then, how is it "harvested"?  Can it be made employing a chemical reaction?

[Wellardmac]

ccm911 wrote:

Well then, how is it "harvested"? Can it be made employing a chemical reaction?

It's not harvested, but made typically by an electrochemical reaction.

It's not the cheapest gas to make, hence one of the reasons that fuel cells for cars have been so elusive - making the hydrogen is one problematic aspect (typically the fuel cells run close to 200C) and storing the hydrogen that you've made is the other problem. A lot of work is going on to make ultra-high capacity adsorbents for hydrogen. The idea is to have a large amount stored in a compact package. We've not really figured out how to do that yet.

[Wellardmac]

Here's an alternate perspective:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0...ml?cnn=yes

[AMoore]

I read an intersting article in one of my car magazines the other day.  Engineers believe that they can add aluminum pellets to water to create Hydrogen for power.  The aluminum pellets are recyclable.  Here is another version of the article. 

 

http://www.physorg.com/news98556080.html