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(Untitled)
I think we're done here. -
A good use of Ben Franklin's truism
The temptress of socialism is constantly luring us with the offer: "give up a little of your freedom and I will give you a little more security." As the experience of this century has demonstrated, the bargain is tempting but never pays off. We end up losing both our freedom and our security.
Mark Perry, 1995 -
How much methanol?
From NewEnergyAndFuel
To give some feel for this potential, a ton of wood would make between 165 to 185 gallons of methanol. The U.S. alone generates 240 million tons of wood waste each year, which would yield at least 39.6 billion gallons of methanol. U.S. paper mills could add another 9.3 billion gallons. The uncounted tons of trash and garbage ( Read more... ) -
Methanol from wood = inefficient.
I was mistaken. You use about 15 times as much energy heating the wood as you get stored in the distilled methanol. You'd be better off doing this. Methanol can be efficiently produced from methane, if you have any (and you need liquid fuel rather than gaseous ( Read more... ) -
pennies = power?
Bare with me, because this is either the worst or best idea I've had this week. It definitely gave me giggles when I thought of it. Sadly, it was not quite mad scientist cackling. I'm saving that for something bigger.
US penny = Copper clad zinc ingot (97.5% Zn, 2.5% Cu).
The Zinc-air battery (or Fuel Cell) uses zinc and atmospheric oxygen as ( Read more... ) -
Posting a link just for the quote
It's a good article on biofuels, but I'm linking it because I geeked out over the introduction of one of the scientists covered:
"Rogue scientist J. Craig Venter..."
How friggin' awesome is that? I wonder what level he is. -
DCFC links and thoughts
Warning: Science content.
Fuel Cell basics
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) basics
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) basics
SARA DCFC research (MCFC approach)
CellTech DCFC research (SOFC with a twist)In all cases, DCFCs operate at between 700 and 850 degrees centigrade (reaction temperature). A reasonably sized residential cell would be intended ( Read more... ) -
What to do on my Summer vacation...
Design a factory-realizable DCFC (Direct Carbon Fuel Cell).
Shouldn't be too hard, they've only been trying since 1898.