[modeleng] Re: steam car (OT)
- From: "Charles & Dorothy Brumbelow" <cbrumbelow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 06:34:39 -0600
I may be in the minority here, but I don't see hydrogen as a viable
replacement for hydrocarbons, ecologically speaking. On earth, hydrogen is
not readily available in a "pure" state useable for fuel, but must first be
extracted from some compound or other -- often natural gas (a hydrocarbon).
Extracting hydrogen from water is possible, but requires electricity which
must be generated somehow -- practically speaking by burning hydrocarbons or
with nuclear powerplants. Most large sites for hydroelectric power
generation have already been taken; those that are left would receive
tremendous resistance from conservationists. Adding windmills is heavily
resisted -- think Walter Cronkite and Ted Kennedy and the ocean off Cape Cod
and their view thereof. Storage and transportation of hydrogen is
difficult -- as a gas it seeps through most container materials and
maintaining it in a liquified state is complex, requiring heavy equipment.
So what do I think the long term solution is? Probably hydrocarbon/electric
vehicles, maybe with the electricity generated in part by nuclear
powerplants -- in spite of the public's current reluctance. Charles
----- Original Message -----
From: "alanjstepney" <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<<snip>>
> The most promising, believes Mr Bowsher, is either nuclear or hydrogen
> fuel.
> The public is reluctant to explore nuclear; but researchers and engineers
> across the world are exploring how best to generate and, more importantly,
> store hydrogen fuel, one of the main barriers to its widespread use.
> Nine European cities are taking part in a pilot scheme to use hydrogen
> fuelled buses on certain routes, for instance.
> But until a viable mass-scale way of storing and distributing hydrogen
> effectively is developed, it remains limited in use.
<<snip>>
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