Tiff-Any asked:
Whats holding us back?
Whats holding us back?
Archive for the ‘Hydro Fuel’ Category
Why hasnt hydro power replaced fossil fuels?
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009Advantages and disadvantages of different types of power generation?
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Brayden M asked:
Hey guys, what are (in your opinion) the advantages and disadvantages of any of the following types of hydro generation.
Fossil Fuel
Nuclear Power
Hydroelectric
Solar Power
Tidal Power
Wind Power
Thanks In advance!
Hey guys, what are (in your opinion) the advantages and disadvantages of any of the following types of hydro generation.
Fossil Fuel
Nuclear Power
Hydroelectric
Solar Power
Tidal Power
Wind Power
Thanks In advance!
are their any hydrogen cars and hydro converters for sale in us?
Saturday, November 7th, 2009
Mark asked:
if I could fuel at home I would love a hydrogen car I never drive over 150 miles per day.
a hydrogen car or total electric would do fine if priced comperable & seat 4
if I could fuel at home I would love a hydrogen car I never drive over 150 miles per day.
a hydrogen car or total electric would do fine if priced comperable & seat 4
Biodiesel-fuel for the 21st Century
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Fei Lim asked:
In this new age where fuel is the most precious commodity available, it is time that mankind turned to a more efficient, safer, cleaner, renewable fuel for use in our massively transportation dependent society. The answer to a century of wars over oil and the horrendous aftermath thereof are simply, in one word - biodiesel. Biodiesel has been around for over a century, but only recently has the world awakened to a need for fuels at any cost that will not destroy our already fragile ecosystem, and you will soon know why the whole world should be excited.
Biodiesel was first synthesized back in 1893 before the first diesel engine was even developed. Biodiesel is essentially oil of any type-be it animal fat or vegetable oil that has been reacted with an alcohol in a process called transesterification. The chemical name of the results of this reaction is mono-alkyl ester or biodiesel, and glycerol-common glycerin. Biodiesel can be used as an alternative to petrodiesel in more applications than you may think.
Biodiesel has some very interesting properties. While not as energy dense as common petroleum diesel, it is a much cleaner fuel with lower sulfur, and it burns cleaner leaving the atmosphere less harmed. Biodiesel even cleans engines which have been run on petroleum diesel from the inside, dissolving deposits of gunk and particulates that originated in typical petroleum fuel. Biodiesel’s main lure is the fact that in theory we could supply the world’s energy needs from one safe clean alternative fuel that is 100% renewable.
As for applications, biodiesel can be utilized in most locomotives that you are already aware of, with little or no changes to the engine. This means that if you have a vehicle that runs presently on diesel-be it a sport utility vehicle, station wagon, car, or tractor trailer truck-it can run on biodiesel with only one step. That step is filling the tank! This is the primary reason why biodiesel could revolutionize the fuel industry. With biodiesel, there is no need to upgrade our present fleets of trucks, cars, trains, vans, and boats that run on diesel into prohibitively expensive solar powered vehicles; we can simply pull them into a gas station that offers biodiesel and fuel up. It is true that any engine built for diesel can run on biodiesel, the only issue that could come up is with engines that were built before 1992. Many of these engines have rubber parts that would slowly be dissolved by biodiesel. But the modifications required can be done in a few minutes by any mechanic. Also, other than transportation most diesel generators as well as heaters can be run on biodiesel without modifications. This means that we can generate electricity using this exciting new renewable fuel. There was even a test flight in early 2008 of a jumbo jet run only on biodiesel. The potential of biodiesel to revolutionize our energy industry is enormous, not to mention the economic opportunities for farming nations that depend on the agricultural industry to survive. Many of these nations have begun to plant many acres of oil rich crops that are then sold to make biodiesel all over the world. The real opportunity for biodiesel to save our energy dependent society lies in algae. Algae has proven to be capable of a higher yield per acre of biodiesel convertible oil than any other plant. With time and effective engineering of an efficient algae farming method, we will be able to utilize the solar energy more efficiently than ever, and we will easily be able to answer the worlds energy needs with biodiesel.
You know a bit more than you did about biodiesel. Biodiesel may not be the holy grail of energy sources, but it comes pretty close in these times of oil wars and a rapidly depleted ozone layer. Perhaps you should look into biodiesel as your personal alternative fuel today. The more informed we are as a society, the brighter the future may be for our children. Biodiesel is not the fuel of tomorrow, I dare to say it is the fuel of today. Cleaner, renewable, convenient, and available; biodiesel may be a turning point in the world’s energy resources.
In this new age where fuel is the most precious commodity available, it is time that mankind turned to a more efficient, safer, cleaner, renewable fuel for use in our massively transportation dependent society. The answer to a century of wars over oil and the horrendous aftermath thereof are simply, in one word - biodiesel. Biodiesel has been around for over a century, but only recently has the world awakened to a need for fuels at any cost that will not destroy our already fragile ecosystem, and you will soon know why the whole world should be excited.
Biodiesel was first synthesized back in 1893 before the first diesel engine was even developed. Biodiesel is essentially oil of any type-be it animal fat or vegetable oil that has been reacted with an alcohol in a process called transesterification. The chemical name of the results of this reaction is mono-alkyl ester or biodiesel, and glycerol-common glycerin. Biodiesel can be used as an alternative to petrodiesel in more applications than you may think.
Biodiesel has some very interesting properties. While not as energy dense as common petroleum diesel, it is a much cleaner fuel with lower sulfur, and it burns cleaner leaving the atmosphere less harmed. Biodiesel even cleans engines which have been run on petroleum diesel from the inside, dissolving deposits of gunk and particulates that originated in typical petroleum fuel. Biodiesel’s main lure is the fact that in theory we could supply the world’s energy needs from one safe clean alternative fuel that is 100% renewable.
As for applications, biodiesel can be utilized in most locomotives that you are already aware of, with little or no changes to the engine. This means that if you have a vehicle that runs presently on diesel-be it a sport utility vehicle, station wagon, car, or tractor trailer truck-it can run on biodiesel with only one step. That step is filling the tank! This is the primary reason why biodiesel could revolutionize the fuel industry. With biodiesel, there is no need to upgrade our present fleets of trucks, cars, trains, vans, and boats that run on diesel into prohibitively expensive solar powered vehicles; we can simply pull them into a gas station that offers biodiesel and fuel up. It is true that any engine built for diesel can run on biodiesel, the only issue that could come up is with engines that were built before 1992. Many of these engines have rubber parts that would slowly be dissolved by biodiesel. But the modifications required can be done in a few minutes by any mechanic. Also, other than transportation most diesel generators as well as heaters can be run on biodiesel without modifications. This means that we can generate electricity using this exciting new renewable fuel. There was even a test flight in early 2008 of a jumbo jet run only on biodiesel. The potential of biodiesel to revolutionize our energy industry is enormous, not to mention the economic opportunities for farming nations that depend on the agricultural industry to survive. Many of these nations have begun to plant many acres of oil rich crops that are then sold to make biodiesel all over the world. The real opportunity for biodiesel to save our energy dependent society lies in algae. Algae has proven to be capable of a higher yield per acre of biodiesel convertible oil than any other plant. With time and effective engineering of an efficient algae farming method, we will be able to utilize the solar energy more efficiently than ever, and we will easily be able to answer the worlds energy needs with biodiesel.
You know a bit more than you did about biodiesel. Biodiesel may not be the holy grail of energy sources, but it comes pretty close in these times of oil wars and a rapidly depleted ozone layer. Perhaps you should look into biodiesel as your personal alternative fuel today. The more informed we are as a society, the brighter the future may be for our children. Biodiesel is not the fuel of tomorrow, I dare to say it is the fuel of today. Cleaner, renewable, convenient, and available; biodiesel may be a turning point in the world’s energy resources.
Learn Information About Alternative Fuel - Green Fuel Options
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Bryan Burbank asked:
It is important that we use alternative fuel sources so that we can reduce greenhouse emissions. There are many alternatives to the standard old fossil fuels but people need to be proactive in using them. There are many issues involved with fuels and alternatives but we can solve any of these issues so we have multiple fuel sources. We must realize that the oil that we are currently using will run out someday. Using other alternative sources such as natural gas can help to reduce pollution in the air.
Get Free : Alternative Fuel Information
We have made some changes to vehicles so that they can run on alternative fuel sources but we need to continue these changes. There are a fraction of vehicles that will run on natural gas and Hydro but there is not nearly enough to make a huge impact on the environment.
Save with : Great Fuel Tips
Hopefully with the current gas crisis there will be some mandatory changes so that people have a choice of which type of fuel they want to put in their vehicle. Once you give people a choice and there is a source where they can purchase the new alternative they will use it.
You also should be aware that fuel costs in your home can be expensive and also can pollute the environment. You are considered some of the alternative fuels that are available to you. I think when we combine saving money along with saving the environment we will create many options that will be available to everybody.
Remember that using alternative fuel can help save you money along with the environment. It is always a good idea to get educated and know what fuel alternatives are available for you. You can also be proactive with government and getting more laws passed so that it is mandatory that we have more options available to us.
It is important that we use alternative fuel sources so that we can reduce greenhouse emissions. There are many alternatives to the standard old fossil fuels but people need to be proactive in using them. There are many issues involved with fuels and alternatives but we can solve any of these issues so we have multiple fuel sources. We must realize that the oil that we are currently using will run out someday. Using other alternative sources such as natural gas can help to reduce pollution in the air.
Get Free : Alternative Fuel Information
We have made some changes to vehicles so that they can run on alternative fuel sources but we need to continue these changes. There are a fraction of vehicles that will run on natural gas and Hydro but there is not nearly enough to make a huge impact on the environment.
Save with : Great Fuel Tips
Hopefully with the current gas crisis there will be some mandatory changes so that people have a choice of which type of fuel they want to put in their vehicle. Once you give people a choice and there is a source where they can purchase the new alternative they will use it.
You also should be aware that fuel costs in your home can be expensive and also can pollute the environment. You are considered some of the alternative fuels that are available to you. I think when we combine saving money along with saving the environment we will create many options that will be available to everybody.
Remember that using alternative fuel can help save you money along with the environment. It is always a good idea to get educated and know what fuel alternatives are available for you. You can also be proactive with government and getting more laws passed so that it is mandatory that we have more options available to us.
Hydrogen Fuel Stations: Wave of the Future
Friday, July 31st, 2009
Fei Lim asked:
You may have heard about hydrogen fuel recently. Hydrogen is the same chemical used as fuel by the sun, and when you burn it, you get lots of energy and very little pollution; burned efficiently, the only by-product is water. Even better, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and can be processed from the same water that it creates in an endless cycle We have the technology right now to build hydrogen-powered cars. So why don’t you see them all over the road?
Because we do not yet have the infrastructure. In order to make hydrogen fuel a viable alternative to fossil fuels, we need to have a strong hydrogen fuel station infrastructure - a network of fueling stations throughout the country. After all, how would you fuel your gas-based car if you didn’t have a gas station to stop at?
How Hydrogen Fuel Stations Work
There are two different types of hydrogen fuel stations right now: public stations, located only in a very few areas and concentrated in Southern California, and home stations, built into garages and set up with complex systems to provide appropriate water and energy supplies.
Both types of hydrogen fuel stations create hydrogen on the spot using some form of electricity, from standard power hookups to solar power cells. The cheapest hydrogen fueling stations are based around solar power cells. Water is purified, usually through reverse osmosis, and put through electrolysis with power provided by the solar power cells. The process of electrolysis divides water into its component atoms hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen is stored in a separate tank. Oxygen may be stored, or it may be released as a non-polluting by-product.
The result: if you have a home station, you fuel your car for free (provided you’ve used solar energy), and if you don’t, you fuel it up at the public station using an air-hose style pump and pay whatever the charge is
Where Are Hydrogen Fuel Stations Located?
With the exception of Southern California, you won’t find many hydrogen fuel stations yet. There are a handful in Europe, where they are used to power hydrogen buses. Iceland is the first country to implement a nationwide process of replacing traditional fuel stations with hydrogen stations. Japan, always fast to embrace new technology, is following suit, and you’ll find scattered fuel stations in a few other places: New York City, Washington DC, and British Columbia (in advance of the 2010 Winter Games).
The problem right now isn’t a lack of technology. Instead, it’s three other very practical considerations:
* The cost of building a hydrogen fuel station is prohibitive, though it will certainly drop in the future, and currently only projects subsidized by a government are viable.
* There isn’t a huge demand for hydrogen fuel stations yet, partly because there aren’t enough stations to support a large number of hydrogen cars yet.
* All hydrogen stations must be built in population-dense areas right now, so the range of hydrogen cars is limited, which limits their use enough to discourage widespread adoption.,
A combination of consumer demand and government subsidy is certain to edge hydrogen fuel stations to the point where they become a viable and vital part of our transportation networks.
It is certain that when we do have adequate infrastructure to support hydrogen-based vehicles, energy prices will drop sharply and output of carbon-based pollution will follow suit. Not only is the technology clean and reliable, it’s probably going to be a new starting point for a burst of human development, just as the first steam engine, the first car, and the first airplane were.
So when will this be? Current estimates put widespread adoption of hydrogen cars at about five years. The process may be accelerated by government support of fuel station building, but it’s more likely that the process will be a little slower, with the dense metropolitan areas adopting long before more remote areas and private fleets adopting the technology before anyone else.
You may have heard about hydrogen fuel recently. Hydrogen is the same chemical used as fuel by the sun, and when you burn it, you get lots of energy and very little pollution; burned efficiently, the only by-product is water. Even better, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and can be processed from the same water that it creates in an endless cycle We have the technology right now to build hydrogen-powered cars. So why don’t you see them all over the road?
Because we do not yet have the infrastructure. In order to make hydrogen fuel a viable alternative to fossil fuels, we need to have a strong hydrogen fuel station infrastructure - a network of fueling stations throughout the country. After all, how would you fuel your gas-based car if you didn’t have a gas station to stop at?
How Hydrogen Fuel Stations Work
There are two different types of hydrogen fuel stations right now: public stations, located only in a very few areas and concentrated in Southern California, and home stations, built into garages and set up with complex systems to provide appropriate water and energy supplies.
Both types of hydrogen fuel stations create hydrogen on the spot using some form of electricity, from standard power hookups to solar power cells. The cheapest hydrogen fueling stations are based around solar power cells. Water is purified, usually through reverse osmosis, and put through electrolysis with power provided by the solar power cells. The process of electrolysis divides water into its component atoms hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen is stored in a separate tank. Oxygen may be stored, or it may be released as a non-polluting by-product.
The result: if you have a home station, you fuel your car for free (provided you’ve used solar energy), and if you don’t, you fuel it up at the public station using an air-hose style pump and pay whatever the charge is
Where Are Hydrogen Fuel Stations Located?
With the exception of Southern California, you won’t find many hydrogen fuel stations yet. There are a handful in Europe, where they are used to power hydrogen buses. Iceland is the first country to implement a nationwide process of replacing traditional fuel stations with hydrogen stations. Japan, always fast to embrace new technology, is following suit, and you’ll find scattered fuel stations in a few other places: New York City, Washington DC, and British Columbia (in advance of the 2010 Winter Games).
The problem right now isn’t a lack of technology. Instead, it’s three other very practical considerations:
* The cost of building a hydrogen fuel station is prohibitive, though it will certainly drop in the future, and currently only projects subsidized by a government are viable.
* There isn’t a huge demand for hydrogen fuel stations yet, partly because there aren’t enough stations to support a large number of hydrogen cars yet.
* All hydrogen stations must be built in population-dense areas right now, so the range of hydrogen cars is limited, which limits their use enough to discourage widespread adoption.,
A combination of consumer demand and government subsidy is certain to edge hydrogen fuel stations to the point where they become a viable and vital part of our transportation networks.
It is certain that when we do have adequate infrastructure to support hydrogen-based vehicles, energy prices will drop sharply and output of carbon-based pollution will follow suit. Not only is the technology clean and reliable, it’s probably going to be a new starting point for a burst of human development, just as the first steam engine, the first car, and the first airplane were.
So when will this be? Current estimates put widespread adoption of hydrogen cars at about five years. The process may be accelerated by government support of fuel station building, but it’s more likely that the process will be a little slower, with the dense metropolitan areas adopting long before more remote areas and private fleets adopting the technology before anyone else.
Emaya on Fossil Fuel Alternatives
Monday, July 27th, 2009
Dilip Dahanukar asked:
The three computer entities, Uncle Guhu, Brother Miki and Bitsy researched alternatives to fossil fuel energy and put out an email through eMaya. Fololowing is an excerpt from the book ‘eMaya’ www.trafford.com/08-0434 :
Guhu opened the conversation. “There is a general belief that most of the fossil fuel, coal, gas and oil, is used to make electricity. But that’s not true. I found from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), there is 15 TWh (trillion watt hours) of energy consumed by the World every hour, of which only 5.5 TWh are electricity.”
Miki couldn’t believe it. He said, “Then what is the rest for?”
Guhu replied, “There is a lot used for making steam in the chemical and food industry, there is a fair amount for making cement, there is a large amount used in heating homes, some is used in transport and most of the rest is used for cooking food!”
Bitsy spontaneously remarked, “We must therefore, substitute fossil fuel in all these energy requirements to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions. It’s getting more complicated.”
Guhu said, “Electricity is generated from many sources. It’s not all fossil fuel. They have 16% by nuclear power, 5.6% by Oil, 19.5% by Natural Gas, 30.5% by coal, and only 18.6 % by renewable sources. The fossil fuels together represent the majority, i.e. 65.6%!”
“So the fossil fuels add up to 13.2 TW; 9.5 TW for other uses and 3.7 TW for electricity generation. That is 88% of 15 TW of the total.” Bitsy put the figures together.
Miki said, “That means that of the total fossil fuel consumed, 75% is being burnt for other uses and only about 25% for electricity generation. So in promoting renewable energy for power, we are trying to save what we can from only the one-fourth fraction. I think we must concentrate on the other sector which takes up three-fourth of the fossil fuel consumption.”
Bitsy said the obvious, “We have to convert the source of energy for the steam for the industry, home heating, and cooking food away from fossil fuels if we want to reduce the fossil fuel consumption.”
Guhu was more rational. “We must leave no stone unturned. We must try to promote other sources of electricity as demand for energy is increasing by leaps and bounds. If we don’t address the issue, they will take the easy route out and put up more and more coal based thermal power plants. If it is not stemmed, coal will show a marked increase in usage.”
Miki said, “Among the renewable energy sources, the largest is hydro power. It is the electricity generated when the water stored in a dammed reservoir is sent down a pipe called penstock to the turbine located at a lower altitude which produces the power. As the reservoir gets filled by rain every year, the power source is inexhaustible. All the best sites have been exploited in the developed countries long ago. There is however good prospects in China and the Indian sub-continent.”
Bitsy added, “But there is now a great awareness of the environmental damage a dam could do. Besides, the displacement of the population from the land which may go under water when the dam is filled is also an impediment to building new big projects. But there is scope for smaller projects called ‘Mini Hydel’ to be established with smaller water capacities befitting the environment.”
Guhu pointed out, “Now they have a new concept of water power in the form of small do-it-yourself kits. The people living in houses near a flowing stream can put up a small waterwheel to generate power for their home. I think there is sufficient momentum in this field and we will see it grow in the future. China is doing it. Why not elsewhere in the World? Why not on the Mississippi river? We have got to promote that.”
Miki asked, “Talking of water based generation, what about wave and tidal power from the sea? It could be useful to those living on the coast.”
Bitsy said, “Sure there are some ways to tap this power and its being done. But the wind from the sea seems to have a bigger potential.”
Guhu added, “Not only from the sea, but wind energy is also being tapped inland by erecting wind turbines at a rapid pace. The growth of this source has speeded up as it qualifies for Carbon Credit Certificates. The added cash has given a big boost to wind power. From just 10,000 MW in 2000, the capacity has shot up ten times to 100,000 MW in 2008! It’s poised to double every 4 years!”
Miki said, “The geothermal power could be very useful to substitute fossil fuel in heating homes during winter and cooling them in summer. It’s been promoted by the US department of energy. The temperature below the surface is relatively constant throughout the year; the geothermal pump warms up the fluid down in the Earth and uses it to heat the home during the cold winter. The same system has an accessory which provides domestic hot water for bathing and washing, thus saving substantial energy. It’s being installed in the US in many homes, but we could promote the idea around the world where it snows during the winter and save heating fuel.”
“I support the idea.” Said Bitsy. “We now know that all these renewable energy sources are very small. They are not going make the slightest dent in the fossil fuel consumption. We need something big. What about solar power?”
“Solar power is also a good economical substitute for water heaters in tropical countries for heating domestic water for the shower in the bathroom. You need to install rolled sheets on the roof exposed to sunlight and circulate the heated water down in the taps,” replied Miki.
“That’s one use. But the other is more interesting. There is a way to convert the sunlight directly into electricity by using what is known as photovoltaic cells or PV in short. The largest planned PV station is at Victoria, Australia with a capacity of 154 MW to be commissioned in phases from 2010 to 2013. It is the World’s most advanced PV heliostat solar concentrator power station. Tracking mirrors will concentrate the sunlight on the large PV cells to generate power. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 400,000 tons a year,” explained Guhu.
“But this is nothing compared to the Palo Verde nuclear reactor in the US, which makes 3,200 MW of power. It saves 8 million tons of greenhouse gases a year! The solar power station looks like a small rose bush in front the big rain tree of the nuclear power plant. I think there doesn’t seem to be anything better than the nuclear power when it comes to saving the gas emissions and at the same time to fulfill the World’s ever increasing appetite for energy!” Observed Bitsy.
“Good thinking! You have hit the nail on the head, niece.” Guhu complemented her. “We have to concentrate all our energies in pushing the nuclear power fast-forward.”
Miki said, “We have to think of nuclear power station as a combination of 2 parts: (1) the reactor where steam is generated and (2) the turbine generator which uses the steam to make electricity. We could promote the idea of setting up only the first part near the chemical and food industry and supply them the steam for heating for the process requirements. This will avoid burning of fossil fuels and save the emissions.”
“That’s brilliant. But I’ll go a step further,” said Bitsy and continued, “the existing coal and gas based thermal power stations also have the two stages, one to make steam and other to use the steam to drive the turbines. They can shut down the first stage and procure the steam from a nuclear station to drive their turbines. Thus the greenhouse gas emissions from the existing power stations could also be saved.”
“I can foresee that cheap electricity will even make the cement kilns shift from coal to electric heating,” said Miki.
“Yes nothing is impossible. The steel making furnace is already electric, so why not cement?” added Guhu.
“I can clearly see some light as how to grapple this gigantic problem. Three fourth of fossil fuel is burnt for heat and only one fourth for electricity. The renewable forms of electricity generation cannot help to reduce the larger component of the fossil fuel consumption. Only nuclear reactors can provide both steam and electricity without adding to the greenhouse gases. The only answer which eMaya can tell the World for reducing emissions on substantial scale is therefore, ‘Nuclear Power’.” Guhu concluded. Bitsy got eMaya to enlighten the World!
“Hi Friends of CoolWorld,
This is eMaya. I bring you a perspective of the energy consumption of the World.As much as 85% of the energy requirements of the World are met through fossil fuels, the balance from nuclear and renewable sources. The wind power industry has shown good promise thanks to the cash flow from Carbon Credits and now generates 2% of the total electric power! Other sources like mini hydel, solar, and geothermal have developed momentum for growth.
But 65% of the energy consumed by the World is as heat and only 35% as electricity. The only way to save fossil fuels substantially is go for nuclear energy, which can create steam as well as electricity to meet bulk of the energy demand. We have to study the method of increasing nuclear energy in a massive and economic way. Yours, eMaya.”
The three computer entities, Uncle Guhu, Brother Miki and Bitsy researched alternatives to fossil fuel energy and put out an email through eMaya. Fololowing is an excerpt from the book ‘eMaya’ www.trafford.com/08-0434 :
Guhu opened the conversation. “There is a general belief that most of the fossil fuel, coal, gas and oil, is used to make electricity. But that’s not true. I found from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), there is 15 TWh (trillion watt hours) of energy consumed by the World every hour, of which only 5.5 TWh are electricity.”
Miki couldn’t believe it. He said, “Then what is the rest for?”
Guhu replied, “There is a lot used for making steam in the chemical and food industry, there is a fair amount for making cement, there is a large amount used in heating homes, some is used in transport and most of the rest is used for cooking food!”
Bitsy spontaneously remarked, “We must therefore, substitute fossil fuel in all these energy requirements to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions. It’s getting more complicated.”
Guhu said, “Electricity is generated from many sources. It’s not all fossil fuel. They have 16% by nuclear power, 5.6% by Oil, 19.5% by Natural Gas, 30.5% by coal, and only 18.6 % by renewable sources. The fossil fuels together represent the majority, i.e. 65.6%!”
“So the fossil fuels add up to 13.2 TW; 9.5 TW for other uses and 3.7 TW for electricity generation. That is 88% of 15 TW of the total.” Bitsy put the figures together.
Miki said, “That means that of the total fossil fuel consumed, 75% is being burnt for other uses and only about 25% for electricity generation. So in promoting renewable energy for power, we are trying to save what we can from only the one-fourth fraction. I think we must concentrate on the other sector which takes up three-fourth of the fossil fuel consumption.”
Bitsy said the obvious, “We have to convert the source of energy for the steam for the industry, home heating, and cooking food away from fossil fuels if we want to reduce the fossil fuel consumption.”
Guhu was more rational. “We must leave no stone unturned. We must try to promote other sources of electricity as demand for energy is increasing by leaps and bounds. If we don’t address the issue, they will take the easy route out and put up more and more coal based thermal power plants. If it is not stemmed, coal will show a marked increase in usage.”
Miki said, “Among the renewable energy sources, the largest is hydro power. It is the electricity generated when the water stored in a dammed reservoir is sent down a pipe called penstock to the turbine located at a lower altitude which produces the power. As the reservoir gets filled by rain every year, the power source is inexhaustible. All the best sites have been exploited in the developed countries long ago. There is however good prospects in China and the Indian sub-continent.”
Bitsy added, “But there is now a great awareness of the environmental damage a dam could do. Besides, the displacement of the population from the land which may go under water when the dam is filled is also an impediment to building new big projects. But there is scope for smaller projects called ‘Mini Hydel’ to be established with smaller water capacities befitting the environment.”
Guhu pointed out, “Now they have a new concept of water power in the form of small do-it-yourself kits. The people living in houses near a flowing stream can put up a small waterwheel to generate power for their home. I think there is sufficient momentum in this field and we will see it grow in the future. China is doing it. Why not elsewhere in the World? Why not on the Mississippi river? We have got to promote that.”
Miki asked, “Talking of water based generation, what about wave and tidal power from the sea? It could be useful to those living on the coast.”
Bitsy said, “Sure there are some ways to tap this power and its being done. But the wind from the sea seems to have a bigger potential.”
Guhu added, “Not only from the sea, but wind energy is also being tapped inland by erecting wind turbines at a rapid pace. The growth of this source has speeded up as it qualifies for Carbon Credit Certificates. The added cash has given a big boost to wind power. From just 10,000 MW in 2000, the capacity has shot up ten times to 100,000 MW in 2008! It’s poised to double every 4 years!”
Miki said, “The geothermal power could be very useful to substitute fossil fuel in heating homes during winter and cooling them in summer. It’s been promoted by the US department of energy. The temperature below the surface is relatively constant throughout the year; the geothermal pump warms up the fluid down in the Earth and uses it to heat the home during the cold winter. The same system has an accessory which provides domestic hot water for bathing and washing, thus saving substantial energy. It’s being installed in the US in many homes, but we could promote the idea around the world where it snows during the winter and save heating fuel.”
“I support the idea.” Said Bitsy. “We now know that all these renewable energy sources are very small. They are not going make the slightest dent in the fossil fuel consumption. We need something big. What about solar power?”
“Solar power is also a good economical substitute for water heaters in tropical countries for heating domestic water for the shower in the bathroom. You need to install rolled sheets on the roof exposed to sunlight and circulate the heated water down in the taps,” replied Miki.
“That’s one use. But the other is more interesting. There is a way to convert the sunlight directly into electricity by using what is known as photovoltaic cells or PV in short. The largest planned PV station is at Victoria, Australia with a capacity of 154 MW to be commissioned in phases from 2010 to 2013. It is the World’s most advanced PV heliostat solar concentrator power station. Tracking mirrors will concentrate the sunlight on the large PV cells to generate power. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 400,000 tons a year,” explained Guhu.
“But this is nothing compared to the Palo Verde nuclear reactor in the US, which makes 3,200 MW of power. It saves 8 million tons of greenhouse gases a year! The solar power station looks like a small rose bush in front the big rain tree of the nuclear power plant. I think there doesn’t seem to be anything better than the nuclear power when it comes to saving the gas emissions and at the same time to fulfill the World’s ever increasing appetite for energy!” Observed Bitsy.
“Good thinking! You have hit the nail on the head, niece.” Guhu complemented her. “We have to concentrate all our energies in pushing the nuclear power fast-forward.”
Miki said, “We have to think of nuclear power station as a combination of 2 parts: (1) the reactor where steam is generated and (2) the turbine generator which uses the steam to make electricity. We could promote the idea of setting up only the first part near the chemical and food industry and supply them the steam for heating for the process requirements. This will avoid burning of fossil fuels and save the emissions.”
“That’s brilliant. But I’ll go a step further,” said Bitsy and continued, “the existing coal and gas based thermal power stations also have the two stages, one to make steam and other to use the steam to drive the turbines. They can shut down the first stage and procure the steam from a nuclear station to drive their turbines. Thus the greenhouse gas emissions from the existing power stations could also be saved.”
“I can foresee that cheap electricity will even make the cement kilns shift from coal to electric heating,” said Miki.
“Yes nothing is impossible. The steel making furnace is already electric, so why not cement?” added Guhu.
“I can clearly see some light as how to grapple this gigantic problem. Three fourth of fossil fuel is burnt for heat and only one fourth for electricity. The renewable forms of electricity generation cannot help to reduce the larger component of the fossil fuel consumption. Only nuclear reactors can provide both steam and electricity without adding to the greenhouse gases. The only answer which eMaya can tell the World for reducing emissions on substantial scale is therefore, ‘Nuclear Power’.” Guhu concluded. Bitsy got eMaya to enlighten the World!
“Hi Friends of CoolWorld,
This is eMaya. I bring you a perspective of the energy consumption of the World.As much as 85% of the energy requirements of the World are met through fossil fuels, the balance from nuclear and renewable sources. The wind power industry has shown good promise thanks to the cash flow from Carbon Credits and now generates 2% of the total electric power! Other sources like mini hydel, solar, and geothermal have developed momentum for growth.
But 65% of the energy consumed by the World is as heat and only 35% as electricity. The only way to save fossil fuels substantially is go for nuclear energy, which can create steam as well as electricity to meet bulk of the energy demand. We have to study the method of increasing nuclear energy in a massive and economic way. Yours, eMaya.”
The Advantages of the Hydro Powered Engine
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Matthew Barr asked:
Image a world in which the highways are full of cars but the choking smell of sulfur and carbon monoxide don’t penetrate your lungs and kill you slowly. Imagine a trip of a thousand miles where the gas costs just a few cents. Imagine an engine that never has to be cleaned… and making a hot cup of coffee from the sterilized water coming out of the exhaust. Imagine that the gas station is in your own home, where you prepare as much fuel as you need for your trip, or buying a box of energy in the supermarket. This is the world of the hydrogen powered spark-ignited internal combustion engine… and the technology is already here.
The motor industry has been testing prototypes, and manufacturers like General Motors, BMW, Mercedes, Mazda, Honda and Toyota are all looking at putting these cars on the roads without sacrificing any of the values of dynamism and driving pleasure. BMW even make a sports car that runs on hydrogen that easily goes over 230 MpH. Mazda’s RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles are being leased to Japanese companies.
The advantages are clear. Hydrogen is the only known fuel that leaves no pollutants when combusted and is far more powerful than oil. The by-product is water instead of poison gas. But while the technology is here, the cars are not; manufacturers are sitting on the fence waiting to see in which commercial direction the wind will blow.
In the meantime, they’ve taken an intermediate step in the reduction of oil consumption by producing hybrid cars powered by a dual system of electricity and fossil fuels. These use a lot less gas than traditional engines and also reduce pollutant emissions, but they aren’t pretty and they’ve proven to have all the sex appeal of a Star Trek convention. The hydro-engine though is structurally close to the traditional gasoline engines, with just a few modifications. Drivers report that they’re a joy to handle and there’s no need to sacrifice design.
With a bit of luck then, it won’t be too long before we can drive to work, still look cool and enjoy a nice cup of Espresso straight from the exhaust pipe!
This commentary was composed by Urban Neon Car Lights. Check out our website, http://www.urban-neon-car-lights.com/LED-Automotive-Lights-p-1-c-35.html to see a bit more in regard to custom automotive accessories and to peruse a variety of aftermarket vehicle lighting kits.
Image a world in which the highways are full of cars but the choking smell of sulfur and carbon monoxide don’t penetrate your lungs and kill you slowly. Imagine a trip of a thousand miles where the gas costs just a few cents. Imagine an engine that never has to be cleaned… and making a hot cup of coffee from the sterilized water coming out of the exhaust. Imagine that the gas station is in your own home, where you prepare as much fuel as you need for your trip, or buying a box of energy in the supermarket. This is the world of the hydrogen powered spark-ignited internal combustion engine… and the technology is already here.
The motor industry has been testing prototypes, and manufacturers like General Motors, BMW, Mercedes, Mazda, Honda and Toyota are all looking at putting these cars on the roads without sacrificing any of the values of dynamism and driving pleasure. BMW even make a sports car that runs on hydrogen that easily goes over 230 MpH. Mazda’s RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles are being leased to Japanese companies.
The advantages are clear. Hydrogen is the only known fuel that leaves no pollutants when combusted and is far more powerful than oil. The by-product is water instead of poison gas. But while the technology is here, the cars are not; manufacturers are sitting on the fence waiting to see in which commercial direction the wind will blow.
In the meantime, they’ve taken an intermediate step in the reduction of oil consumption by producing hybrid cars powered by a dual system of electricity and fossil fuels. These use a lot less gas than traditional engines and also reduce pollutant emissions, but they aren’t pretty and they’ve proven to have all the sex appeal of a Star Trek convention. The hydro-engine though is structurally close to the traditional gasoline engines, with just a few modifications. Drivers report that they’re a joy to handle and there’s no need to sacrifice design.
With a bit of luck then, it won’t be too long before we can drive to work, still look cool and enjoy a nice cup of Espresso straight from the exhaust pipe!
This commentary was composed by Urban Neon Car Lights. Check out our website, http://www.urban-neon-car-lights.com/LED-Automotive-Lights-p-1-c-35.html to see a bit more in regard to custom automotive accessories and to peruse a variety of aftermarket vehicle lighting kits.
Alternative Fuel Sources - We Need Cheaper, Greener Fuel!
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Kenneth Scott asked:
As responsible human beings it is our moral duty that we leave this world a better place than we got it from our ancestors. There is an ardent need for saving the environment that is being polluted by emissions given out by the extensive use of gasoline.
The conventional and traditional fuel sources are becoming more and more expensive to extract and their indiscriminate use in the past century has resulted in their depletion. Alarm bells have already started ringing that these storehouses of natural fuel sources will reach critically low levels and precipitate a crisis much earlier than we think.
However there are promising discoveries that give hope that before any crisis occurs, mankind would have perfected and commercialized alternate sources of fuel that will be eco- friendly and affordable too.
Bio-diesel is one such alternate fuel source that is extracted from plants. Also known as E 85, bio-diesel is partly renewable. Its contents of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol mean that it is at least better than using pure gasoline.
Although such alternate fuel sources like E 85 score above gasoline, they still pollute and require a vast amount of corn to be grown which in turn translates into availability of lesser land for growing food for people.
Presently, electric cars seem to be the best alternate fuel source that we have, if we are to conserve our natural fuel sources. They are efficient because all of the electricity that they need can be generated at one central location. It is a much better option than consuming petroleum derivatives and polluting more by using small and inefficient combustion motors. Electricity can be produced in any manner that suits the needs on a particular location depending on the resources it has. One can use coal, hydro-electric or wind to produce this electricity that is required for electric cars.
The ultimate alternate fuel source, of course is your own legs on bike peddles. Peddle power is becoming increasingly popular as none of the other alternate fuel sources has completely panned out. Bio-diesel is not widely available and the power that the electric cars allow has not been perfected as yet. The bike is really a flawless machine for short to medium commutes. You will be in better shape, save some money, and do the environment a favor as well.
So, before switching on the ignition of the vehicle, ask yourself if it would not be easier to walk or ride.
As responsible human beings it is our moral duty that we leave this world a better place than we got it from our ancestors. There is an ardent need for saving the environment that is being polluted by emissions given out by the extensive use of gasoline.
The conventional and traditional fuel sources are becoming more and more expensive to extract and their indiscriminate use in the past century has resulted in their depletion. Alarm bells have already started ringing that these storehouses of natural fuel sources will reach critically low levels and precipitate a crisis much earlier than we think.
However there are promising discoveries that give hope that before any crisis occurs, mankind would have perfected and commercialized alternate sources of fuel that will be eco- friendly and affordable too.
Bio-diesel is one such alternate fuel source that is extracted from plants. Also known as E 85, bio-diesel is partly renewable. Its contents of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol mean that it is at least better than using pure gasoline.
Although such alternate fuel sources like E 85 score above gasoline, they still pollute and require a vast amount of corn to be grown which in turn translates into availability of lesser land for growing food for people.
Presently, electric cars seem to be the best alternate fuel source that we have, if we are to conserve our natural fuel sources. They are efficient because all of the electricity that they need can be generated at one central location. It is a much better option than consuming petroleum derivatives and polluting more by using small and inefficient combustion motors. Electricity can be produced in any manner that suits the needs on a particular location depending on the resources it has. One can use coal, hydro-electric or wind to produce this electricity that is required for electric cars.
The ultimate alternate fuel source, of course is your own legs on bike peddles. Peddle power is becoming increasingly popular as none of the other alternate fuel sources has completely panned out. Bio-diesel is not widely available and the power that the electric cars allow has not been perfected as yet. The bike is really a flawless machine for short to medium commutes. You will be in better shape, save some money, and do the environment a favor as well.
So, before switching on the ignition of the vehicle, ask yourself if it would not be easier to walk or ride.
Is Hydrogen a Safe Fuel, Or Not?
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
Julianne Rowat asked:
en a Safe Fuel, Or Not? How dangerous is hydrogen, lets compare. We all know how dangerous gasoline is. You drop a match on spilled fluid it explodes. Diesel is not as bad as its flash point is a little higher. You can actually hold a match to diesel and light it, although I would not recommend it, the reason for this is the flash point. Gasoline flash point is 536 degrees Fahrenheit where as diesel is 489 degrees Fahrenheit. Hydrogen flash point is almost double that of gasoline or 932 degrees Fahrenheit. Flash point is defined as, lowest temperature at which a liquid can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. So in other words, hydrogen has to be heated a lot higher than gasoline to ignite. Hydrogen gas is also lighter then air, in fact it is 15 times lighter. So if a leak did occur, the hydrogen gas would rise, it would than combine with air and quickly become so sparse that it could not burn. If by a small chance ignition did occur, being lighter than air it would burn upwards and be consumed quickly. Gasoline and diesel vapors on the other hand are heavier than air and will not disperse but will follow the contour of the ground. If ignited it would spread rapidly. These vapors also have a lower ignition temperature so the chance of ignition is greater. With gasoline you also have a larger chance of an explosion. Petroleum products are poisonous to humans and considered asphyxiates Hydrogen is actually a naturally occurring element and is non toxic. Petroleum products produce CO2 which is expelled into the air, while hydrogen produces O2. This is why when you leave a car running in a closed garage it could cause your death. This death is caused by too much carbon dioxide entering your body. It triggers your brain to speed up your breathing to get rid of excess CO2. Too much CO2 changes acid level in the body and in turns causes your death. When pure hydrogen and pure oxygen is burned only pure water is produced. So when hydrogen is introduced into an engine it actually cleans the ambient air by burning the excess hydrocarbon. By burning the excess hydrocarbon you start pushing oxygen instead of carbon dioxide out your tail pipe. With oxygen coming out our tail pipe instead of carbon dioxide, what do you think that it is going to do to our environment? In comparison petroleum products produces carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrogen sulfide. None of which is good for the environment. As you can see introducing hydrogen into the fuel really helps in cleaning up our environment and as a bonus it will increase your fuel mileage. Fuel mileage increases from burning more of the fuel that enters your engine. The more fueled burned the less fuel is wasted out the tail pipes. With all these factors taken in consideration, hydrogen fuel is a pretty safe fuel and better for the environment when used correctly. Just remember, as with any other fuel if used incorrectly it can and will be dangerous. This is especially true in a closed area. But used correctly you not only will be able to increase our mileage you will also help save our air quality.
en a Safe Fuel, Or Not? How dangerous is hydrogen, lets compare. We all know how dangerous gasoline is. You drop a match on spilled fluid it explodes. Diesel is not as bad as its flash point is a little higher. You can actually hold a match to diesel and light it, although I would not recommend it, the reason for this is the flash point. Gasoline flash point is 536 degrees Fahrenheit where as diesel is 489 degrees Fahrenheit. Hydrogen flash point is almost double that of gasoline or 932 degrees Fahrenheit. Flash point is defined as, lowest temperature at which a liquid can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. So in other words, hydrogen has to be heated a lot higher than gasoline to ignite. Hydrogen gas is also lighter then air, in fact it is 15 times lighter. So if a leak did occur, the hydrogen gas would rise, it would than combine with air and quickly become so sparse that it could not burn. If by a small chance ignition did occur, being lighter than air it would burn upwards and be consumed quickly. Gasoline and diesel vapors on the other hand are heavier than air and will not disperse but will follow the contour of the ground. If ignited it would spread rapidly. These vapors also have a lower ignition temperature so the chance of ignition is greater. With gasoline you also have a larger chance of an explosion. Petroleum products are poisonous to humans and considered asphyxiates Hydrogen is actually a naturally occurring element and is non toxic. Petroleum products produce CO2 which is expelled into the air, while hydrogen produces O2. This is why when you leave a car running in a closed garage it could cause your death. This death is caused by too much carbon dioxide entering your body. It triggers your brain to speed up your breathing to get rid of excess CO2. Too much CO2 changes acid level in the body and in turns causes your death. When pure hydrogen and pure oxygen is burned only pure water is produced. So when hydrogen is introduced into an engine it actually cleans the ambient air by burning the excess hydrocarbon. By burning the excess hydrocarbon you start pushing oxygen instead of carbon dioxide out your tail pipe. With oxygen coming out our tail pipe instead of carbon dioxide, what do you think that it is going to do to our environment? In comparison petroleum products produces carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrogen sulfide. None of which is good for the environment. As you can see introducing hydrogen into the fuel really helps in cleaning up our environment and as a bonus it will increase your fuel mileage. Fuel mileage increases from burning more of the fuel that enters your engine. The more fueled burned the less fuel is wasted out the tail pipes. With all these factors taken in consideration, hydrogen fuel is a pretty safe fuel and better for the environment when used correctly. Just remember, as with any other fuel if used incorrectly it can and will be dangerous. This is especially true in a closed area. But used correctly you not only will be able to increase our mileage you will also help save our air quality.
