New Materials Could Turn Water into Fuel

technology networks ^ | Mar 06, 2017 | Caltech

[mylife]

H20

[dhs12345]

And generally speaking, mankind learns from and improves upon nature.

Also, the rule of “nothing is free” always applies. Actually, there is always a conversion loss so it always costs more to convert energy from one form to another. The goal is to minimize the conversion loss because that usually means extra unwanted heat or other inefficiencies which can have adverse effects on the system — usually wear.

What is cool is how scientists have standardized energy so it doesn’t make a difference how it is produced and consumed. It can be an electronic motor or a diesel engine or even photosynthesis — energy/power is energy/power. So different technologies can be mixed and combined.

[RC one]

We may be looking at the first thermodynamic law wrong though. True, we can't create or destroy energy but we can convert energy from one form to another. If we have one form of energy that is, essentially, limitless, we can use that energy to convert water into energy by breaking the Hydrogen-Oxygen bonds.

The sun is the most obvious example of an essentially limitless energy source but one that I find even more interesting is the thorium molten salt nuclear reactor.

thorium molten salt reactors can produce all the energy humans require "for hundreds of thousands of years".

Such a reactor would allow us to work around the first law of thermodynamics. We could use the thorium energy to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen could then be used in places where a nuclear reactor might not be appropriate.

It is worth noting that a thorium reactor was used to power a bomber back in the 1950s so we aren't talking about theories here. It has all already been done.

[NFHale]

“...my current hobby is converting gin into urine...”

I have a new found fondness for tequila, so my research is paralleling yours.

We should compare notes...

[mylife]

That certainly made for a go anywhere anytime bomber

[ClearCase_guy]

From the “Archer” animated TV show — is helium explosive? Is it safe to use on rigid airships?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsjQZ2eXTxE

[MNDude]

Serious? That sounds pretty clean to me.

[mylife]

12 oz tumbler
fill with ice
add jigger of gin
top with Vernors ginger ale and a twist of lime

[RC one]

Indeed. The idea was to have a bomber that could stay in the air idefinitely but another group of scientists developed the ICBM, and the government lost interest in the thorium molten salt reactor. Research pretty much ended shortly after the ICBM.

[Moltke]

Imagine the deserts having water piped in from the sea. What is now a barren wasteland can now provide energy that can be used whenever, wherever. As for the loss in efficiency, who cares because the solar energy is free and abundant.

It takes a lot of energy to set that up in the first place, and then to keep it running. Solar radiation on earth is roughly about 1 kW/square meter (when the sun shines). Will there be a net gain after all the energy spent to set it up and keep it running (and that includes all the energy spent on making the materials and hardware - with a limited life cycle)? Without a net gain it's a losing proposition. So far none of the known schemes have been able to provide that net gain. I'd be absolutely thrilled to see anyone make that happen!

[taxcontrol]

Out west, there is an old saying. Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over.

Turning water into fuel is really only viable out on the coasts.

[imardmd1]

Have they looked at buffalo chips yet? Paiutes used them to bake meat pies. That’s a waterless process.

[dhs12345]

I am calling BS on that one. The other BS.

[ckilmer]

Out west, there is an old saying. Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over.

Turning water into fuel is really only viable out on the coasts.
............
I don’t disagree. You’re saying what’s true right now. But materials science is moving at a very rapid rate aided by fast moving improvements in computing and fabrication as mentioned in the article. 10 years from now the world of water and energy is likely to be radically different from the way it is now.

[imardmd1]

The overall process was black buffaloes eating green grass and turning that into red meat for food, skins for housing, and brown chips for heat to battle the effects of white snow. Simple trick. Worked for a thousand years.

[Hot Tabasco]

We should compare notes...

Normally I would agree but that would entail a proper warm weather seaside ba..., I mean, laboratory environment.......

It's only in the 20's today so my backyard deck isn't even hospitable.

[Hot Tabasco]

12 oz tumbler fill with ice

8 oz glass, fill with ice, add Tanqueray..........

Repeat until satisfied........

[dhs12345]

All of your needs met from one animal. Cool!

[ckilmer]

With unlimited fossil fuels and no need to stop using them, we ought to move these vanity green projects to the back burner and focus on something that can actually kill all of us: Islam.
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The best way to kill Islam is to kill the cost of energy. By any means.

[mylife]

Energy return is the issue