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To: Shaun_MD

Some are experimenting with using wind and solar to drive a system that separates oxygen from hydrogen in regular old tap water. Some power is used to run a compressor that takes the gasses and compresses them in bottles and tanks.

There is a bank of batteries used to run compressors and a motor that turns the array as the earth changes its position relative to the sun.

The tanks are cheaper and easier to store, ultimately, than batteries. You can also sell the gas if you have excess. You can by electrical generators that will run on the hydrogen or the oxygen.

Storing kinetic energy as chemical energy is ultimately the best way to buffer the inconsistencies involved with electrical power generation from wind or solar (tidal too).

Tank arrays can be built, and a computer can be set up to monitor how many empty bottles remain in each array in your rack system.

When you get to 50 or 75%, you unload the full arrays and store them, or sell them. You load more empty arrays.

Arrays full? Battery topped? Good! You can start your flare and let the oxygen and hydrogen burn off as it is produced. You get flame and water vapor. Put it in the middle of an orchard and you might be able to use it to keep your fruit from freezing in the fall.

Well water and a tank level system is used to make sure you have enough water in your tank.

I just laugh at all the watermelons (green on the outside, red on the inside) that drive electric cars, carry iphones, and use ipads. All of them have batteries that will end up being the environmental nightmare of the middle of the century. Sealed battery cases are my favorite. Thanks Apple!

The downside to this, you need water to produce the power. Water is the weak point in all power generation. You gotta have it. With as ‘advanced’ as we’ve become, we still use the ‘tea kettle’ system to make electrical power. Heat the water, blow the steam past a wheel with paddles, and make the sparks.

Primitive. Competes with food production, where you absolutely have to have the water to grow the food.

Tidal generated electrical power is the only form of power not requiring fresh water to produce. That and the ICE.


78 posted on 03/21/2014 8:29:22 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs
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To: RinaseaofDs

Some are experimenting with using wind and solar to drive a system that separates oxygen from hydrogen in regular old tap water.

- - - - -

The separation of hydrogen and oxygen require electrical energy to break down the molecular bond. It requires significantly more energy than you can make from burning the gases to run a generator. Each step of the system has losses.

Hydrogen has very low specific gravity and generates a LOT of heat compressing it to a sufficient pressure to keep the volume smaller than your whole house. A lot of energy is used to compress that gas. If you are not using a hazardous area rated compressor for hydrogen, you should expect, sooner or later, to have an explosion when a sufficient leak occurs.

You will spend far more money on this set up, than buying bottles of propane. Likely at least 10 times as much money and higher risk for the same amount of stored energy.

I have designed/installed/modified several industrial hydrogen compressor systems in refineries. I have the knowledge and tools to set up such a system for my home. I would never consider it a reasonable option both due to expense and risk.


81 posted on 03/21/2014 8:36:42 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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