Bush's hydrogen future is here (Big break through)

United Nuclear ^

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

United Nuclear is currently in final testing, and will shortly be producing Hydrogen Fuel Systems & Hydrogen generators for several late model, fuel injected, Gasoline powered vehicles.

Powering a vehicle by Hydrogen is by no means a new idea, and in fact, almost all automobile manufacturers are currently developing a new generation of vehicles that run on Hydrogen as opposed to Gasoline. This new generation of vehicles are essentially electric cars that use a Fuel Cell instead of a battery to run the electric motor. Using a chemical process, Fuel Cells in these new vehicles convert the stored Hydrogen on board, and the Oxygen in the air, directly into electricity to power their electric motors. These new vehicles are very efficient, and in fact are more efficient than any internal combustion engine. The problem is that these new vehicles are years away from production, are very expensive, and converting to using Hydrogen fuel in this manner requires you to buy a new ( and expensive ) vehicle. All Hydrogen/Fuel Cell systems currently under development by large manufacturers have you purchase Hydrogen as you would Gasoline. Our system comes with its own "in-home" Hydrogen generator which allows you to manufacture fuel yourself at near zero cost. Our Hydrogen conversion is an intermediate approach that simply converts your existing vehicle to burn Hydrogen or Gasoline. The Gasoline fuel system remains intact and is not modified. This allows you to switch between running on Gasoline or Hydrogen at any time. The engine itself is only slightly modified, the conversion makes substantial changes to the computer & electrical system, ignition and cooling systems. Since they never have to be removed, Hydrogen fuel storage (Hydride tanks) can be installed in virtually any available space within the vehicle.

[tm22721]

These articles periodically appear, are debunked and join the ash heap from countless other hucksters.

Just where do you think that we will get the hydrogen ? From petroleum ? Or nuclear ?

The engine modification is relatively easy compared to that.

BUMP

[Holicheese]

I was thinking that it may be a better way to go for home heating and cooling than for cars in the short run.

[rface]

here's the section that interested me:

There's 3 options:

1. Store the Hydrogen as a compressed gas.
2. Store the Hydrogen as a liquid.
3. Store the Hydrogen chemically bonded to a chemical.

3. The 3rd option is simply the only way to go. There are materials call Hydrides that absorb Hydrogen like a sponge absorbs water. Typically, the tanks are filled with granulated Hydrides, and Hydrogen is pressurized into the material. Hydrides have many advantages over liquid & gas. One is that the density of the Hydrogen stored in the Hydride can be GREATER than that of liquid Hydrogen. This translates directly into smaller and fewer storage tanks. Once the Hydride is "charged" with Hydrogen, the Hydrogen becomes chemically bonded to the chemical. Even opening the tank, or cutting it in half will not release the Hydrogen gas. In addition, you could even fire incendiary bullets through the tank and the Hydride would only smolder like a cigarette. It is in fact, a safer storage system than your Gasoline tank is.

Then how do you get the Hydrogen back out? To release the Hydrogen gas from the Hydride, it simply needs to be heated. This is either done electrically, using the waste exhaust heat, or using the waste radiator coolant heat..

Our vehicle starts on Gasoline and runs for about 5 minutes to heat everything up ( including the Hydride ). The time it takes to heat up the Hydride is about as long as it takes the heater in your car to warm up and blow out hot air. As soon at the Hydride is sufficiently warm, Hydrogen is released from the tanks and the on-board computer detects the presence of Hydrogen pressure. The fuel system then seamlessly switches over to Hydrogen and remains in that mode until no more Hydrogen is released from the tanks. Leaving the Gasoline fuel system intact also enables you to run on Gasoline should you ever run out of Hydrogen. .

The only exhaust products from using Hydrogen as a fuel are steam ( water vapor ) and a tiny amount of Nitrogen Oxides. It's about as clean burning as you can get.

[Doohickey]

You need to read the entire article before commenting, FRiend.

[Nate1984]

Unfortunately, all of these technologies are about 20 years or more from market. They sound good on paper, though.

For no other reason than the oil lobby and lack of research funding.

[Paradox]

I saw something on television that showed how much more dangerous a gasoline tank was (especially one that was mostly empty) compared to a hydride tank. Gasoline is pretty dangerous stuff.

As for the power to generate all that H, I say we go Nuclear, use that to generate H, and tell the Middle East to kiss our a$$..

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"...I'm not going to hold my breath..."

The Shelby car company, from the Shelby Cobra fame, has produced some hydrogen vehicles also. I’m not sure about their storage system, but I do know that they built a hydrogen Shelby Cobra and a Hummer. These vehicles are ready for the consumer with $$$, so there is no need to hold your breath. But United Nuclear has the storage system that is hands down amazing.

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[rface]

Just where do you think that we will get the hydrogen ? From petroleum ? Or nuclear ?

The article says from your electric current (whatever that is - nuke or petroleum or coal etc.) or solar panels

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"all of these technologies are about 20 years or more from market. They sound good on paper, though."

It's here right now. The shelby car company has two vehicles: a corba and a hummer. $$$

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4563676/

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[robertpaulsen]

"Powering a vehicle by Hydrogen is by no means a new idea ......."

Or a good one.

[Brilliant]

I don't think the oil lobby is holding up Bush's energy bill, which contains the funding for this. It's the Democrats.

The bottom line, though, is that none of these technologies are going to be marketed until the price of oil is so high that they become economically feasible.

[Brilliant]

Well, yeah, but I mean that it's ready enough for the market that it makes a dent in oil imports. That ain't gonna happen for a long time.

[rodguy911]

How long til we see a hydrogen/gas car on our GM dealers showroom floors, and where can we fill it up.

[Nate1984]

Economically feasible how? On a micro level, the faster they're on the market the faster the prices will go down. If you're talking about the big picture, oil is already pretty high and the hybrid cars are already doing really well.

[rellimpank]

---one other small problem not connected to the "oil lobby"--the laws of physics, which are unbreakable--

[Nate1984]

you're saying an efficient hydrogen car defies the laws of physics? more like it defies the laws of exxon.

[Texas Patriot]

Go to thier website they answer that question.
I wonder how performance changes?

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"which will shave time off of the life of your fuel cell"

I understand that sulfur and price are a current problem with fuel cells – United Nuclear is using CONBUSTION engines not fuel cells: sulfur isn’t a problem. The price I assume is going to be paid by converting water into hydrogen in your garage. Electricity isn’t free. United Nuclear is recommending solar panels on your roof and using gasoline when your hydrogen tanks are filling or plugging into the power grid.

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[Heavyrunner]

While I try to keep inventors like Goddard in mind when I read stuff like this, and while I also keep hoping that one day an announcement like this will move from fiction to fact, the quality of the website and the subsequent amateurishness of the explanatory text left me feeling that this company probably doesn't have the capital to bankroll scientists and engineers of sufficient quality to make this work. Something tells me United Nuclear will not be leading the human race into a new era of low-cost commuting. ;) We can always hope.

[KurtAZ]

That was Helium...


Geesh why do you guys always shoot down alternative fuels? You LIKE relying on the Middle East? You LIKE making OPEC rich? The combustion engine was invented at the turn of LAST century...shouldn't we be looking for an alternative way to power a vehicle? Oil companies posted their highest earning EVER last quarter...why? Cause Humans can't live without using oil. And granted, alternative fuels for vehicles won't eliminate the need for oil, just reduce the amount of consumption. If we lower our reliance on oil, the Middle East loses a big chunk or economical relevance in the international arena.