Interesting IC Engine Research Article

Very interesting article. Even more interesting were the very erudite comments from non-MIT readers. Mebbe tuners should get honorary PhDs, yo...

Most interesting was the comment on water-powered hydrogen cars doing their own electrolysis of water for H2 "on the go". A reply to that stated that electrolysis technology was not up to par, ergo such self-powering is not feasible.

Well, the real problem with such a "self-powered" hydrogen vehicle is that a self-powered vehicle is tantamount to perpetual motion. Electrolysis is governed by laws of thermo just like IC--electrolysis of water for H2 and O2 is highly energy intensive. Combusted H2 cannot then drive enough electrolytic power to generate even more H2.

H2 also presents the possibility of "O2 pollution", analogous to CO2 pollution. In principle, CO2 gases should make our plants grow better. :) More atmospheric O2 would increase athletic performance. Yeah, dats what the world needs, better 100 m and mile times.

However, this also suggests the notion of 'Hydrogen harvesting" at every photovoltaic cell in the country--literally making yer own fuel.

I can see the gummint cracking down on this, with a HSM/black market industry on home-made "hydrogen compressors".

Can you say "KaBoommm", boyzngerlz?

"Proctologically Violated©®" wrote in message news:38cKh.1$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe12.lga...

Not that it means much to the engineers, but there's no reason to gas off the O2 to the atmosphere. Two atoms of hydrogen plus one of oxygen are the stoichometric ratio for those gasses in combustion. Likely () it would be the "right" ratio to get the most heat energy back out of the mix.

Line the streets with PV! Cover the roofs of houses! Plant tens of thousands of acres in the desert! PAVE EVERY SURFACE WITH GREY-BLACK PV ARRAYS!

(then see how much the atmosphere heats up near the ground!!!)

LLoyd

You're right--the O2 from electrolysis would then be used in the combustion process. Damm, there goes the 3:30 mile! :)

They're making PVs in foil-like strips, now--like tape. wow....

So much easier and cheaper to build some more nuclear power plants and use the off peek capacity to make the hydrogen.

If you look at the cost of photovoltaic cells to produce a kilowatt of power (only during the time that the sun light is optimal) and then look at how much hydrogen you would get in a days time, I suspect that you would be able to run your car to the end of the block before you ran out of gas. And that little short trip would cost you mega bucks.