Yes, that is a good article, Ward. The authors mention that
hydrogen power may be coming to our laptops and cellphones
long before it comes to our vehicles. I for one am looking forward
to a fuel cell option for my FT-817 :)
BTW, your comments to the FCC on the BPL NPRM were
excellent. I wish everyone else in the amateur community
was as thoughtul.
73 de Mike, W4EF.....................................
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ward Silver" <hwardsil@centurytel.net>
To: <rfi@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: [RFI] Wasted and Useful Bandwidth
> >>In fact, I think I read
> >>somewhere that you would have to DOUBLE the US
> >>electrical power generating capacity if you were to convert
> >>automobiles to fuels cells that use hydrogen derived from
> >>electrolysis. This is the real challenge of the hydrogen
> >>economy. Find a way to produce hydrogen in abundance
> >>with non-polutting renewable sources. Sounds easy -
> >>does hard.
> >
> >_________________________________________________________
> >
> >I agree with nearly all your observations Michael, but I take issue with
> >the one above. You're right to be negative about hydrogen *IF* we use
> >fossil fuels to create it, but there is a much better way. Massive
> >solar cell arrays could generate electricity which could be used to
> >split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The technology has been known for
> >decades, in fact I've even done it in my garage. Works great, and solar
> >power and silicon are literally as common as dirt.
>
> The problem is energy density, not availability. Hydrogen, being the
> lightest element, is also the hardest to confine and requires the largest
> volume for a given equivalent energy density. The resulting
inefficiencies
> take a big bite out of "well to wheel" energy transfer. There is an
> excellent and timely article on the subject in this month's Scientific
> American - highly recommended and understandable to all readers.
>
> 73, Ward N0AX
>
>
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