[at-l] New Hydrogen Process (OT)

[RoksnRoots at aol.com (RoksnRoots@aol.com)]

        I read in the NY Times today that they have invented a new method of 
splitting hydrogen from oxygen in water. It involves a new type of porous 
ceramic that splits the hydrogen using about half the previous amount of energy 
needed to do this. When current is run through the ceramic electrolyzer in 
extremely hot water it splits off hydrogen. Previous total energy input to hydrogen 
energy produced was about 4 to 1. This new process makes it about 2 to 1.  

        What gets me mad about the article is its detailing how nuclear would 
be used to create the needed electricity used in this process. You would 
think it would mean solar power was more possible as the supply for this new 
technique. Solar wasn't even mentioned.

       The model illustrated was for nuclear plants that co-generated 
hydrogen during normal electricity production. 2.5 kilos of hydrogen = about 1 gallon 
of gasoline. However, a fuel cell engine is twice as efficient, meaning it 
would be about 2 gallons of gasoline.  

     

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