[TAG] Hydrogen fuel (non-Linux)

[Mike Orr]

On Thu, May 20, 2004 at 10:57:18PM -0600, Jason Creighton wrote:
> On Thu, 20 May 2004 01:01:21 -0700, 
> Mike Orr <mso at oz.net> wrote:
> 
> > On Wed, May 19, 2004 at 10:27:14PM -0600, Jason Creighton wrote:
> > > On Wed, 19 May 2004 00:59:48 -0700, 
> > > Mike Orr <mso at oz.net> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Iceland's top hydrogen researcher, Bragi Amason, shows off a
> > > > solar-powered hydrogen fan he invented as a demonstration.  
> > > > 1) A light bulb (representing the sun) shines on a small solar panel.
> > > > 2) The energy electrolyzes water, separating the hydrogen and oxygen.
> > > 
> > > "energy" here being what? Electricity? If not, what else can
> > > "electrolyzes" water? And if so, why not just power the fan directly?
> > 
> > Of course, but the purpose is to demonstrate hydrogen power, not to
> > make the fan work.
> 
> WHAT?
> 
> I have a major attitude problem with the idea of "demonstrating"
> hydrogen power if solar energy would actually work better. I was
> thinking that the reason was probably that using hydrogen power actually
> got you more power than you started with. And now I realize that I was
> kind of asking a loaded question: If the answer wasn't what I thought it
> would be, I wouldn't believe it.
> 
> So please, tell me there's actually a reason. It'd make me feel better.
> (But only if there actually IS a reason)

Science centers and high schools are full of useless experiments whose
sole purpose is to demonstrate how something works.  My science center has
a bicycle attached to a row of lights so you can see how many watts you're
producing.  Nobody is suggesting that's the best way to ride a bike, power
your lights, or run a fan.  (Although I did see an intriguing proposal to
reclaim the energy from aerobics-runners at gyms, which could count toward a
rebate off their membership fee.  Run for the environment!)  The point is
just to see whether the lights (or fan) go on and off.  

-- 
-Mike Orr (aka. Sluggo), mso at oz.net  (iron at sense-sea-MegaSub-1-465.oz.net)
   http://sluggo.kicks-ass.org/                  Cxu vi parolas Esperante?