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General Forums => Generic Discussion => Topic started by: dmc0319 on January 23, 2017, 10:40:47 AM

Title: Hydrogen Fuel
Post by: dmc0319 on January 23, 2017, 10:40:47 AM

I'd like to get a couple of different people's inputs on these questions.

Do you believe Hydrogen is a practical fuel source?
If not, do you believe it can become one?
Why or why not?

Title: Re: Hydrogen Fuel
Post by: Babcock_Hall on January 23, 2017, 11:37:32 AM

What do you think?  It is a Forum Rule that you must provide your attempt answer a question or give your thoughts before we can help you.

Title: Re: Hydrogen Fuel
Post by: discodermolide on January 23, 2017, 11:38:39 AM

Nice homework question.
Think about generation.
Then think about storage and delivery.
Let's not mention safety

Title: Re: Hydrogen Fuel
Post by: Enthalpy on January 24, 2017, 03:57:14 PM

Hydrogen fuel, you mean, for rockets? Definitely yes, for >50 years, and irreplaceable.

Oh, for other uses? That could prove to be one of the most expensive errors in human research, unless someone eventually finds a decent storage method (or until humans find an even more expensive error, of course). The progress of lithium batteries has made hydrogen less seducing in the last years.

I still see a future for hydrogen fuel: at aeroplanes. Hydrogen's energy per mass unit improves the range and flight duration. Car fuel cells are already light enough for slower aeroplanes: helicopters far better than kerosene right now, 500km/h planes easy, 1000km/h planes not quite good. Design examples there with 100kg/100kW fuel cells, the last ones with up-to-date 50kg/100kW, including my tank design for liquid hydrogen.
http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/75102-electric-helicopter/#entry748087
http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/73798-quick-electric-machines/#entry738661