Is the fuel cell finally coming of age?

As I pointed out to my class last night, little has changed with the viability of a hydrogen powered fuel cell since its inception in 1839 by Welsh lawyer Sir William Grove. Yes, fuel cells themselves have changed quite a bit. Different materials, different dielectrics, different operating temperatures... However, the fundamental issues of producing hydrogen quickly, efficiently, and affordably have long eluded the most ardent supporters of the long-awaited “hydrogen economy.”

There have been some strides in the area of hydrogen storage. Most take up too much space, are too heavy, or depend upon exotic cryogenic processes that make the cost of hydrogen skyrocket. Additionally, the true sources of power that are used to produce our hydrogen generate at least as much pollution as the systems that hydrogen would attempt to replace.

However, where there is a will there is a way. I began my course with a video demonstration of a process discovered in 1967 by Professor Jerry Woodall of Purdue University. Prof. Woodall was a researcher for IBM at the time. The Woodall process involved melting gallium (it melts at 87 degrees F.) and dissolving aluminum pellets to form a liquid alloy. When water is introduced to this mixture, oxygen quickly bonds with the aluminum, freeing hydrogen gas and forming aluminum oxide (alumina). The gallium is reusable, requiring the replenishment of aluminum and water to resume the process. Science Daily reported this development on August 29, 2007. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070827174310.htm)

Now, a new company, AlumiFuel Power, Inc. of Philadelphia has developed a commercially viable hydrogen generator using a mixture of powdered aluminum and proprietary catalysts to perform the same basic function. Applications have been developed for stationary fuel cell systems, unmanned underwater vehicles, and military applications.

Key to the system is the ability to contain the reactants in an easily removed canister about the size of a can of Arizona Iced Tea. Should such a generator be integrated into a fuel cell vehicle, one could “gas-up” the family car by pulling up next to a vending machine!

You can check out this up and coming development at http://www.alumifuelpowerinc.com/.

U.S. Military is Developing Smart Microgrids with Solar Power

How can solar and other alternative energy systems save lives? Easy... the less you rely on fossil fuels that have to be transported through dangerous areas held by terrorists and insurgents, fewer manned convoys have to brave bullets, rocket-propelled grenades, and IEDs. That's why the Pentagon is embracing alternative energy (including microgrids) in a big way.

Tina Casey wrote in her June 18th post in CleanTechnica.com, "These microgrids can draw energy interchangeably from solar arrays and other sources to cut costs, improve logistics, and reduce the troop safety risks involved in fossil fuel convoys. As part of the military’s drive to lead the civilian sector to more secure and sustainable energy sources, the projects are designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of microgrids at large civilian facilities as well as military installations."

You can read Tina's entire post at http://cleantechnica.com/2010/06/18/u-s-military-is-developing-smart-microgrids-with-solar-power/.

Windmills on my mind

Round, like a circle in a spiral

Like a wheel within a wheel.

Never ending or beginning,

On an ever spinning wheel

Like a snowball down a mountain

Or a carnaval balloon

Like a carousell that's turning

Running rings around the moon

Like a clock whose hands are sweeping

Past the minutes on it's face

And the world is like an apple

Whirling silently in space

Like the circles that you find

In the windmills of your mind

Windmills are fascinating... the visible set in motion by the invisible... a tiny fragment of energy torn from an infinite resource. It's almost like the hand of man trying to grasp the hand of God.

Enough philosophy. My class explored residential wind turbines this week. We learned how modern wind turbines with three blades are far more efficient than the old-style windmills of the American West, how to size up the power generating capability of a given turbine by the rotor length (r), standard atmospheric density (ρ) and the annual average wind speed (v).

When it comes to alternative energy, the Internet is a rich resource of information. Many reputable manufactures make the specifications of their turbines available to all. With so many vendors and installers available, it’s a good idea to find an independent source of information and advice.

As it turns out, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind and Water Power Program provides a wealth of information to those interested in energy freedom. You can check out their resources at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/

NS Norfolk starts green roof project

WAVY-TV reports that Naval Station Norfolk has commenced a "green" roof project designed to reduce run-off, moderate the "heat island" effect, and reduce carbon dioxide.  The article can be found at WAVY-TV's website by clicking here.

China Auto Maker Turns Over a New Leaf? YeZ!

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is a Chinese component of General Motors Corporation.  The concept car pictured above uses photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert sunlight into electricity from the array mounted on a roof designed to look like a leaf.  Electrical cables in the "leaf" simulate the veins of leaves found in nature.  Additional electricity is generated by the four windmills mounted on each wheel. 

The concept car is named "YeZ" after the Chinese word for "leaf".  What really bends your mind is the body.  It's constructed of material that recreates photosynthesis artificially.  In this case it takes carbon dioxide and water vapor from the air and produces oxygen and refrigerant.

You can read all about it here

Navy Green Hornet Goes Supersonic with Biofuel

The author of this article, John Croft, was kind enough to let me copy his article.  You can find his original article by clicking here.

The US Navy marked "Earth Day" today with a M1.2 supersonic demonstration of a "Green" F/A-18 Super Hornet using a 50/50 mixture of JP-8 jet fuel and biofuel developed in part by Honeywell subsidiary UOP.

The flight, out of the Navy's Patuxent River location, was the first of 15 flight demonstrations and 23 flight hours through mid-June that will be used to certify the 50/50 mix. The 45-minute flight was also the first flight of a supersonic jet with afterburners using a biofuel blend, says the Navy.

Preliminary results from test show that there was no difference in engine performance metrics attributable to the fuel mix, officials say.

Once the entire flight envelope is cleared for the F/A-18's GE F414 engine, the Navy plans to expand its certification efforts to other Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and Navy tactical systems.

The UOP process converts the raw camelina oil, which in this case was produced by Seattle-based Sustainable Oils from the inedible camelina plant, into a renewable fuel through a hydro-treatment at a facility in Texas. The renewable fuel portion, which does not have the aromatics associated with petroleum derived fuels, must be mixed with JP-8 to prevent damage to certain seals and other engine components, says a UOP spokewoman.

UOP is under contract to US Defense Energy Support Center to produce for the Air Force and Navy 600,000 gallons of hydro-treated jet fuel delivered by seven vendors using a variety of feedstock, including camelina, animal fats and algae.

The Air Force in March successfully performed the first flight of an A-10 Thunderbolt II using the camelina mixture.

UOP's "Green Jet Fuel" process technology was originally developed in 2007 under a contract from the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to produce renewable jet fuel for the US military.