Water Hydro Fuel

Anna Williams asked:


Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which combine hydrogen with oxygen in order to produce electricity.

During the power generation cycle, water and heat are produced as a by-products. This is a far more ideal byproduct than the unclean emissions which are created by other methods of generating electricity.

They will operate and generate power so long as fuel is supplied. Since the conversion of the fuel to energy takes place via an electrochemical process, and not by combustion, the process is clean, quiet, and highly efficient - two to three times more efficient than regular combustion, such as that done by gasoline in a generator.

Fuel cell technology is unique as a power technology - no other energy generation technology offers the combination of benefits that these devices do. In addition to producing extremely low or zero emissions (depending on the type used), some of their main benefits include:

* High efficiency and reliability

* Multi-fuel capability

* Durability

* Scalability

* Ease of maintenance

Since they generate power through a chemical process, they operate silently. Thus, they reduce noise pollution, as well as air pollution. Heat generated by the cells, in the process of generating electricity can be captured and used to provide hot water or space heating for a home or office, in larger applications.

Another key aspect of this technology is that the cells can be scaled to any size required, without difficulty. Small cells can be produced which will power mobile phones for up to thirty days, or operate laptops for twenty hours or more. Larger versions can be produced to operate as power plants, in order to provide electricity for small cities. And of course, there are many sizes in between.

The most notable use of fuel cells currently being developed is as a replacement for the combustion engine. It is very likely that cars and other vehicles will be powered by fuel cells in the not too distant future.

In light of the above, the U.S. Department of Energy (COE) is running a program in order to research and develop this technology further. The DOE considers this to be an important enabling technology for the hydrogen economy. It states that they have the potential to revolutionize the way we power our nation, by offering cleaner and more highly efficient alternatives to the combustion of gasoline and other hazardous fossil fuels.

The DOE also considers that these devices have the potential to replace internal-combustion engines in vehicles, and to provide power in stationary and portable power applications because they are energy-efficient, clean, and fuel-flexible.

Currently the DOE is working closely with its national laboratories, universities, and industry partners across the United States, in order to overcome critical technical barriers to the commercialization of fuel cell technology. It is currently focused on the development of reliable, low-cost, high-performance fuel cell system components, for transportation and buildings applications.

The first fuel-cell operated cars are currently being piloted. The first commercially available cars of this make are predicted to reach the consumer market by the year 2012.

There are many forms of alternative energy being researched, developed, and utilized around the world. There is solar power, wind power, hydro-kinetic power, biomass, ocean wave power, tidal power, and the list goes on and on. A key factor to reducing our uses of unhealthy fossil fuels will be to determine which clean alternative energy resources work best under which circumstances and in which locations. A full understanding of all clean alternative energy sources is necessary.

Fuels cells play a big role in helping clean up our environment.

Jimmie Newell asked:


All good questions, there are many ads in all kinds of media today that shout the virtues of “Green Power” and promise that if you do you will save money, help decrease global warming, save the planet, and just be an all around better person. Are they right?

Renewable energy, in many of its forms has been around and used in some cases for hundreds if not thousands of years, in fact as long as our planet and the sun have existed, they will be here as long as our planet and the sun continue. So if this is true, why are they not used more often? The simple answer is that finding and using fossil fuels is easier and cheaper, however fossil fuels do pollute our environment, and they will be depleted at some point in the future.

The first uses of the sun by early man were probably for passive light and solar heat, he may have lived in a cave whose opening was oriented to take advantage of the heat of the sun and the light it provided, he may even have placed a large rock at the opening that would heat all day, and then give off radiant heat at night. Much the same way that free radiant heat from the sun is used today. Someone, unknown to history, found a clear crystal of some sort and found that by letting the sun shine through it heat was created, and now man was able to create fire at will.

For about the last 100 years man has studied and been trying to perfect the conversion of the suns energy into cheap, usable electricity. 100 hundred years is a very short time, and this experimentation has, and is, making fantastic gains, however it is still far more expensive to produce solar panels and other parts needed for solar power generation than it is to just purchase the cheap power from our local electric utility.

Power from the wind has also been around forever early sailing ships were powered by the wind, which of course allowed early man to discover many other parts of our world. In days past we did not have clothes dryers everyone hung their laundry outside and let the wind and sun do the job. For centuries windmills have been used to grind grains, pump water and many others uses. Of course the sun is also partly responsible for the creation of wind.

Water power, commonly referred to as hydro power has also been around a long time doing such things as moving logs downstream to the mill which used water power to cut them up, powering the mills that ground grains for food, and still do today. Hydro electric power plants are true marvels of technology, and have been used for many years. As long as the sun evaporates water, then deposits it at higher elevations in the form of rain or snow and gravity moves it downstream, there will be hydro power.

Geothermal power has been available as long as the earth has been here. The earth is a huge furnace, producing temperatures in excess of 9000 degrees Fahrenheit at its core. There are places in the world where this heat comes very close to the surface, making it very easy to harness. Geothermal power is not restricted to just hot mineral baths, parts of the western US, in most of the country of Iceland make extensive use of geothermal power for heating, and to power turbines to produce electricity. Home heating and cooling, and the provision of hot water are easily and very cost effectively accomplished by the use of geo heat pump technology.

Bio energy, the use of energy from recently living things, such as wood, grasses, corn etc. is quickly becoming a more important part of the energy puzzle. Think ethanol to supplement gasoline and reduce harmful emissions. The home fireplace is another example of using bio fuels.

Research and development of these and other yet to be discovered sources of renewable fuels continues nonstop and will help mankind answer its energy need now and in the future.

Dave Simpson asked:


Unless the current price of oil declines swiftly and dramatically, the American people will suffer the worst socioeconomic conditions in living history. People won’t be able to pay even their basic utility bills, debt will escalate as food and manufactured goods get more expensive and domestic and commercial foreclosures will increase. The same economic decline will also cause a corresponding increase in crime, strikes will become more commonplace and we may even see tax revolts, gas riots and many more kinds of protest. These will increasingly become violent as desperate citizens resort to drastic measures to save their incomes, homes and livelihoods. Millions of elderly people, people on low and fixed incomes and paycheck-to-paycheck people won’t be able to heat their homes, put gas in their cars or simply cover their basic living expenses.

The facts are stark. For the majority of working people, wages are effectively falling due to huge inflationary price rises, their investments are failing, pensions are becoming worthless overnight, and even the value of their home is receding. Its not a pretty picture.

Many people are being forced to choose between filling the gas tank or feeding the family. Without cash to cover for rising living costs, many people will resort to buying staple items such as gas and food on credit card, simply storing todays problems up for release tomorrow, or the day after.

So, what can you do. Well, one thing is for certain, theres no simple solution. We can all sit around and hope that things will get better, but that doesn’t look likely, or we can start to take matters into our own hands. I’m not talking about marching on the White house, rather becoming less dependent on oil and making more use of cheaper, renewable energy sources.

First, you can get substantial increases in your gas mileage by employing sensible driving techniques. Known as hypermiling, you can effectively double the amount of miles per gallon that you get, thus effectively halving your gas bill.

Next, you can make use of renewable energy sources at home. Solar, wind and even hydro power can be used to dramatically reduce the amount of power you consume and keep your utility bills in check.

Finally, consider growing your own vegetables organically, they taste better and are much cheaper than you can buy them for in the stores. If you have the space, you can even rear some chickens or small animals as a food source.

One thing is for certain, we all need to start making changes to our consumerist lifestyle. Failing to do so will only lead to deeper economic problems and social unrest in the very near future.

 

Theodore Olson asked:


Fuel injection services are growing in popularity for the following reasons in the order of motive.

1) Increases service center’s profit

2) It’s an easy sell with today’s gas prices

3) Offsets manufacturers’ maintenance reductions

4) Poor gas quality

5) Poor adherence to vehicle maintenance

Notice that “It’s required” did not make the list. That’s because fuel injection services are not required the majority of the time.

However, injector services are at times beneficial, even necessary. See the following frequently asked question and answers…

What do they do?

Depending on the product, injection services clean naturally forming carbon deposits from the fuel injectors and fuel rails—some will even clean the fuel tank, and valve carbon deposits.

Do they work?

In short, yes. Provided it’s a premium product (such as BG), and the service is performed correctly. Fuel injection services can do amazing things. They can improve fuel efficiency, increase horse power, and repair some performance concerns, although these benefits are rare.

Whether or not fuel injection services will do all the above “every time” for your car is another story.

I have even seen fuel injection services quiet horrendous carbon knocks—a knocking noise from the engine due to excessive carbon build-up coming in contact with internal engine components.

Are they worth it?

Maybe. It really depends on the condition of the vehicle. If the service achieves any of the advertised claims, it may be worth it. In truth, most cars don’t need it. The consistent use of quality fuel, and proper vehicle maintenance should be all that is necessary to keep a car running properly.

However, consistent use of cheap gas and poor adherence to an auto maintenance schedule, as well as certain driving styles can significantly increase the accumulation of carbon deposits. Thus the possibility of poor fuel efficiency, decreased horsepower, and performance issues increases—all of which could be helped by injector maintenance.

The other factor to consider is the expense. How much fuel savings justifies the cost of the fuel injection service, and how long is the pay off. BG claims that their product will pay for itself in a year’s time. However, remember that the condition of the vehicle is a big variable! If the car doesn’t need it, there’s no benefit.

How often should it be done?

It depends on the product, but generally between 15,000 to 30,000-miles.

Are they necessary?

It depends: See the discussion under Are they worth it?

Can a fuel injection service do any damage to my engine or car?

Not if done correctly. Done incorrectly, anything goes. A technician could conceivably hydro-lock your engine, or blow a hole in the piston—although both scenarios are rare.

If anything does go wrong, there is usually an underlying problem, which gets exacerbated by the fuel injector auto maintenance.

Why doesn’t my manufacturer recommend fuel injector cleaning auto maintenance?

No manufacturer recommends fuel injector cleaning auto maintenance under normal operating conditions. From a manufacturer’s viewpoint: take care of your car right (i.e., as the manufacturer dictates) and you’ll be fine.

However, depending on the problem, some manufacturers will recommend fuel injector cleaning auto maintenance as the cure—especially carbon knock. With the wide variety of fuel qualities available, manufacturers are reconsidering fuel injector cleaning auto maintenance.

How much does fuel injector cleaning auto maintenance cost?

Prices vary depending on the service center and the actual procedure performed, and product used. The procedure you want should clean the entire fuel system including the tank and should not cost more than $150.

Also, make sure the service is actually performed as fuel injector maintenance is a common scam across the industry.

Lastly, fuel injection maintenance is often presented in such a way as if it is the magical cure for all your car’s quirks—it not!

When in doubt, don’t do it.

Matthew Barr asked:


Image a world in which the highways are full of cars but the choking smell of sulfur and carbon monoxide don’t penetrate your lungs and kill you slowly. Imagine a trip of a thousand miles where the gas costs just a few cents. Imagine an engine that never has to be cleaned… and making a hot cup of coffee from the sterilized water coming out of the exhaust. Imagine that the gas station is in your own home, where you prepare as much fuel as you need for your trip, or buying a box of energy in the supermarket. This is the world of the hydrogen powered spark-ignited internal combustion engine… and the technology is already here.

The motor industry has been testing prototypes, and manufacturers like General Motors, BMW, Mercedes, Mazda, Honda and Toyota are all looking at putting these cars on the roads without sacrificing any of the values of dynamism and driving pleasure. BMW even make a sports car that runs on hydrogen that easily goes over 230 MpH. Mazda’s RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles are being leased to Japanese companies.

The advantages are clear. Hydrogen is the only known fuel that leaves no pollutants when combusted and is far more powerful than oil. The by-product is water instead of poison gas. But while the technology is here, the cars are not; manufacturers are sitting on the fence waiting to see in which commercial direction the wind will blow.

In the meantime, they’ve taken an intermediate step in the reduction of oil consumption by producing hybrid cars powered by a dual system of electricity and fossil fuels. These use a lot less gas than traditional engines and also reduce pollutant emissions, but they aren’t pretty and they’ve proven to have all the sex appeal of a Star Trek convention. The hydro-engine though is structurally close to the traditional gasoline engines, with just a few modifications. Drivers report that they’re a joy to handle and there’s no need to sacrifice design.

With a bit of luck then, it won’t be too long before we can drive to work, still look cool and enjoy a nice cup of Espresso straight from the exhaust pipe!

This commentary was composed by Urban Neon Car Lights. Check out our website, http://www.urban-neon-car-lights.com/LED-Automotive-Lights-p-1-c-35.html to see a bit more in regard to custom automotive accessories and to peruse a variety of aftermarket vehicle lighting kits.

David Tanguay asked:


In today’s world of eco-friendly inventions, the electric car is getting its fair share of exposure. Not only are gas prices at an all-time high right now, but the fuel emissions that emanate from petroleum juiced engines cause a breakdown in what we desire to be clean air. An electric car emits absolutely no emissions due to the lack of a tailpipe, as well as zero evaporative dischargefrom a fuel system.

The invention of the electric vehicle has been around for a little while, and the sophistication of the design keeps getting better. Options include anything from a car that affords the driver a short trip to the local grocery store, to the types that look like your run of the mill vehicle and allows for a considerably longer excursion.

So, beside the characteristics already mentioned, what are the benefits of owning and driving an electric vehicle? Let’s reiterate the fact that electric cars do not emit poisonous toxins into the air we also have to breathe. If more people drove these types of vehicles, we could, as a whole, reduce the carbon dioxide levels in the air. For those who don’t know what the effects of carbon dioxide are, let me tell you. Quite simply, carbon dioxide adds to the global warming effects we currently experience because of the years of exposure the air has succumbed to from the many different toxins being emitted.

In addition to the advantages we will obtain if we reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the air, we will also reduce some of the cancer risks that we, unfortunately, currently see a great deal of. Beside carbon dioxide, a toxic pollutant called benzene is seen in petroleum. Benzene has many ill effects. On top of a recognized cancer risk, benzene can cause breathing disorders and dizziness when an individual encounters a high level of contact. An increase in electric vehicle drivers will allow for the levels in the air of this impurity to be diminished.

As stated above, many electric cars have been, and continue to be, marketed for ecological purposes. In fact, GE has invested a total of $24 million into its new Th!nk electric car. GE will be revealing this vehicle for the first time at the Geneva Auto Show, which started March 6th and will go until March 16th. Weighing in at only 350 kilograms, this car will likely be able to see speeds of around 85 MPH.

The dynamic of the engine will charge the battery, allowing the Th!nk to travel about 280 miles before having to be recharged. GE alleges that the car will go from 0-60mph in eight seconds.

Obviously the Th!nk is not going to be entering into any drag races or the Indy 500, but it is well equipped for the necessities of city driving. The main advantage, as with all eco-friendly cars, is the lack of toxins that are being sent up into the air. One more option to make the world a greener place!