You are not logged in.
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2007a/0705 … rogen.html
It's an aluminum/gallium alloy so the aluminum oxide doesn't form a skin that prevents further oxidation. You're basically burning the aluminum in water to create hydrogen for fuel. Then you take the waste aluminum oxide and "recycle" it at a nuclear power plant to recreate the aluminum. Essentially the aluminum acts as an energy storage mechanism - 2 kWh per pound vs. 6 kWh per pound for gasoline - not too bad. The reaction also releases another 2 kWh per pound as heat. I wonder if that is useful or just waste heat.
Fan of [url=http://www.red-oasis.com/]Red Oasis[/url]
Offline
Sounds good. Is it the gallium which makes this concept viable?
- Mike, Member of the [b][url=http://cleanslate.editboard.com]Clean Slate Society[/url][/b]
Offline
Sounds good. Is it the gallium which makes this concept viable?
That's my understanding. Usually an oxide layer forms which prevents further oxidation (usually a very good thing), but the gallium somehow prevents the oxide from blocking further oxidation so that the entire aluminum block can be used.
Fan of [url=http://www.red-oasis.com/]Red Oasis[/url]
Offline
I'm skeptical that this will be able to compete with lithium ion batteries as a storage mechanism. You have to keep replacing the aluminum, and the process is complicated and impossible to put aboard vehicles. Pulling the tank out of your car and putting a new one in every 350 miles is completely impractical.
Offline
2000 Wh/lb vs. 60 Wh/lb (lithium ion) means there is plenty of incentive.
It would definitely require a redesign of the fuel storage system. Maybe you'd plug in the aluminum like a big battery.
You're right though - lot's of issues - not the least of which is that it generates hydrogen and oxygen. You definitely want to do that in a very safe and controlled manner.
Fan of [url=http://www.red-oasis.com/]Red Oasis[/url]
Offline