Hi Alex
Burning (oxidizing) Hydrogen is 4 times more energetic that burning Carbon, on
an atom-by-atom basis. So, fuels having the most Hydrogen atoms per unit
(volume, mass…) are most efficient. This means that wood is very poor,
having about 10 Cs for every H. Coal is much better, with roughly equal
numbers. Oil is somewhat better, with about 2 Hs per C. But Methane (CH4) is
much better still, like Propane and Butane. Ideally, fuel cells using just
Hydrogen and Oxygen as input are best – no C.
Of course, however, they have also a potential to explode and that’s why
alternative fuel cells of like methane needs to be changed into something safer
= methanol, which presents different problems.
Moving to low-Carbon fuels also helps the greenhouse effect (which we’ll know
is real when the Wall Street Journal finally discusses it on the front page).
When they do report in WSJ, most of us have to pay for clean air and clean air
becomes a tradeable commodity.
- – China and India alone produce 1/5 the world’s CO2 and are increasing
that…
Please do not use third world countries as examples of producers of green house
effect. I can bet that US alone produces the same amount of greenhouse gasses as
both India and China together (you can correct me here…). (Ooops…another pub
list discussion coming on…). Yes, I agree they need to upgrade, but that
means spending money to upgrade → increase poverty → poor efficiency returns
as equipment becomes old and cannot be maintained. A catch 22 position for a lot
of poorer countries e.g. India. Tiger countries have been upgrading recently due
to new found wealth.
Sooo, moving a Jag to burning wood chips or dung is a no-no, but natural gas
(Propane…) is a step forward, both in efficiency and environmentalism. I
just don’t like those tanks in the trunk.
In some countries we use LNG as a cleaner fuel. It’s a good alternative until
something else comes along. In Europe, old style diesel is used as an
envnrmental alternative due to mileage consumption, although diesel engines are
being blamed for smog (esp when trucks and power generators use them as well.)
Different solution for different folks.
Regards.
Alan Khaw
S3 VDP - No clean thing, either.-----------------------------------------------------------
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