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Combustion
(Updated on 4/19/2006)
Hydrogen + Oxygen ~~> Water
Pure Methane + Oxygen ~~> COx + Ozone + Water
Pure Ethanol + Oxygen ~~> COx + Ozone + Water
Pure Bio-diesel or (FT) + Oxygen ~~> COx + Ozone + Water
Coal + Oxygen ~~> COx + Sulfur & Nitrogen Oxides + Ozone + Hg / HM
Petroleum + Oxygen ~~> COx + Ozone + Hg / HM + PAH's
COx = Carbon Monoxide & Carbon Dioxide
(FT) = Vegetable or Animal Fat = Polysaturated Hydrocarbon
Hg / HM = Mercury / Heavy Metal Oxides (trace amts.)
PAH's = Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (trace amts.)
Fuel Regeneration
Hydrogen <~~ (sec) ~~ Water
Methane <~~ (~yr) ~~ Carbon Oxides + Water
Ethanol <~~ (~yr) ~~ Carbon Oxides + Water
Bio-diesel <~~ (~yr) ~~ Carbon Oxides + Water
Coal <~~ (millions yrs) ~~ Carbon Oxides + Water
Petroleum <~~ (millions yrs) ~~ Carbon Oxides + Water
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Indirect >>> Direct Hydrogen Usage
(Updated on 6/14/2006)
Our energy options are many but a direct hydrogen usage approach should be our goal. Currently, whether we are burning fossil fuels or biological fuels produced from crops, the energy comes from the
hydrogen bonds in the molecules of these fuels. Since hydrogen burns indirectly when these fuels are combusted, this is an indirect hydrogen usage approach. The major problem with this approach is the fact that it produces carbon oxides - greenhouse gases - that expedite global warming. Coal specifically, also contains sulfur, nitrogen and trace amounts of mercury and other toxic heavy metals that are deposited downwind of coal fueled power plants. Atmospheric ozone is another byproduct of fossil fuels. Carbon-based fuel pollutants are adding growing costs to our lives:
Global warming is increasing the occurrence and severity of hurricanes, tornados, floods, droughts,...weather related disasters
Sulfur and nitrogen oxides increase acid rain occurrences
Bio-magnification
of mercury, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is increasing cancer occurrences Atmospheric ozone shortens life spans
Hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cells on the other hand, use hydrogen directly and therefore are a direct hydrogen usage approach. Water and oxygen are the only byproducts of this approach. Electrolysis of water (via solar, wind or human/animal power) yields hydrogen so the byproduct can convert directly back into the fuel. Microbes can even be harnessed to produce hydrogen. Fuel renewing for direct hydrogen usage can occur in less than a second as opposed to a growing season for renewing crop derived fuels and millions of years for fossil fuels. Furthermore, hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth and can be extracted from crops, livestock operations and even fossil fuels.
Read The Phoenix Project: Shifting from Oil to Hydrogen by Harry Braun
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HONDA - Home Energy Station (photo) -»»»
of these fuels. Since hydrogen burns indirectly when these fuels are combusted, this is an indirect hydrogen usage approach. The major problem with this approach is the fact that it produces carbon oxides - greenhouse gases - that expedite global warming. Coal specifically, also contains sulfur, nitrogen and trace amounts of mercury and other toxic heavy metals that are deposited downwind of coal fueled power plants. Atmospheric ozone is another byproduct of fossil fuels. Carbon-based fuel pollutants are adding growing costs to our lives:
of mercury, heavy metals and