Sep
30
A Fast Way Out of Using Gasoline
September 30, 2008 | 4 Comments
Here we often discuss hydrogen connected to carbon in forms from methane and methanol up to propane and butanol as ways to substitute using gasoline. All of the fuels from single carbon atom methane and up that can be sourced from anything other than oil imports are good ideas. The issue then becomes a steady [...]
Sep
29
The Nuclear Success That Wasn’t Is Alive and Well
September 29, 2008 | 1 Comment
Its been 19 years since the Fleischmann-Pons Effect (FPE) burst out in a flurry of too much information that was poorly understood, explained and tested. That and the media storm and behaviors that people sometimes use under pressure led to the mainstream throwing out the science with the bad feelings. But, the spark triggered the [...]
Sep
26
Improving the Nuclear Waste Outlook
September 26, 2008 | 1 Comment
One (the) big worry in nuclear power from fission processes is the creation of very heavy atoms, those more heavy than the uranium used for fuel - such as curium and actinium. The group is called “actinides,” the heavy elements that can take millions of years to get through half-lives to less radioactive states. The [...]
Sep
25
A Major Hydrogen Production Milestone
September 25, 2008 | 3 Comments
Whether one is dreaming of a hydrogen economy or looking for hydrogen to support carbon fuel production and carbon recycling the news out of the Idaho National Laboratory is the good stuff.
Reversing the technology of a hydrogen fuel cell where the hydrogen and oxygen combine to make electricity the INL group uses the electricity to [...]
Sep
24
The New Gasoline
September 24, 2008 | 1 Comment
Competition might be a problem:
This is the same fuel we’re currently using, just from a different source. It’s not something that burns like it—it is it.
—James Dumesic
The breakthrough is a process developed by both Dumesic at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Randy Cortright of Virent Energy Systems, called aqueous phase reforming. In [...]
Sep
23
Reality Check – Congress’ No Drill Bill
September 23, 2008 | 1 Comment
The House of Representatives has their “Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act” out to the Senate and it can’t be more inaccurately named. I suppose when you make law running a fraud isn’t possible. But the press and media have dutifully followed along as if the bill will be good for people. It’s [...]
Sep
22
Checking Up On Solar Panels
September 22, 2008 | 1 Comment
Plug in hybrids and an ever-increasing growth in electrical appliances plus the worldwide growth of increased incomes is pushing electrical demand just faster than supply can answer. Solar photovoltaic offers a high capital cost but low operating cost answers. But capital costs are projected to come down with more supply of silicon and the thin [...]
Sep
19
Carbon In Nano Form Becomes Graphene For Ultracapacitors
September 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Carbon laid out in a one-atom thick layer making a structure called “graphene” is being lab tested as an ultracapacitor by mechanical engineering professor Rod Ruoff at the University of Texas at Austin. Ruoff says, “Through such a device, electrical charge can be rapidly stored on the graphene sheets, and released from them as well [...]
Sep
18
Are Appliances as Good as the EPA Rating?
September 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy run the “Energy Star” program to award the labels that lead consumers to think one product is more efficient than another. They set standards, lay out the testing procedures and then manufacturers run self-done tests and sell based on their results.
There isn’t any third party or [...]
Sep
17
Checking Up On Low Temperature Geothermal By Raser and United Technologies
September 17, 2008 | 2 Comments
Raser Technologies, a publicly traded (NYSE Arca: RZ) Utah company involved in low temperature geothermal installations and alternating current electric motors is back in the press release business. With a stock price of about $5.50 ranging from $4 to over $18 in the past year the company has the volatility to be interesting.
Barely a year [...]
