Hydrogen fuel?

Question

I watched an episode of Myth-Busters the other day, and they took an old naturally carbeurated car motor and disconnected the fuel lines. They then took a tank of hydrogen and put the hose in the top of the carbeurator and started the car. It ran fine, as if it were running on gas. WTF? Why are we not already using this technology?? I had no idea it could work so simply! The motor they used was almost 20 years old!!

Answer 1

Hydrogen is still more expensive to refine than crude oil. If we can get the refinement cost of hydrogen down and then create an efficient distribution plan as well as an efficient method of retrofitting gas stations then we will be good to go.

Answer 2

There are several reasons:
Safety: think hindenberg. There are special failure modes of metals associated with being around hydrogen (hydrogen embrittlement) comes to mind. It acts like a very strong acid. It leaks through seals that would keep liquids. As a liquid its a cryogen.

Energy Density: 1 Liter of ethanol at stp has 3 times the specific energy density of 1 Liter of gaseous hydrogen at stp. You have to hold a lot of kilograms of hydrogen to go the same distance as gas.

Distribution: you cant exactly buy it for a dollar per gallon at the gas station. The citizens of the US cant burn 14 million barrels per day of the stuff, because its not produced in those sorts of volumes.

Optimization: Just because a car engine (otto cycle) actually runs on hydrogen doesnt mean its built to use it well within the constraints of the cycle. There could be a lot of energy thats not being used just because of the temperature/pressure/timing of the design of the block/pistons/crankshaft. Fuel Cells burning hydrogen can crank out about 5 times the useful energy of an internal combustion engine for the exact same fuel usage, so there is a lot of research there.

Answer 3

I have several questions.

1. Where do we get the hydrogen? I know that it's in water, but it takes a lot of energy to separate it from the oxygen. The where do we get the energy to do that? Burn more coal? If we get the hydrogen from water, what do we do with the oxygen? It's dangerous too.

2. Where do we store it? You can't just pump it in like gas. Hydrogen tanks (you're welcome) are heavy and dangerous to work with. It might be useful in fleet vehicles, like buses, but for the ordinary family? We are a looooooooong way off of being capable of supplying the general public countrywide.

3. How do we distribute it? Are we going to have a hydrogen fuel station on every corner? Won't there be 'Not in my back yard' people who will be afraid of an explosion? Do you remember the Hindenburg? It blew up in Lakehurst, NJ in the 1930's. See below.

None of the above is insurmountable, but we are nowhere near the solution. If you are so committed to it, become an engineer and help solve the problems.

Answer 4

In my highschool biology class our teacher told us we could get our cars converted to a natural gas engine with little problem for about $1800 and that most of the parts were the same, but a hydrogen powered car? Did it actually cumbust the hydrogen or was it compressed hydrogen that forced the pistons? I've heard of cars running on compressed air too. Interesting. Sorry that wasn't really an answer, more of a one sided discussion since you can't answer me.

Answer 5

The efficiency needs to be improved. Suzuki has a car that is used in Japan that runs on hydrogen fuel and it can only go about 70 miles on hydrogen. They are using it as a hybrid vehicle, but we're still a long way off from making it more efficient.

Answer 6

There's no magic to hydrogen fueled engines. Mix hydrogen with oxygen, add a spark and they ignite producing water vapor. But the hydrogen has to come from somewhere.

The easiest ways to produce hydrogen are chemically, or by using electricity to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen. Either of these still uses other natural resources and power.

Answer 7

Welcome to the Club we don't meet on Wednesday because nobody believes us.

In the 1960's the AEC had 7 Chevy Nova's running on Hydrogen driving back and forth coast to coast. I know because my uncle was in the project.

Go big Red Go

Answer 8

More demand from the public for eco friendly cars, more eco friendly cars.

Its not that they don't have to technology, the American public needs to demand more eco friendly fuels.

BTW what the hell is the harm of living green, even if there is no greenhouse effect or global warming? Can someone tell me why we are so opposed to being environmentally friendly?

Answer 9

They also have electric cars (not hybrids) which can go 70 MPH and 70 hours without charging... but we aren't seeing those on the market either.

Answer 10

The Germans are working on it because they see the benefit of doing away with petroleum fuel. The US kinda is but big oil has its penis so far up g.w.'s rectum we will not catch up to the Europeans. But hey who cares its only money right?