2006-09-14 14:25:18 · 16 answers · asked by ezrelaxman 1 in Environment
Excellent question... there has already been a "bio" fuel created for airplanes (like ethanol or biodiesel) It has been flight tested and is certified airworthy. The problem is the cost. Only recently, with record fuel costs has it been close to being "cost effective" I imagine hydrogen will have the same obstacles. (oh yeah, and the planes would have to get so big, they probably wouldn't be aerodynamic anymore)
2006-09-14 14:34:20 · answer #1 · answered by The Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Storage of hydrogen is the main problem. It is really tough right now. Nanotechnology looks promising in this area.
Also is the problem of producing hydrogen. Most often it takes the energy from the consumption of some poluting fossil fuel. So why not just short cut hydrogen and use the fossil fuel?
Can't wait for fusion!
2006-09-14 14:28:53 · answer #2 · answered by danthemanbrunner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the tanks would havce to be so much larger than aviation fuel tanks it wouldn't be practical. Plus to make hydrogen you use more fuel than you get back so unless you use solar or wind or some other renewable resource you make MORE pollution with hydrogen. Gotta look at the whole thing man.
2006-09-14 14:30:53 · answer #3 · answered by Scott L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We can!
There are just those that conspire to keep the polluting status-quo.
They usually have huge vested interests and are usually connected to the oil business or the transport industry in some way.
People have been coming up with alternatives to oil based engines for decades but they either disappear into obscurity or end up extremely rich and the invention is never seen again.
2006-09-15 01:42:46 · answer #4 · answered by anotherbloke1960 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the main reason for not changing is that there are two types of aviation fuel, av-gas and Jet a, both do different things, but in a nut shell the av-gas engines are extremely reliable and simple, and pilots tend to stay with what works, don't really want you only engine to fail mid flight....
Jet a engines are extremely difficult to start for example, you get it wrong in Jet ranger and you have 30K worth of scrap behind your seat.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is not only the fuel you will need to change, also you will need to change the hearts and minds of the pilots, engineers and not to mention the CAA who are very passionate about safety and rightly so.....
2006-09-14 22:51:46 · answer #5 · answered by JD417 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
> Shortage of Hydrogen
>Fuel distribution constraints.
>Cost compared to petrol
>Oil producers with lots of funding for political parties will not allow the issue to be forced.
The technology needs to move forward at the moment there trials on cars but none in mass production probably due to the above.
2006-09-14 23:38:29 · answer #6 · answered by RMR 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to store the hydrogen in a form that wouldn't require refuelling every five minutes, it needs to be cooled to about 400 degrees below zero. Much easier said than done.
2006-09-14 20:53:30 · answer #7 · answered by Joseph Q 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The technology is not advanced enough, it would be uneconomical, safety issues, and all the existin engines and fuel tanks on aircraft would hav to be converted.
2006-09-14 14:29:32 · answer #8 · answered by Fadhl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Entirely possible.
See the links below.
2006-09-14 14:39:34 · answer #9 · answered by s2scrm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charles Law: P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2
To store enough Hydrogen, it go "boom". Oops!
Can you say "oh, the humanity!"?
2006-09-14 14:33:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋