Comments on: Algae Hydrogen Balloon Fuel by 20/2 Collaborative

By: physalis

physalis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:27:31 +0000

No cowcow your wrong. The Hindenburg is not kept at high pressure. It would not float if was. I find the irrational fear that still exist so long after the accident a bit ridiculous. People don’t even think twice about having large quantities of highly combustible gasoline in the car but slap the label of hydrogen and everyone becomes a little nonsensical.

By: dr s n maity

dr s n maity — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:20:25 +0000

its great. simply great. i would be glad to know about the storage system
the rate leaking rather howmuch leak proof it is
the use of hydrogen is vast in future not only as car fuel
it can do much greater job in different form in near future
dr s n maity
scientist, csir, india

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:28:25 +0000

Coulld the dead algae still be processed for the oil?

By: Tastey

Tastey — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:16:35 +0000

GreyFlcn… hydrogen from algae is inefficient in these early stages of research, but think about how long the electrolysis fuel cells have been around and the energy balance of that process is not even close to economical feasibility. Furthermore, claiming biodeisel production from algae is stupid should require a little more backing research. Algae’s oil per weight is extremely higher than those of other biodiesel feed stocks (ie soy, rapeseed); some have recorded orders of magnitude higher. Why not pursue a feedstock that will not take up our ‘normal’ agricultural land (for food and such), with the potential to clean up emissions (CO2 and NOx) and sewage water (Nitrogen) by using them to grow. I am excited for the future of microalgae as a starting point for green fuels. Also, hot water is really low grade power; a power plant would not go too far running on hot water.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:31:13 +0000

This balloon reminds me of Stewie Griffan’s head.

By: bitspirits.com - technologie, internet, produktivität, kunst

bitspirits.com - technologie, internet, produktivität, kunst — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:15:03 +0000

[...] inhabitat.com zeigt uns eine mögliche zukunft der energie. in farmen erzeugen algen aus sonnenlicht wasserstoff, der gleich direkt in balloons gesammelt und zur verwendung als energiespender gelagert wird. [...]

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:20:45 +0000

bang…. boom…. whups

By: GreyFlcn

GreyFlcn — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:31:01 +0000

The other stupid thing
This thing assumes it’s using heated water from Iceland.

Why not just use that hot water to run a geothermal power plant…..?
http://greyfalcon.net/raser

Obviously this concept is more form than substance.

By: GreyFlcn

GreyFlcn — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:25:01 +0000

Wow, this is just stupid.

1. Hydrogen from Algae respiration is amazingly inefficient.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/02/000223071940.htm

2. Using algae to create any sort of biofuel involves a fundamental lack of knowledge about the thermodynamics and economics involved.
http://algae-thermodynamics.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-can-one-not-like-greenfuel.html
http://i-r-squared.blogspot.com/2007/05/algal-biodiesel-fact-or-fiction.html

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 23:57:59 +0000

One word:
Wind!
One of these things in a mere 20mph wind would be flailing all over the place, dragging and crashing into everything nearby until the h2 leaks out and starts a fire or explosion.

By: Mike C

Mike C — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:11:39 +0000

two words – tracer bullet

By: Brent

Brent — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:01:54 +0000

Two words: tracer rounds

By: J

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:39:21 +0000

Part of what made the Hinderburg so volatile was the thermite reaction that took place between oxygen in the air, and iron in the paint on the balloon. So saying that the explosion was purely hydrogen is not true.

By: Chat Marchet News Digest » Awesome Crazy Idea: Algae Hydroden Balloons Create Renewable Car Fuel

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:52:35 +0000

[...] It gets better, click here for the story. This entry was posted on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 2:15 pm and is filed under le Chat Marchet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. [...]

By: Thygrrr

Thygrrr — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:38:39 +0000

The Hindeburg did not explode. Hydrogen burns quickly, with an invisible flame.

The Explosion came from the standard Fuel (Diesel?) that was used for its engines. The flames came from the burning fabric that formed the hull of the airship.

By: FreshAirTimes.eu » Blog Archive » Algae balloon apparatus being used in producing hydrogen

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:21:29 +0000

[...] Via: Inhabitat [...]

By: Cas

Cas — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:33:52 +0000

The concepts base is hot water being abundant in Iceland, known for its many hot geisers and warmwater-sources. How much extra energy would be needed if such a free supply of warmth is not available, let’s say in the rest of the world.

By: q21

q21 — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:45:24 +0000

mike,

great conversation! I stand corrected on ‘touching’ the flame but check this out…

“Hydrogen Safety Report–Recently Sandia National Laboratory has been studying hydrogen jet flames to learn more about their shape and heat radiation. Their experimentation has helped them develop a model to predict radiation heat flux at various points in space and time from hydrogen flames. By understanding the characteristics of hydrogen jet flames, we may soon be able to better judge the necessary separation distance between hydrogen storage and other flammable materials and public spaces.

The photos show vertical and horizontal flames from a jet out of a 5/16” orifice with a peak flow of about 2000 Standard Cubic Feet/min (SCFM).

Compared to the combustion of a fuel like gasoline, hydrogen flames radiate much less heat. That is, you can stand or have flammable materials much closer to the flame itself without as much risk of a burn or fire hazard compared to many other fuels. To determine the varying level of safety in regions around the hydrogen flame, Sandia mapped and modeled hydrogen flame heat flux values as a function of position and time. Sandia’s model is based on data taken from large-scale flames at the SRI Test Facility, and literature review. ”

In the end, any fuel storage is a risk. No argument there. But I tell you what, had that Russian tanker that recently spilled countless barrels of crude into the ocean been filled with H2 they wouldn’t have to deal with an ecological disaster that will take nature ages to overcome. Any alternative to that is worth investigating.

By: Algae Hydrogen Balloon Fuel by 20/2 Collaborative | Soundscapes by Catherine Van Holder

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:26:07 +0000

[...] While the hydrogen fuel cell might not be viable for commercial vehicles for years, here’s some hope for the promising element. A group of Philadelphia-based creatives known as the 20/2 Collaborative have designed a unique concept that enables on-site production and distribution of biologically produced hydrogen fuel for vehicles. This plan mixes algae ponds with floating balloons to integrate fuel production and distribution into the local landscape, and allow the renewable fuel to be created and distributed from the same place. This may sound a little complicated, but the renderings sure look amazing. Who knew that fuel production could look like so much fun? read more [...]

By: El Tamiz : Gasolineras de algas

El Tamiz : Gasolineras de algas — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:25:43 +0000

[...] saber más: Noticia en Inhabitat. El texto de Gasolineras de algas , por Pedro Gómez-Esteban, salvo donde se mencione [...]