Spicy McHaggis 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2004 http://www.dailytrojan.com/article.do?issu...xperts.22c.html OMGSUCKYCOLLEGEPAPERLOL2004~! Anyone know anything further about methanol? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Brian Report post Posted February 14, 2004 I agree with the points on hydrogen. Never heard about using methanol, could be an interesting perspective. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMM 0 Report post Posted February 14, 2004 Methanol and ethanol are two different alcohols I have heard of when talking about "biomass" fuels. Biomass fuels are practically renewable, and do not directly contribute to global warming due to plants absorbing CO2 when they grow. A plant when burned isn't going to give off any more CO2 than it absorbed when it was alive, see. Making methanol or ethanol out of corn or other biomass is definitely a "process" but so is turning crude oil into gasoline. The biomass option often becomes used in agricultural areas such as south america, where so much of every plant is wasted. Instead, in some places all their plant "trash" is turned into a fuel. It doesn't pack as much of a punch as gasoline as far as I know, but whats that mean? As the article says, combusion enginese are only 17% efficent anyways. In regards to hydrogen, I've heard both stories. Many people over hype the explosive aspect, shouting "Hindenburg (sp)" but that zepplin didn't explode, it BURNED. I read somewhere that ACTUALLY a spark set off a fire in the cloth "balloon" which had been treated with flammable materials to make it stronger. The super green idea of making hydrogen fuel basically boils down to using wind farms or solar energy or what have you (MAYBE water powered depending on how Green you really are) power the processes of turning water or natural gas (Methane NH4) into Hydrogen gas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 14, 2004 Make it affordable and practical and I'll be all on it like Blue Bonnet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMM 0 Report post Posted February 14, 2004 which energy source? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2004 Either/or I guess... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMM 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2004 Considering, as I said, Biomass is used as fuel by a few South American companies, it's can't be THAT expensive. That being said, I don't know how much energy these countries (or more specifically individual cities/factories) NEED. Of course Corn oil or alcohol is not as energy packed as Fossil Fuels. Also, in terms of cost, like any other "alternative fuel" it may require slightly different burners/equipment so the initial cost may be higherish. Lastly one has to grow it SOMEWHERE. But there are many places to grow crops in this country, and if you think about it, properly managed soil remains fertile, but mines run out. Those are the cons of biomass that I know. The Pros? How about renewable, non-polluting, totally independant (if there's one thing america has it's arable land) All one needs is fast growing plants and one has a source of fuel. Shit, we've been burning plants since we've been burning anything. But we've never been able to convert plants into a fuel with any success til recently. Waiting for trees to grow to burn causes deforestation. But turning grasses into alcohol can happen every year. I know much much less about the economics of Hydrogen power. As far as I know, right now it is of course, high. But give it research (funded by the govt) and it's less. Give it tax incentives and subsidies (funded by the govt) and it's less. Oh, what's that you say? Too much govt money? Well fossil fuel companies (as America's only source of energy) get a SHITLOAD of govt money every year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Brian Report post Posted February 15, 2004 Hydrogen power seems to work really well in theory, but you need to tap a pretty good source. The main problem I can see is costs; not just economic but energy costs that go into version. It seems that alone they're going to have to create at least a couple of generations of stronger combustion engines. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted February 16, 2004 Hemp has quite a bit of cellulose for methanol production. It also grows lightning-quick and is resistant to insects...will grow just about anywhere, too. I don't see how these alcohol fuels pack much less of a punch, considering they're used for auto racing, unless I'm sorely mistaken. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricMM 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2004 I don't *actually* know how much energy is in either fuel, I just assumed fossil fuels have more since they're more frequently sought after. Hell maybe it's because we use so much rubber... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
