sharpy1071 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 I don't know whether this has been discussed on this forum if it has I apologise. Been reading and article and press release about a substance called Powerpaste which when it mixes with water it creates electricity. It's 10x more denser than present batteries in cars and also made up from Magnesium and Hydrogen Magnesium is a very common substance found on this planet. It's been tested in the laboratory with success and is being muted to be applied to small motorcycles as the storage tank does not have to be pressurised as is a car powered by hydrogen. It has also been muted to be used on large drones for long distance flying. If this system could be miniaturised more we might well bee able to fill our small drones (aeroplane) with it. A fuel tank of water and a small pellet of Powerpaste could be another safe alternative to present batteries as will with stand heat up to 250C degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Fraunhofer's whitepaper: White_paper_POWERPASTE_final.pdf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 What would the PEM fuel cell and water injection system weigh? Anyone with any insight? They talk of 100W upwards but for wider fixed wing applications would it give a total power system weight saving over conventional Li cells? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Sanders Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 That looks very interesting. The paper doesn't seem to go into too much detail about the cost of generating the electricity. It seems that the paste, once used, is thrown away? Is there a waste product? A lipo, of course can be recharged. Would we be buying litres of paste (as we used to buy nitro). Will the weight of the system (in the aeroplane, helicopter etc.) negate some of the power advantages? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 (edited) Interesting. I've always thought that the secret to the world's energy crisis will be found within the elements that make up water. This paste uses half of the available Hydrogen within the water, if my fundamental Chemistry knowledge is right. .... and yes there is a waste product - Magnesium Hydroxide as used in Milk of Magnesia. Edited February 16, 2021 by Gary Manuel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 The problem with water is that whilst it contains hydrogen and oxygen, you're at the wrong end of the equation, the energy has been spent in getting it to that state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 17 minutes ago, Phil Green said: The problem with water is that whilst it contains hydrogen and oxygen, you're at the wrong end of the equation, the energy has been spent in getting it to that state. Yes I know Phil but combined with another unlimited energy source like the Sun, Nuclear Fusion or who knows what, it may be possible to separate the elements again. Wishful thinking and lack of knowledge maybe, but wouldn't it be wonderful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 It also looks like it takes quite a bit of energy to make MgH2, but as a storage medium for hydrogen it could have some legs, probably not going to replace our Lipos anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 3 hours ago, Gary Manuel said: Yes I know Phil but combined with another unlimited energy source like the Sun, Nuclear Fusion or who knows what, it may be possible to separate the elements again. Wishful thinking and lack of knowledge maybe, but wouldn't it be wonderful? Careful what you wish for. We use too much energy. Unlimited power sources provide unlimited power. When everyone zooms round in 2 ton SUV’s, where does the waste heat go. imagine the world, deep sided frying pan, and God puts a small ring under it, and then it starts to get warm, then warmer.....Answer is never burn more energy to put refrigerators on the pan bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 I've often wondered whether by trapping some solar energy which would presumably reflect into space and using it to do work and therefore produce heat within the atmosphere, it's quite as green as it's trumpeted. Hopefully converting wind power to electrical energy won't have too significant an effect on wind flow and weather patterns but there must be some sort of influence. One problem with your fridges Don - they need energy to function and the overall effect is to add more heat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Precisely Martin, not an answer.. Ask God to turn the ring off. Or don’t tempt him to light it in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Ah, sorry Don - I think I read your post wrongly - as if there were two statements in the last sentence... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zflyer Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Not a boffin but consider this, film of paste on paper, blotting paper, film of paste on paper, blotting papers. i.e sandwich the components much like some batteries. Re hydrate the blotting papers and just replace paste sheets. Should I patent this or o to back of class ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil McCavity Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 The problem with our search for a sustainable energy source is that we appear to be making the same mistake as we did with fossil fuels in that it seems we're putting all our eggs in one basket rather than spreading the load. Take cars as an example, rather than planning an infrastructure with alternatives we are totally committed to powering EV's. That's not long term planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 At around 1910 in Chicago the car/truck was taking over from horses as a main form of transport. For the people who lived there is was a boon. No more stinking horse muck of which there was thousands of ton's to shift and pile up every week. In the summer billions of fly's came to spread diseases that resulted in some ten thousand extra deaths a year. The end of the petrol/diesel car could have a similar boon world wide. Whether that is a good thing I am not so sure given the numbers of people on the planet already. I do agree that other power forms are needed. Battery EV is simply not going to be suitable for trucks, tractors, ships or other heavy equipment including large aeroplanes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Stephenson Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Fuel cells don't like wet hydrogen, true they generate water but they don't like on the input side. Some sort of drying device could seriously affect the energy density of the whole system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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