Energy Storage Solutions part one

.

Storing Energy
as
Hydrogen

Almost two years ago I wrote about the discovery of a new catalyst electrode that could revolutionise energy storage.

http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.com/2008/08/water-into-fuel-mit-announcement.html

The electrode could, in a far more efficient and less costly way than ever previously possible, split water into its elements of Oxygen and Hydrogen. The hydrogen thus produced is a great fuel for all sorts of devices including fuel cells and cars!

The work being done is at MIT by Professor Daniel Nocera and his team, and now the news comes that the team have discovered another new electrode material (perhaps even more than one), which again is based on inexpensive and widely available elements.

In 2008, Professor Nocera and his team reported the discovery of a durable and low-cost material for the oxygen-producing electrode which was based on the element cobalt. The team now report the discovery of yet another material that can even more efficiently function as the oxygen-producing electrode. This time the material is based on nickel borate, an even more abundant and inexpensive material than the earlier compound.

The ongoing MIT research indicates that the first experimental electrode was not a simple freak and additionally it suggests that there may be a group of similar materials to be developed.

Hundredfold Gas Production Increase!

The rate of gas production from these new catalysts has been increased a hundredfold from the level reported two years ago!!!!!

The earlier work was focused on the oxygen-producing electrode; the hydrogen-producing electrode at the time was based on an expensive platinum catalyst. The team have now overcome this limitation and expense and have totally eliminated the need for platinum. This part of the team’s research however has not as yet been formally reported.

Long term, Professor Nocera envisages domestic systems in which rooftop solar panels, and perhaps other generating devices, would provide electricity to a home. Electricity, which is not used at the time of generation, would go to his “electrolyzer” - which would split water into its elements of oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen would be stored in tanks until needed. When more power was required, the hydrogen would be fed to a fuel cell where it would generate electricity.

The research teams work has already been taken a step further by the creation of a company, called Sun Catalytix which aims to commercially develop the system in the next two years.

The research program was recently awarded a major grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Advanced Research Energy Projects Agency”.

.

Energy Storage, the Sustainability Problem

.

Update
Energy Storage Research

Over the next few day I will be posting two separate stories about very different types of energy storage.

One is a follow-on of a story I covered, almost two years ago, regarding research done by Prof. Nocera and his team at MIT.

The second story is one concerning an Irishman's unique take take on energy storage, and the ongoing development of the idea.

.

Weeding at Your Country Your Call

.

The Irish Presidential initiative called “Your Country Your Call” produced a whopping total of 10,114 entries to the “competition” designed to elicit ideas that could stimulate the country and create jobs.

A quick scroll through the proposals immediately shows that only a small percentage have any real substance. As one commentator put it, “many entries look like they were written on the back of a beer mat”, to which I would add, very late in the evening and after a skin full of beer.

My rough estimate is that perhaps 5% of the proposals offer ideas of any depth. At 5% useful ideas it would still leave about 500 suggestions with some reasonable degree of practicality.

The judges will have a tough job sorting through the list. As far as I can gather there are six judges on the panel along with a chairman, each one will have to scan and evaluate 1,444 entries apiece.

Putting it another way, if you take the 10,114 entries and spend just 30 seconds considering each one on a first scan, it will amount to 84 man-hours.

Now I guess that the beer mat inscribed rubbish will be fairly quickly eliminated from the pile leaving maybe 500 entries to be more seriously considered. Lets assume there are moderate sized attachment with each of these entries, and lets say each takes an average of 20 minutes to digest the attachment, that’s 166 man hours for that stage.

We now have a total of some 250 man-hours. If we allow a generous 5 hours of this work per day, that would give us some 50 man-days in total. These guys are going to be busy unless they have some helpers to at least weed out the rubbish for them.

It will be interesting to see what comes of the "Competition".

.

Nanotechnology Lead Acid Battery

.

Carbon Nanotube
Lead Acid Battery

A Canadian based company, Next Alternative Inc. are using Carbon Nanotube technology in the oldest type of rechargeable battery around. They are modifying lead acid battery technology to produce a battery that will recharge in less than 1 hour and hold 4 times the charge.

The figures are based on test results of prototype CNT lead lead/acid battery packs. Essentially, if it works like it says on the box, it will give an electric car some 300 miles between charges and can be recharged in less than 1 hour.

This battery will also have a much longer life than regular lead acid batteries; the company say it will last at least 4 times longer. If we take it a lead acid battery has an average life of 3 years or so, this new battery should last 12 years!! (If the hype can be believed)


Next Alternative Inc
Ottawa Ontario
http://www.next-alternative.com/

.

Fireplace door Pictures

.

Some Photos
of my new Fireplace Door

The fireplace before fitting the door

Introducing the new door to the fireplace - Pleased to meet you!

How it fits and a look at the door seal

The side frame

Up and running - It looks really well!

2B further continued.

.

Pressure Cooker used to Extract Oil from Algae

.

Bio-Science meets Domestic Science

Bio-fuel researchers at the University of Michigan have come up with a novel way of extracting oil from algae.

They are mixing Domestic Science with Bio Science! They have found that pressure-cooking algae allows extraction of oil in a simpler and more efficient way.

The pressure-cooker method of oil extraction has not been used to date AFAIK. The accepted technique is to grow the most oily types of algae, then dry the algae before extracting the oil.

The pressure cooker method can extract oil efficiently from less oily varieties of algae. The process also eliminates the need for drying, which wastes a lot of energy and time.

.

SEAI Promotes Fireplace Doors

.

The Promotion of
Fireplace Doors
by the
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland??

Almost two years ago I spoke, at some length, on the phone to a high ranking advisor at SEAI Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland about promoting fireplace doors as a viable, cheap, and effective way of increasing the nations energy efficiency, if not simply reducing fire related accidents.

The high-ranking SEAI consultant I spoke to practically dismissed the idea out of hand, offering several reasons why it couldn't or shouldn't be attempted, no reasons given why it might be looked at or tried in any sort of reasonable way!!!

I got the feeling that SEAI would much prefer to engage in hugely expensive multi-million Euro exercises promoting woodpellet heaters and geothermal units to the richer part of our society, rather than waste their time on piddling little exercises.

I was extremely frustrated by the stonewall response I received. It is partly the frustration that SEAI engendered, that has led me to have my own prototype fireplace door made. So thank you SEAI for helping me, yet again, - through your obduracy, lack of insight, and institutional self-serving attitude, to embark on another experimental sustainability exercise.

May Fools - June Fools- July Fools- August Fools- etc. !!!

.

The Experimental Fireplace Door

.

A First Look at the Door

A really big thanks to Seamus O' , my engineering friend who did a first class job of making the experimental door. Firstly, he expertly deciphered my very poor drawings and measurements. Secondly, he came up with some neat ideas for seals, hinges etc.

My new fireplace door is really sturdy and IMHO quite classy looking made 100% in stainless steel. The fittings are simple, strong, and very effective. The door glass is a nice big piece, and gives a really good view of the fire.

So well were the makers interpretations of the measurements, that all I had to do when fitting the door, was present it to the fireplace, drill a couple of holes and it was fitted. Just finished off with a bit of packing to make the seal of the frame to the stone of the fireplace somewhat air tight.

2B Continued....

.

Experimenting with a Fireplace Door

.

Experimenting
with a
Fireplace Door

A friend of mine, who is in engineering R&D has recently made me a really nice experimental fireplace door. I fitted it without much effort in about an hour.

I will be taking temperature measurement and experimenting with draught and fuel over the next couple of weeks. I will of course post photos and details here as the experiment runs.

Initial impressions are;

(1) the burn is much better,
(2) radiant heat is well reduced from the front of the fire,
(3) heat to the back boiler is increased substantially.
(4) the door and its frame get quite hot - something you would need to be aware of when adding fuel etc.

Watch this space for further postings.




.

Irish Grant for Electric Cars

.

Retrofitted EV

€5000 Grant for EVs

The just announced Irish Government Grant of €5000 towards electric cars might be better spent on a national strategy to retrofit existing vehicles.


I have just sent a proposal to Your Country Your Call on this basis. The focus of my proposal is, that instead of importing 100% of electric vehicles EVs over the coming years, and thereby sending some €7bn (my estimate / guesstimate) out of the country, that we set in motion a national plan to retro-fit existing vehicles.

A retrofit EV strategy would:

(1) substantially reduce the money leaving the country on imported electric vehicles,

(2) because of the substantial savings possible over new vehicle purchase price, it would encourage many more people to go electric,

(3) a retrofitting industry would provide new jobs and save existing jobs in the motor trade

(4) stimulate ancillary services,

(5) It would additionally stimulate the economy,

(6) add to national security,

(7) further promote Ireland's sustainability drive,

(8) substantially reduce spending on imported fuels,

(9) spare us scrapping tens of thousands of ICE vehicles, and

(10) last but not least, it would help reduce our carbon footprint.


I have, against my better judgement, posted the suggestion as a proposal to "Your Country Your Call"

.