Re: does anybody know how a hydrogen engine works?

Posted by Jerry/MT on February 10, 2006 at 20:06:58 from (67.72.98.45):

In Reply to: does anybody know how a hydrogen engine works? posted by wasbash1 on February 10, 2006 at 15:15:18:

Same way that any other spark ignition engine works but you have to develop the engine and the fuel system for the kind of fuel you're using. But why would you want to do that?

Hydrogen is a dangerous fuel because its' so flamable. Bbecause of its low molecular weight , it leaks from fittings unless you use special fittings and there are special requirements for venting the high pressure fuel tanks.
A bigger problem is where to get fuel. During my working years , the company I worked for flew an airplane jet engine with a hydrogen fuel system as an experiment in the late 50's or 60's. It wasn't a problem doing the experiment, but doing it on an everyday basis was another story. If you converted LAX to an all hydrogen powered operation, it would take sixteen 500 megawatt nuclear plants (you could use conventionial electrical power plants but the idea was not to generate more CO2)to supply the hydrogen fuel to operate aircraft from that one airport. And you had to build the fueling infrastructure from scratch. And after that, the water vapor that's exhausted is also a "greenhouse" gas.
I am not one to put down new ways of doing things but without some sort of breakthrough in hydrogen producibility I think that depending on hydrogen to solve the world's energy needs (and this talk comes up every time we get a jump in energy prices)is premature. We should be looking at a bunch a different technologies (bio fuels, ethanol, etc.) as well a hydrogen, but these folks that tell you that hydrogen power is just around the corner are just selling snake oil. I will now get off my soapbox.

Replies:

• Re: does anybody know how a hydrogen engine works? Handyman 21:39:44 02/11/06 (0)

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