Fuel cell runs on synthetic JP-8 diesel fuel
While this new fuel cell technology is only directed at military use, it is another example of how technology is trying to catch up with the needs of real life. In real life combat situations, the military would love to have a silent, efficient way to generate the electricity that they need, and they also require that the system use heavy fuels that can be made to function out in the field. Diesel is their fuel of choice, and in this case, a synthetic diesel fuel was successfully used to generate electricity in a new type of fuel cell developed by Acumentrics. The fuel first was refined somehow using a separate device. After all of that was done, the fuel cell was twice as efficient at generating electricity than the standard issue diesel generators currently in use. For more information on the process, click here.
[Source: Gizmag]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 7:21PM (5/08/2007)
"twice as efficient...than the standard issue diesel generators..." WOW! This is one use for a fuel cell that actually makes sense. NO IDIOTIC HYDROGEN!!
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Howard Lee Harkness 7:42PM (5/08/2007)
Depends on just how expensive the special processing on JP8 is, and on whether the "twice as efficient" claim is for real. The article mentions high-temperature "in-situ reformation", which could mean that it is just a modified hydrogen fuel cell.
Using diesel as a hydrogen carrier might make some sense, since there is substantially more hydrogen in a gallon of diesel than in a gallon of liquid hydrogen, and diesel has fewer problems with things like containment and explosion.
The referenced article, like many I've seen lately, is long on hype and short on concrete information. I don't think I'll start rejoicing about an alternative fuel cell just yet.
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Phil L. 2:09PM (5/09/2007)
>>> This is one use for a fuel cell that actually makes sense. NO IDIOTIC HYDROGEN!!
Well - not quite. This fuel cell still runs on hydrogen. However, it first uses a reformer to suck the hydrogen out of something else.
In this regard, it's still subject to the same problems and limitations as other fuel cell approaches - but with a far more convenient carrier and associated storage issues.
Of course, this also means it's no magic bullet: It still needs hydrocarbons to work.
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