9100
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2004
- Location
- Webster Groves, MO
While not directly relating to chip making, we all use energy doing it and because there is a wide range of disciplines represented here, I have decided to post this.
We get most of our energy from combining the remains of decayed plant life with oxygen from the atmosphere. The fossil fuels, starting with pure hydrogen and combinations with carbon in different ratios range through the various gases, liquids and end with solid coal. They are all the same product, only varying in proportions. Combining two hydrogen atoms with one oxygen produces water, which simply goes into the oceans, etc. Combining one carbon atom with two oxygens unfortunately produces carbon dioxide, a gas, which we have trouble coping with. To make matters worse, we derive more energy from carbon than hydrogen. Combining four hydrogens with two oxygens produces about the same amount of energy as combining two oxygens with one carbon. Natural gas, mostly methane with one carbon and four hydrogens, makes about equal amounts of energy from the two reactions. From there, as the carbon to hydrogen ratio increases, we get more CO2 than water.
People seem to accept that the only way to use these fuels is combining with only oxygen, while in reality there are countless other reactions possible. A familiar one is limestone, calcium carbonate, composed of calcium, carbon and oxygen.
The question- is there a reaction with another element(s) that will produce energy and have a solid waste product instead of a gas? If there is one that can be used economically it would put the coal miners back to work without poisoning the planet.
Bill
We get most of our energy from combining the remains of decayed plant life with oxygen from the atmosphere. The fossil fuels, starting with pure hydrogen and combinations with carbon in different ratios range through the various gases, liquids and end with solid coal. They are all the same product, only varying in proportions. Combining two hydrogen atoms with one oxygen produces water, which simply goes into the oceans, etc. Combining one carbon atom with two oxygens unfortunately produces carbon dioxide, a gas, which we have trouble coping with. To make matters worse, we derive more energy from carbon than hydrogen. Combining four hydrogens with two oxygens produces about the same amount of energy as combining two oxygens with one carbon. Natural gas, mostly methane with one carbon and four hydrogens, makes about equal amounts of energy from the two reactions. From there, as the carbon to hydrogen ratio increases, we get more CO2 than water.
People seem to accept that the only way to use these fuels is combining with only oxygen, while in reality there are countless other reactions possible. A familiar one is limestone, calcium carbonate, composed of calcium, carbon and oxygen.
The question- is there a reaction with another element(s) that will produce energy and have a solid waste product instead of a gas? If there is one that can be used economically it would put the coal miners back to work without poisoning the planet.
Bill