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Industry : Automobile Functional Area : New Technologies
Activity:  9 comments  237 views  last activity : 06 05 2011 03:44:02 +0000
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Hydrogen fuel could become viable as an eco-friendly alternative to petrol, thanks to a new process that allows it to be stored cheaply and practicably.

The technology utilises materials that soak up hydrogen like a sponge, and then encapsulates them in tiny plastic beads so small they behave like a liquid.

The process, based on a new way of producing nano-fibres from hydrides, is being developed by Cella Energy, a spin-off from UK Rutherford Appleton Lab.

The technique allows hydrogen to be released at a much faster rate and at lower temperatures than before, researchers said, the Daily Mail reports.
"What we've been doing is taking these materials and encasing them in plastic and making them into a very fine powder and that improves their properties," said Stephen Bennington, Cella Energy Chief Scientific Officer.

"It also means you can pump it like a fluid and it's safe. It is not gong to easily burst into flames," he said.

Hydrogen produces only water when it is burned and is considered an ideal solution to cutting carbon emissions from petrol or diesel vehicles, which are estimated to cause 25 per cent of all carbon release.

But until now, attempts to store hydrogen have not been consumer-friendly so this has not been a viable option. Cella Energy Ltd say their technology would allow people to use the carbon-free fuel with their existing car after a few modifications.

 Top Comment : S. Muralidharan   | 04 04 2011 13:55:31 +0000
A number of attempts made by our scientists got annulled only on the safety reason in the past. Good one! Let's wait for its commercial applicability and availability!
 
9 comments on "A new breakthrough could help hydrogen replace petrol as fuel"
  Commented by  SHRIKANT MANOHAR DANKE, Consultant, Project Management Consultancy Firm    | 04 20 2011 09:51:03 +0000
Good alternative to petrol.
Thanks for referral, Muhammed.
  Commented by  Mohammad Bakhsh, Project Leader/Managing Consultant, Freelancer    | 04 05 2011 11:49:16 +0000
Rating : +1 
Hydrogen has been called one of the least efficient and most expensive possible replacements for petrol in terms of reducing greenhouse gases. A comprehensive study of hydrogen in transportation applications has found that,there are major hurdles on the path to achieving the vision of the hydrogen economy.The path will not be simple or straightforward.
 Though,Key Facts About Hydrogen as Fuel Can be easily stored and transported Highly combustible and can be used as fuel. 1g on combustion provides 30000cals as compared to petrol that gives only 11000cals End products being water only causes no environmental hazard.It Can be easily produced from water using biological agents Microorganisms like bacteria and leguminous crops Biologically produced hydrogen is known as biohydrogen Employs two main biological pathways of biohydrogen production- hydrogenase mediated biophotolysis and nitrogenase mediated bio photolysis.
Thanks, Mr Natteraja for referral.
  Commented by  Rathin Deb, Freelance Retail Consultant    | 04 05 2011 05:36:07 +0000
Rating : +1 
Thanks Natteraja for referral. I have already commented.
  Commented by  Rathin Deb, Freelance Retail Consultant    | 04 05 2011 05:12:02 +0000
Rating : +1 
Jabir seems promising. Actually i have seen a car manufactured by Nissan, Japan which runs in hydrogen. They have produced only 11 of them including the one brought to Delhi in Pragati Maidan some time back. 
  Commented by  kasturirangan.r, Consultant, videocon industries limited    | 04 05 2011 01:31:55 +0000
Rating : +1 
Thanks for the referral Nattaraja sir.Hope we will find the application in the near future and the will of the govt to implement it if it is commercially viable.Only time will tell.I am told that water is also a good alternate fuel where i read in website on trial basis the motorosied bicycles and moped run bu water in u.s.a has been successfully tried out.
  Commented by  NATTERAJA R. ARIKRISHNAN, AREA SALES MANGER, UNIFLEX CABLES LTD    | 04 04 2011 18:23:27 +0000
Rating : +1 
Nice information. In case hydrogen is able to replace petrol it would be a blessing for all. Let us wait for the days.
  Commented by  JAYANTA KUMAR BORAH, B.Tech/B.E. student, Annamalai university    | 04 04 2011 15:23:39 +0000
Rating : +1 
A good article Mr.Rifahi....Well if hydrogen come as a replace for fuel then it will realy be a boon to the common people provided its harnessing techniques, infrastructure comes cheaper....moreover experiments like these have always been uprooted.
  Commented by  aditya j s, Freelancer, Automobile    | 04 04 2011 14:14:33 +0000
Rating : +1 
Thanks for the referral jabir.
  Commented by  S. Muralidharan, Head, Project Planning/Strategy, Knowledge Foundation    | 04 04 2011 13:55:31 +0000
Rating : +1 
A number of attempts made by our scientists got annulled only on the safety reason in the past.  Good one! Let's wait for its commercial applicability and availability!
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