the problem with Bio-fuel

[darknes]

Originally Posted by krj-1168
I've also heard that the technology is in the works to a car that can generate it's own fuel. Basically an Electric car that take Water and turn it into Hydrogen which will power the motor which will recharge the batteries.
Now that would be Awesome.
That's not possible. It takes more energy to break apart the hydrogen bonds in water molecules than you receive from burning the hydrogen. You would be consuming far more hydrogen than you could produce.

 

[autofreak44]

Originally Posted by Darknes
That's not possible. It takes more energy to break apart the hydrogen bonds in water molecules than you receive from burning the hydrogen. You would be consuming far more hydrogen than you could produce.
plus wouldnt that be like perpetual motion or something??? i thought that it wasnt possible...

 

[mfp1016]

Originally Posted by Darknes
That's not possible. It takes more energy to break apart the hydrogen bonds in water molecules than you receive from burning the hydrogen. You would be consuming far more hydrogen than you could produce.
This is true, that is why water has the unique phase diagram that it does. In fact, the difficulty in breaking hydrogen bonds is pretty much responsible for life on this planet.

 

[darknes]

Originally Posted by mfp1016
This is true, that is why water has the unique phase diagram that it does. In fact, the difficulty in breaking hydrogen bonds is pretty much responsible for life on this planet.
Exactly. I took a class in college called "The theory of combustion". We covered hydrogen, and combustion itself is a very interesting topic.
Anyway, hydrogen might be a clean burning fuel, but it's not a reasonable alternative to fossil fuels. Fossil fuels can be burned to produce more energy than we need to refine them. Hydrogen on the other hand, takes more energy to produce than it provides. Sunlight and wind power also give off a positive net energy, because we are merely changing one source of energy into another.