<However, in the production of electricity, we are talking entirely different things. OF all the alternative methods, less hydro, fuel cell technology is the most promising and efficent. >
But something has to go into the fuel cell, and that best comes from fossil fuels [best and cheapest = methanol from natural gas]. Photovoltaics to methanol to fuel cell is too expensive.
<Turbine technology has been around since the 50's, when GM tinker with it in production auto's and Mario Andretti won the 1969 Indy 500 in a STP turbine that blew the field away two years in a row. It's not new.>
But what is new is flywheel materials and technology, turbine tricks [such as Capstone's], good electric motors/brakes and electronic controls. Also new is the need to cut pollution and the ability to do so while cutting vehicle costs [using turbines].
<There is more substantial evidence that oil is a natural occuring element within the earth. This was first postulated around 10 eyars ago by s Swede scientist. But it is still in limit supply and becoming more difficult to produce or housed in some unfriendly places on the earth.>
That was Thomas Gold and he was talking gas, not oil. Oil is from dead marine life, carted along the oceanic floor conveyor belt, subducted at the edge of tectonic plates, cooked, then floated up to collect in sedimentary layers [that's my theory anyway]. The supply is huge! 100s of years supply of fossil fuels still buried. Check out Orinoco heavy crudes for example.
<Kerosene burns, as it was the fuel of choice in the winters in Italy and German in the 70's, made wonderful little stoves to burn it. Fuel oil is burn here in the US, which essentially is near a diesel grade. Napalm is basically diesel and a thickening agent, that not only explodes and spreads, but burns as well. AS I said, it is less volatile, but still a hazard.>
tchester.org
Napalm isn't diesel or kerosene. It's jellied gasoline. I asked It and was told that it's a mixture of naphthene and palmitate [hence the name napalm].
The flash point of diesel is about 65 deg C. Gasoline way, way way below zero [which is why a car still starts in the Ottawa winter - a diesel engine won't start, unless using special fuel, because the fuel turns solid].
Diesel is almost as safe as lubricating oil or olive oil, which people pour into frying pans, on a gas-fired stove!! You can use vegetable oils as diesel fuels [with a few gunking problems due to lack of oxidation stability].
Meanwhile, don't miss out on Globalstar. I heard even Ramsey Su snaffled a few....though Valueman bailed out again.
Mqurice |
