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Oh the humanity! Aka...hydrogen powered generators.

S

spinjector

I just got off the phone with the local building inspector about a generator installation, and he told me that one of our neighbors on the hill installed a hydrogen-powered generator two years ago. I was like wow, but it makes perfect sense. It sounds like Star Trek Tek, but it's probably 99.9% identical to the propane generators we already have at other sites, just a smaller orifice in the throttle body.

Does anyone have any experience with them? I'd like to include them in my research & estimates if it makes any kinda sense.
 
Where do you get hydrogen??

We're being harassed by our propane supplier...

We had an entire tank of propane drained (stolen), then locked the tank.
Two weeks ago unmarked pickup shows up at 7 in the evening, complained to the part-timer that "it's illegal to lock the tank" (which it isn't in our state) then destroyed the hinge on the tank cover.

After that I would recommend going with either natural gas or diesel.
 
What I know about hydrogen is 'not much' but I think the hydrogen twins really like to maintain a threesome with that oxygen dude and it takes a lot of energy to get them apart; and when they re-unite, the energy's released.

Oh sure, there's lots of pretty colors and even a generous amount of heat; but the energy isn't as dynamic as when nitrogen oxidizes.

So, is hydrogen a fuel for the internal combustion process or for a fuel cell? ???
 
How are they storing the Hydrogen? It tends to penetrate a lot of metals. And where are getting it from, and how is it delivered? Hydrogen is an excellent and maybe the best "non nonpolluting" fuel. Pure water is the byproduct but hydrogen is very difficult to handle. If you can get the info please let us know or PM me.
 
The so-called "Bloom Boxes" (modular hydrogen fuel cell systems) are becoming very trendy and popular in the IT world as backup and supplemental power sources for data centers and other technology infrastructure. http://www.bloomenergy.com/
 
According to the spec on the website they are using natural gas or waste gas / methane (from landfills?). I am assuming these could be modified to use Propane. There is not much difference in the two. The less than 70 DB noise factor is less than some generators especially some the gas turbines the phone companies use to use at central offices. This might be viable if the price is right.

As to Tom T.'s post about being harassed by a propane supplier, This is the time when your sales department works a little magic, and gets the propane for "free" via a trade out.
 
At that price 5,000 hamsters and hamster wheels (plus a year's supply of HamsterChow) looks dirt cheap.
 
TomT said:
Not from this outfit. They're buying up all the local propane dealers.
Click to expand...

I do not know your area, but we are lucky to have several of them. Natural gas is limited to the large towns and cities so a lot of folks use propane. Sooner or later this "monopoly" will hack off the wrong person with deep pockets. Then they will have someone to challenge them. It happens in most unregulated businesses. If your site is secure you can go with diesel.
 
I should have noted -

As with all uber-expensive, no-ROI green tech, I'm sure there's probably some government program to subsidize this - so I guess you and I are all ready making payments (on someone elses generator) >:-(
 
Perhaps if the oil companies hadn't been lobbying the government to make it less viable to discover new technologies like fuel cells, we would have cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells now. We would have the option to fill up with hydrogen at gas stations for cheaper than gas. Electric vehicles are much more efficient than gas powered vehicles, yet they are not economically feasible because it would require a major infrastructure change.

A hydrogen powered generator could keep a 100000 watt station on the air for days. All it needs is water and a source of electricity which could be solar power. The electricity would provide the energy to separate the hydrogen from the water and release oxygen.
 
Nick,
Somewhere close to you is an endless supply of hydrogen that's rising into the air. It's all yours for the taking, no government permit is required and the oil companies can't stop you.
 
secondchoice said:
TomT said:
Not from this outfit. They're buying up all the local propane dealers.
Click to expand...

I do not know your area, but we are lucky to have several of them. Natural gas is limited to the large towns and cities so a lot of folks use propane. Sooner or later this "monopoly" will hack off the wrong person with deep pockets. Then they will have someone to challenge them. It happens in most unregulated businesses. If your site is secure you can go with diesel.
Click to expand...

I wasn't really thinking big picture about diesel. If you go "diesel" or bio-diesel, just remember that the diesel fuel can (and will after several years) gel even if it doesn't get cold. If you have a "leak" and it is not contained before it leaves the property that can be a major expense. If you do not have access to natural gas, buy your own propane tank have it buried, and hopefully you can find a supplier.

If you are in a big "farming" area check out the farmers coop. Most sell "off road diesel fuel" and a lot sell propane at really good prices.
 
Anyone who has been around boats that run on diesel fuel know that there are plenty of bacteria that can grow IN the fuel!! Yes, IN the fuel and live quite happily.

If you have a diesel generator, visit your local marine store or if you don't have one go online and look at diesel fuel treatments. Prevent the sludge from growing in the first place, put Sta-bil in your tank if you don't run it that often and you'll be a lot happier and cut down on service calls and downtime.

The idea of a fuel cell is interesting. It is proven technology, they've been around in the space program since the 60's.
 
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