tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post714718263369874936..comments2024-03-07T02:00:01.582-05:00Comments on NEI Nuclear Notes: The Super-Hot Nuclear Reactor–and the Hydrogen Cars that Love ItUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-54616092474116381592013-02-15T08:00:51.598-05:002013-02-15T08:00:51.598-05:00Hydrogen is much more valuable as a chemical feeds...Hydrogen is much more valuable as a chemical feedstock than motor fuel. High-temperature gas-cooled reactors are all well and good, but I'd bet that they'd be better for generating electricity for batteries than trying to crack water.<br /><br />Then again, if you have excess nuclear capacity during the overnight hours and the chemical equipment is cheap enough, maybe hydrogen isn't a bad thing to make.Engineer-Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420685176098522332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-60848479420280845122013-02-15T07:59:12.541-05:002013-02-15T07:59:12.541-05:00Honda already sells the Clarity hydrogen fuel car....Honda already sells the Clarity hydrogen fuel car. There is more about high temperature reactors and synthetic fuels in THORIUM: energy cheaper than coal described at http://www.thoriumenergycheaperthancoal.comRobert Hargraveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06846491141058940965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-68101625990102417032013-02-14T20:49:19.166-05:002013-02-14T20:49:19.166-05:00Just have to be real careful, we don't want an...Just have to be real careful, we don't want anymore Fukashima instances, or worse.Brian Jacksonhttp://www.greenergynews.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-24157949211273508912013-02-14T19:09:49.242-05:002013-02-14T19:09:49.242-05:00While this is a very interesting concept, I've...While this is a very interesting concept, I've always been curious about the energy required to refrigerate the hydrogen both in transit to distribution centers or "gas stations" as well as that required to store it once it's there. Surely, the total energy requirement to effectively launch such a scheme is far, far beyond that required just for electrolytic dissociation. I'll be interested to see how this project plays out though because I do think that the HTGR can (and will) make a return.Will Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04371377137844175320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-24759527219374090102013-02-14T17:08:01.253-05:002013-02-14T17:08:01.253-05:00Hydrogen as an energy source is an idea that fails...Hydrogen as an energy source is an idea that fails on first principles. The majority of hydrogen produced now is made from natural gas. Methane is easier to contain than hydrogen, has more energy density, and can be used in fuel cells or combustion engines just like hydrogen. Converting methane to hydrogen justs adds a wasteful step in the process between the energy source and the end use.<br /><br />Using nuclear to produce hydrogen might make a little more sense since there isn't a need for a hydrocarbon feedstock, however you still have the issues of containing hydrogen which have yet to be economically solved. Also, the coversion to hydrogen is less efficient than producing electricty and using plug in hybrids that already exist. The only advantage hydrogen has is the potential for longer range, but it is unfair to compare a potential future hydrogen vehicle with an existing plug in hybrid. One can also assume that plug in hybrids of the future will be able to have more range and therefore negate hydrogens advantage.<br /><br />A much more viable solution would be to produce cars that can run on natural gas while at the same time using nuclear to provide electricty. This allows us to reduce our need for foreign oil while also reducing the cost of driving a car since natural gas is much cheaper. It also allows us to use nuclear for what it is best at which is reliably producing large amounts of electricity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com