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US Navy Develops 'Game-Changer' Technology To Turn Seawater Into Fuel Read more
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:02 pm
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:02 pm
Stolen from OT, but pretty big news I thought the RantOT would enjoy reading about.
LINK
quote:
After decades of experiments, U.S. Navy scientists believe they may have solved one of the world’s great challenges: how to turn seawater into fuel.
The development of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel could one day relieve the military’s dependence on oil-based fuels and is being heralded as a “game changer” because it could allow military ships to develop their own fuel and stay operational 100 percent of the time, rather than having to refuel at sea.
quote:
The new fuel is initially expected to cost around $3 to $6 per gallon, according to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, which has already flown a model aircraft on it.
The Navy’s 289 vessels all rely on oil-based fuel, with the exception of some aircraft carriers and 72 submarines that rely on nuclear propulsion. Moving away from that reliance would free the military from fuel shortages and fluctuations in price.
quote:
The breakthrough came after scientists developed a way to extract carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas from seawater. The gasses are then turned into a fuel by a gas-to-liquids process with the help of catalytic converters.
Incredible if true. The geopolitical implications of this technology could change everything.
LINK
quote:
After decades of experiments, U.S. Navy scientists believe they may have solved one of the world’s great challenges: how to turn seawater into fuel.
The development of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel could one day relieve the military’s dependence on oil-based fuels and is being heralded as a “game changer” because it could allow military ships to develop their own fuel and stay operational 100 percent of the time, rather than having to refuel at sea.
quote:
The new fuel is initially expected to cost around $3 to $6 per gallon, according to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, which has already flown a model aircraft on it.
The Navy’s 289 vessels all rely on oil-based fuel, with the exception of some aircraft carriers and 72 submarines that rely on nuclear propulsion. Moving away from that reliance would free the military from fuel shortages and fluctuations in price.
quote:
The breakthrough came after scientists developed a way to extract carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas from seawater. The gasses are then turned into a fuel by a gas-to-liquids process with the help of catalytic converters.
Incredible if true. The geopolitical implications of this technology could change everything.
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Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:06 pm to CheeseburgerEddie
Annnnddd the oil companies will say stop that.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:08 pm to CheeseburgerEddie
quote:
a gas-to-liquids process
Condensation?
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:08 pm to CheeseburgerEddie
It will still take more energy to make the fuel than you get from the fuel
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:10 pm to MIZ_COU
isn't that always the case though?
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:13 pm to MIZ_COU
quote:
It will still take more energy to make the fuel than you get from the fuel
I'm glad some people still understand the second law of thermodynamics
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:14 pm to CheeseburgerEddie
quote:Until they come up with new laws of physics
isn't that always the case though?
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:14 pm to BamaChemE
This is just ease of transportant/consumption and availability of the primary component compared to oil.
ETA: question answered.
ETA: question answered.
This post was edited on 4/8/14 at 4:16 pm
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:19 pm to MIZ_COU
quote:
It will still take more energy to make the fuel than you get from the fuel
And how do you know that?
This post was edited on 4/8/14 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:23 pm to OMLandshark
Read the thread. and have you ever taken a class in physics
This post was edited on 4/8/14 at 4:36 pm
Posted on 4/8/14 at 4:32 pm to OMLandshark
quote:
And how do you know that?
The second law of thermodynamics.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 10:41 pm to 870Hog
quote:
Posted by 870Hog on 4/8 at 4:06 pm to CheeseburgerEddie Annnnddd the oil companies will say stop that. Reply • Options • Back to Top
Really? And who do you think will be supplying the facilities/equipment to do this? Oil companies invest billions in trying to be the first with a breakthrough technology like this. Some folks just don't understand capitalism.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:01 pm to MIZ_COU
Nuclear Fusion. Nuff' said.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:05 pm to ColonelRebsLandshark
quote:
Nuclear Fusion. Nuff' said.
Currently only achievable by using the center of a star or atomic bomb.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:06 pm to CheeseburgerEddie
quote:
The Navy’s 289 vessels all rely on oil-based fuel
Well this is false
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:19 pm to The_Joker
Nice selective editing. 
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:21 pm to CheeseburgerEddie
quote:
with the exception of some aircraft carriers and 72 submarines
This post was edited on 4/8/14 at 11:22 pm
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:24 pm to PrivatePublic
quote:You can build a fusion reactor in your garage. It just uses more energy than it creates
Currently only achievable by using the center of a star or atomic bomb.
Posted on 4/9/14 at 9:41 am to genro
quote:
with the exception of some aircraft carriers and 72 submarines
The last Kitty Hawk retired in January 2009 so he only missed by 5 years.
Posted on 4/9/14 at 9:46 am to MIZ_COU
quote:
It just uses more energy than it creates
why do you keep saying this?
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