Bloom Box

[Dmitri]

In the world of energy, the Holy Grail is a power source that's inexpensive and clean, with no emissions. Well over 100 start-ups in Silicon Valley are working on it, and one of them, Bloom Energy, is about to make public its invention: a little power plant-in-a-box they want to put literally in your backyard.

You'll generate your own electricity with the box and it'll be wireless. The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.

I just hope it's not going to be the same thing as Segway was -- remember how it was all secretive and Kamen was saying it would change transportation systems around the world?

Seems pretty cool though... let's wait and see I guess.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/mostpop/story. ... ovider=top

[Bill]

One thing I don't understand is how it uses natural gas if it doesn't burn it.

[Darth Rock&Roll]

When NASA scrapped that Mars mission, Sridhar had an idea: he reversed his Mars machine. Instead of it making oxygen, he pumped oxygen in.

He invented a new kind of fuel cell, which is like a very skinny battery that always runs. Sridhar feeds oxygen to it on one side, and fuel on the other. The two combine within the cell to create a chemical reaction that produces electricity. There's no need for burning or combustion, and no need for power lines from an outside source.

that's how.

[Bill]

That doesn't tell me anything. I'd like to know how it works.
I'd like to see the chemical reaction written out.

[Darth Rock&Roll]

Bill-

Check this out: http://www.fctec.com/fctec_basics.asp

He has created a fuel cell using oxygen and natural gas.
Natural gas is mostly methane.

the formula and explanation of fuel cells in context is on the page.

Apparently his device reforms! produces electricity!

fuckin cool! now that's what science is about!

[Bill]

Thanks, that the sort of thing I was looking for.

[Michael]

So these new batteries could power my Segway for how long?

[Darth Rock&Roll]

So these new batteries could power my Segway for how long?

about 24 hours.

or 6 minutes if you're a fat chick.



(sorry fat chicks)

[Bill]

Keep in mind that these are not batteries. They are fuel cells that require the input of air and a fuel to work.