Bruce Campbell's Blog (10)

More Discussion on Water and Hydrogen as Auto Fuel

See also blog topic Water as Fuel is a SCAM !.

Is hydrogen a good fuel for cars? Yes. Hydrogen has more energy per pound than gasoline – almost three times as much. In fact the large external tank for the space shuttle contains liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen and just like you would expect, they burn to form water and release a lot of energy. Your fuel pump is designed to pump li

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Added by Bruce Campbell on July 24, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Is Ethanol for Gasoline a Good Idea?

Ethanol is NOT a good choice as a gasoline component. OK, that is my conclusion up front!

Also see another one of my blog comments "How Can We Outlive Our Way of Life" based upon the paper with this title written by Tad W. Patzek, The University of California.

The debate is still not settled whether making ethanol from corn makes more or less energy available for cars than the energy it tak… Continue

Added by Bruce Campbell on July 23, 2008 at 6:30am — No Comments

"How Can We Outlive Our Way of Life"

These comments and the title of this blog are based upon a paper written by Tad W. Patzek, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California in Berkeley, CA, Sept. 10, 2007. The paper was prepared for the 20th Round Table on Sustainable Development of Biofuels: Is the Cure Wors than the Disease?

Please read the paper for yourself. You can find it via this link:

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Added by Bruce Campbell on July 23, 2008 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

The Limits on the Use of Wind and Solar Electricity Generation in the U.S.

Be careful how you analyze the time to payoff residential PV solar investments. Since solar panels generate no electricity at night, not much when it is cloudy and less in the winter than in the summer due to the sun angle, it is risky to assume you can eliminate your entire monthly electricity bill. To actually provide all of your electricity, you will need a backup battery system. Although PV systems are somewhat expensive, battery backup systems are very expensive. California still h… Continue

Added by Bruce Campbell on July 19, 2008 at 1:00pm — 4 Comments

Letter to House - Pass Bill H.R. 5984 "Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008"

Written to Kevin Brady, Representative from Texas on July 18, 2008 I believe it is in the best interests of our national economy and security to increase the use of alternative fuels. As you are a co-sponsor of H.R. 5984, Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008, it appears you share this interest. I am interested in the extension of the 30% residential solar tax credit through 2009 and the removal of the existing $2,000 tax credit limit. I am concerned that this bill, having been referred to the… Continue

Added by Bruce Campbell on July 18, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Nuclear - The Time Has Come

Although new nuclear power plants are now being proposed, their design are advanced versions of the existing light water reactors in the United States. However, liquid metal cooled fast breeder reactors may be a much better choice. Check out these web sites Fast Breeder Wikipedia-Integral Fast Reactor… Continue

Added by Bruce Campbell on July 17, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Water as Fuel is a SCAM !

Yes, water is not a good source of energy for fuel. Powering your car with water is a SCAM ! Water, as H2O, is a very stable molecule which is why it is one of the few molecules this small that is not a gas at room temperature. It takes a lot of energy to break the bonds. Electrolysis is one way that separates water into H2 and O2 gas. These two gases react explosively to form water again. This explosion does release a lot of energy, but the laws of thermodynamics guarantee that this con… Continue

Added by Bruce Campbell on July 17, 2008 at 7:30pm — 3 Comments

Auto Fuel Cell Hydrogen from Water using PV Solar Cells

An interesting question was asked in a solar discussion forum. How much space do we need for solar panels to generate enough electricity to generate enough hydrogen to power autos with fuel cells? Assumptions: + PV rating to kWH efficiency is about 72%. PV panel area about 10W/Sq. Ft. + Electricity to H2 (from electrolysis) to Fuel Cell to mechanical work in car ~16%

See Why a hydrogen

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Added by Bruce Campbell on July 16, 2008 at 8:30pm — 2 Comments

Letter to Congress - Support for Offshore Drilling and Alternative Energy

The July 16th Houston Chronicle has an editorial with the title "Faulty dilemma" and the subheading "The U.S. needs more offshore drilling and an Apollo-scale program to develop alternative energy sources". In response to this editorial, I sent the following comments to the Houston Chronicle, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Representative Kevin Brady of Texas and Senator John Cornyn of Texas. "Faulty Dilemma - Good Start" Congress cur… Continue

Added by Bruce Campbell on July 16, 2008 at 7:30pm — 3 Comments

Brazil Energy Independence from Offshore Oil Drilling and Ethanol

There are a lot of false stories about Brazil and their energy independence. Yes, they do make ethanol from sugar cane and it is cheaper to make that way than from corn in the U.S. They did mandate that a certain % of cars needed to be compatible with using ethanol-based fuels. However, their energy independence did not come only from increased use of ethanol. It also came from an extended and highly successful program of drilling for oil offshore - something that the Congress and some… Continue

Added by Bruce Campbell on July 16, 2008 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment