“Carbonized chicken feather fibers have the potential to dramatically improve upon existing methods of hydrogen storage and perhaps pave the way for the practical development of a truly hydrogen-based energy economy,” says Richard P. Wool, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering and director of the Affordable Composites from Renewable Sources program at the University of Delaware in Newark. – Renewable Energy World
The problem with using hydrogen as a fuel is that storing the fuel in the car is a dangerous and expensive proposition, the more you store in a small space will increase the chance of an explosion. Scientist first looked at carbon nanotubes as a solution, but not a practical solution because this would have added $5.5 million(really,$5.5 million) to the price of a car. University of Delaware scientists also studying chicken feathers, but for the effect of the keratin in building microcircuits, noticed that the structural strength was similar to those of carbon nanotubes.
A carbon nanotube is any nanostructure, a member of the fullerene family, having graphene layers wrapped into perfect cylinders and are very expensive.
Hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe. It is considered to be clean alternative to fossil fuels. Wool has estimated that a 75-gallon tank could go about 300 miles.
http://sciencecastle.com/sc/index.php/home/chicken_feathers_hydrogen_fuel
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/fuel-from-chicken-feathers/
Four miles to a gallon is not a lot at all! I would have thought that Hydrogen as a fuel would get better milage. I wonder how much Hydrogen costs per gallon? I know that a clean burning fuel is great, but the average person has to be able to afford it!
ReplyDeleteAlternatives though must be explored, with less than 5% of the worlds pop. we consume around 25% of worlds oil consumption. BRIC's are emerging nations and are hungry for energy. It is probably not economically feasible to drill our way out, plus with speculators and world events(middle east, Nigerian oil spills, Darfur human rights, BP gulf oil spill) driving the cost of crude to unprecedented levels we are facing enormous life-style challenging events. Note the price of gas in Europe(taxes,they drive lots of diesels, and are sophisticated about cars). Gas is around 9 dollars in Amsterdam. Then note how many people in US drive with only themselves in the car. M.O.V.lanes are empty in Atlanta when I lived there. I am talking to myself also, gotta start somewhere, hopefully, tech can provide some answers, ...I love to drive, but I got a scooter and a bike.
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