Say you shelter-in-place, is hydrogen power the solution?

[DWFan]

It's far simplier to build a stationary bicycle connected to several automotive alternators and generate electricity to recharge a bank of wet cell batteries. Besides, the exercise is good for you.

[neophyte]

Larry01970: Sir; cruising through here and wondering
What is to power for. How much;

Geo-thermal would be my start for the family; constant range of temp.
Near any flowing creek; paddle wheel and an 2phase electric motor. Wire and diffuser; power for lights, [stove need venting] hmmm, Radio doesn't need any power.

Probably could convert 100amp alternator or greater for charging batteries; hmmm how much do I need?
Hydrogen isn't limitless unless sufficient inertia' ed

Try this site. Homemade hydrogen: the chap has a thought. It does seem reasonable.

[TXplt]

Hydrogen is great, but current storage technology is much worse than fossil fuels (i.e. compressed H has low energy density; Liquid Hydrogen vents--this is OK when driving but not for long term storage). Also, we don't have a great conversion system (i.e. efficient fuel cells) commercially available on a large scale. For the future, Hydrogen is an attractive fuel because it can be made by electrolysis with water and is very clean burning (i.e. we're just re-combining the hydrogen and oxygen). Also, it fosters energy independence because the hydrogen can be separated from energy derived from electric power plants fueled by nuclear (or even residual heat from these plants), solar, wind, water, coal,geothermal, oil, or gas. This is why these power plants need to be built TODAY !!!

No hydrogen car or electric car is ever close to "zero emissions" --there always has to be a primary energy source. These touted electric or Zero Emission vehicles just move the pollution from the tailpipe to the power plant. At present day, they are actually likely less efficient than our production gasoline powered cars (our best highest temperature power plants run about 40-45% efficient due to the inherent limit from the 2nd law of thermo.).

TODAY, LPG/LNG/CH4/Biofuels/A large gas tank or a windmill to an alternator and batteries is a better bet. Tomorrow, maybe H.

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

Evidently, you haven't seen Stanley Meyers work or patents on hydrogen from water...If things won't produce more energy than is put in to it then how do Thermo-Nuclear bombs work, and how do Nuclear reactors work ?
sometimes you have to think out of the box...

The hydrogen-oxygen cycle we'd use in the near future is strictly a chemical reaction; the energy comes from the chemical bonds. It's really no different than burning anything else (including wood or fossil fuels); just oxydation and energy being released. The chief advantage is that hydrogen is clean burning. The energy is put into the process when the hydrogen is made, then is relased when it's burned.

Fission uses kinetic energy derived from splitting atoms of high atomic weight (Uranium/Plutonium). As the split particles hit the atoms of the moderator in the reactor (water, graphite, helium, etc), heat's produced just like stepping on the brakes in a car or a bullet hitting a plate of steel.

The Hydrogen Bomb (and the sun--and fusion for our own electric power of the future) uses fusion between hydrogen nuclei; to overcome the huge repelling forces between the nuclei a tremendous amount of heat to start the reaction is needed. Containing this heat currently requires more energy than we can get out of the process, although if we were really working hard on it we could probably have a working fusion reactor which created more energy than it used. The helium produced by this reaction weighs less than the sum of its parts (i.e. mass/matter is converted into energy). C squared is a huge number, hence the large amount of energy.

[soonerborn]

I am gonna have to go with a different route than everyone else seems to be taking here.

If you want sustainable energy off grid then its gonna be one of these, most likely a combination of them.

Hydroelectric - almost everybody has moving water in the area.

Wood gas - all you need to do is cut down trees

Diesel - little bit harder, but if you can grow sunflowers and keep a seed press running then you got it made. Filtering and treating may or may not be an issue with this, I dunno.

Solar - plenty of sunshine to go around

wind - not the best but can be useful to augment the other sources.

[TXplt]

Originally Posted by soonerborn

I am gonna have to go with a different route than everyone else seems to be taking here.

If you want sustainable energy off grid then its gonna be one of these, most likely a combination of them.

Hydroelectric - almost everybody has moving water in the area.

Wood gas - all you need to do is cut down trees

Diesel - little bit harder, but if you can grow sunflowers and keep a seed press running then you got it made. Filtering and treating may or may not be an issue with this, I dunno.

Solar - plenty of sunshine to go around

wind - not the best but can be useful to augment the other sources.

I think the best strategery is to use what you've got in your own particular situation. Just have a basic framework of equipment that'll let you exploit that. Whether it's a generator that can be rigged to run on different fuels, or a car alternator hooked up to a bike or windmill, etc.

[Stopper]

I have two fork lift batteries that are recharged via DC motors made into wind generators, plus a few solar panels. Bought the Poorman's guide to off grid living a couple of years ago and did pretty much everything it told me to do. Works out great too. Power is never out at my house! Costs ran approx. $1100.00 to get it all going and the only grid we use is for house lights and they are they low wattage type. My last month power bill was $12.00!

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by Stopper

I have two fork lift batteries that are recharged via DC motors made into wind generators, plus a few solar panels. Bought the Poorman's guide to off grid living a couple of years ago and did pretty much everything it told me to do. Works out great too. Power is never out at my house! Costs ran approx. $1100.00 to get it all going and the only grid we use is for house lights and they are they low wattage type. My last month power bill was $12.00!

Nice, my gas bill is what kills me.

[TXplt]

Cool !

[mitch_mckee]

I've wanted to try this but have not yet gotten 'round tuit.

Emergency Power -- Survival Style

[Amarksman]

Originally Posted by Stopper

I have two fork lift batteries that are recharged via DC motors made into wind generators, plus a few solar panels. Bought the Poorman's guide to off grid living a couple of years ago and did pretty much everything it told me to do. Works out great too. Power is never out at my house! Costs ran approx. $1100.00 to get it all going and the only grid we use is for house lights and they are they low wattage type. My last month power bill was $12.00!

Do you remember the name of that book? I had no luck googlin it.
Thanks

[Stopper]

The Poorman's Guide to wind power and battery systems.

I can't remember exactly what he charges, something like 29 bucks....but it has saved me about 60 to 70 bucks a month for the last 6 months and it is on going.... worth it in my book.

[just_a_car]

Here's the website: Poor Man's Guides - homemade windmills and more
Here's a place to buy the "ebook" online ($35): Poor Man's Guide to Wind Power and Battery Systems - Ebook Explorer