• eleitl@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    The more interesting approach is synmethanol, particularly via electrosynthesis. Only half of energy density of gasoline, and suitable for fuel cells, including DMFCs.

      • eleitl@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        Haber-Bosch for fertilizer, Fischer-Tropsch for synfuel.

        But, really, we need something with mild conditions and preferably something directly electrosynthesis driven. Large potential for improvement in both.

          • eleitl@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            1 year ago

            The Haber-Bosch approach to breaking the nitrogen triple bond takes a lot of energy in terms of high pressure and temperature which is not present in the product, hence wasted. Ammonia is a fertilizer either as gas or as ammonium nitrate, and too precious to burn.

            Another random fact: half of the combustion enthalpy present in liquid hydrogen has been spent on its liquification.

    • A_A@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) still have low power densities … so maybe we should look at molten carbonate fuel cells or simple heat engines ? Anyway, synmethanol looks great !