Energy Matters Global and Domestic

[myglaren]

Accidental discovery could charge up large-scale energy storage systems

The accidental discovery

Two years ago, the PNNL research team found that a naturally occurring compound called fluorenone could improve the energy storage capacity of flow batteries. The team soon discovered that using Fluorenone impacted the energy storage process since it was much slower than commercially available methods.

The team was looking for a way to dissolve fluorenol, an alcohol derivative of fluorenone, in their water-based electrolyte and found that simple sugar called ?-cyclodextrin could help. When the team used the sugar in the electrolyte, they also found that the addition boosted battery longevity and capacity.

The researchers then further experimented with the ratio of chemicals in the electrolyte till they achieved a 60 percent increase in peak power. More importantly, the team also found that adding sugar minimized the loss of capacity common with batteries.

From IE (Interesting Engineering)

[bobins]

^^^^^^^^^^

The team also found a rather good side effect in that it made a rather pleasant evening drink - very similar in effect to the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

[myglaren]

Do you think it will improve my car battery if I drop a couple of teaspoons of Tate & Lyle's in it?

[bobins]

Why ? Does your car battery not taste very good as it is ?

[myglaren]

It's OK with fish and chips.

[CitroJim]

The team also found a rather good side effect in that it made a rather pleasant evening drink - very similar in effect to the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

Why ? Does your car battery not taste very good as it is ?

Dad used to tell of drinking dilute battery acid as a fizzy lemonade substitute during the war I never did know if he was serious or joking... Allegedly, it had to be very well diluted...

[mickthemaverick]

Slightly off the normal discussions on this thread but this video from Harry's Garage may prove interesting to some members and maybe a cure for insomnia to others!!

[bobins]

I watched that earlier today. I have a feeling the chap from Coryton might know a bit too much about his subject matter - that's a polite way of putting it The video does show what developments have happened in 'non-standard' fuels (petrol) though It also shows just what goes into making a decent ersatz petrol

[mickthemaverick]

Yes, I have to agree there bobins. I left a comment on the youtube channel suggesting an overuse of 'industry jargon' - another polite way of putting it!

[Peter.N.]

I watched that earlier today. I have a feeling the chap from Coryton might know a bit too much about his subject matter - that's a polite way of putting it The video does show what developments have happened in 'non-standard' fuels (petrol) though It also shows just what goes into making a decent ersatz petrol

Its a bit complicated and they didn't mention diesel. I prefer 'Harrys Farm' Learnt far more about farming from that than anywhere else.

Peter

[Gibbo2286]

My only take on the new? fuel is that to get to the cost you simply multiply the current cost of petrol by six and you're about there.
Hitler's lot were doing it in WW2 so not surprising that Porsche are into it.

[NewcastleFalcon]

You may hear this well worn phrase resurfacing in the news, .

"We should use our own Oil and Gas rather than rely on (usually "expensive" is added here) imports

It has a certain common sense logic about it.
but...

Can you ever remember a time when the North-Sea Oil and Gas Licence Holders have ever sold the very same "our own gas and oil" at a discount price compared to the prevailing market prices, for the benefit of UK Industry and Households.

No...

Advance energy news, the next flood of licence-holders won't either.

Neil

[myglaren]

The truth about heat pumps and the power needed to run them (BBC)

The way we heat our homes is changing.

As the world moves away from fossil fuels, we will be saying goodbye to our gas fires and boilers - and instead electrifying the heating systems in our homes.

Extinguishing the fires in our homes is a big change, human beings evolved around the comfort of a campfire.

So, what will this mean for you - and the systems that deliver the energy we depend upon?

In just 12 years' time you won't be able to buy a gas boiler any more.

The government has ordered that sales of new ones will be banned from 2035.

Heating our homes accounts for as much as 16% of the UK's planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions.

More in the link.

[bobins]

I read that Beeb article this morning and thought it quite fair for a change, but the following bit made me chuckle.......

"Whatever choices we make about how we heat our homes in future one thing is certain, we are going to need a lot more electricity.
And it all needs to be green.
Right now, at peak times, the National Grid requires 60GW of electricity.
By 2050, some estimates suggest it will need to double to at least 120GW.
In 27 years, we need to roughly quadruple the amount of green energy we produce as a country.
So, to get to net zero in time, the government has set an ambitious target - decarbonise the entire electricity supply by 2035.
<snippage>
And to get these new sources of electricity into your home the electricity grid needs a massive and expensive upgrade too.
But we can do it, says Emma Pinchbeck, the CEO of Energy UK which represents the power generating industry and the National Grid.
"In my job, what's changed over the last five years has been this is no longer about money. It's about wires in the ground or enough people to build the kit," she says."

'We can do it'......... and I can win the Lottery jackpot. And what do hitting the electricity targets and me winning the Lottery have in common ? They're both theoretically possible, but both equally unlikely.

[CitroJim]

I'm glad I bought a new gas boiler whilst I still could! It'll happily burn hydrogen too...