Re: Hydrogen Fuel Plant Run By Solar Power

On Sep 16, 10:07 am, "Bob Eld" <nsmontas...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Bolaleman" <hull...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:5febaf3b-1e2d-4d93-a415-3cc87b77e500@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This photovoltaic solar panel array was created by Sunetric.  It is
powerful."It's 146 kilowatts.  It's made up of about 210 180 watt
panels.  It's enough to power about 30 to 35 homes,” said Sean Mullen
of Sunetric.

Wow, how do these characters arrive at their overly optimistic
estimates? It sure beats me.
Being a physicist and engineer, I would back up my clams with simple
'back of the envelope' envelopes based on the electrical service to a
typical home, and the KW demand that full use of this capacity
implies.

Most middle class home constructed during the past 20 years have
either 100, 125, or 200 amp service panels on 220-Volts. This is
because of the electrical demand imposed by the appliance within the
home, including electric ranges, water heaters, air conditioning,
microwave ovens, electric irons, TV sets, refrigerators, washers/
dryers, lighting, entertainment, vacuum cleaners, space heaters,
etc....

In many parts of our country, a building code mandates the minimum
capacity of the electrical service. Years ago, say in the 1940s, a
typical household electrical service was 60-Amps at 115-Volts (which
is why in those days home owners had boxes of spare fused. This is
long obsolete, but ever a 60-Amp, had a demand of 6.9 KW. which for 35
homes amounts to a peak demand of 241.5 KW. So the Senetric system
wouldn't even be capable of supplying the power needs of 35 even 1940
homes! Not even close.

Now take a look at the power demans of a contemporary middle class
home with a 200 Amp, 220V serviced home with air conditioning and
other of the usual modern conveniences. At full capacity, and 200 Amp,
220V service has a demand of 44 KW (not taking into account peak
demand situations). Provided that it could handle the surge demand,
and the inverter operated at 100% efficiency, the Senetric system
could accomodate the electrical demand of barely 2 homes.

If you find a flaw in my calculations, please feel free to correct
them.

My conclusion is that the sales people at Senetric are exagerating the
capabilities of their system by a factor of 10! Something not unknown
to happen with marketers and sales people.

Now, when the solar panels are combined with that inverter, and a
battery bank required to provide 24 hour service, what is the total
cost? When the cost is split between two homeowners (the system
capacity) what is the cost to each? What are the maintenance and
component replacement costs, since batteries and solar cells have a
sharply limited lifetime? What are the amortized yearly costs to each
homeowner, and in what period of time would they recoup their
investment (don't forget to include the cost of money).

Nuff said on that.

And there may be a time when the solar energy does just that.
However, the primary use for the electricity created by the solar
panels is here at this hydrogen producing plant.
Using renewable energy to create alternative energy.
"It's all about renewable energy and alternative fuel,” said Tom Quinn
from High Technology Development Corp.  “So we put in a hydrogen
production station out there three years ago and now we're powering it
with renewable energy sources."
The hydrogen that is created in this plant has a practical
application.

Of course, the enire idea is obviously impractical from both cost and
engineering considerations. The include hydrogen storage and the cost
of hydrogen comprssion, liquifaction, or what other storage or
transportation system is claimed practical.

Damn, the concepts that clueless promoters come up with on a daily
basis never ceases to amaze me! Most educated people realize that the
Devil is always in the details, and these guys are incapable of
discussing the details. So, in fact, they know nothing and will
accomplish nothing expept separating a few clueless and well intended
people from their money.

In my mind, they are no different from the confidence artist who
convinced people that he had designed a car that could run using water
as fuel. Just as free advice, whenever you are tempted to invest your
money in a scheme that sounds too good to be true, find an engineer or
scientist that you can trust, and have his show you how to look at the
'details' and run the numbers.

Harry C.

.

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