Re: Solar-hydrogen home power system?

From: Ray Drouillard (cosmicpam2_at_comcast.net)
Date: 10/20/04 

Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 20:54:56 -0400

"Don Lancaster" <don@tinaja.com> wrote in message
news:41731A97.1595A9EC@tinaja.com...

> Not when most of the value of the excess power is instantly destroyed,
> as irrevocably happens during electrolysis.

OK, I have been trying to read between the lines and analyze this
statement because it keeps occurring.

Why is most of the power destroyed with electrolysis? I want some solid
engineering-type answers. I hear from other sources that the efficiency
of electrolysis is in the 75% - 90% range. That isn't bad, really.
I'll grant you that there are better ways of storing energy than
splitting water, then feeding it through a fuel cell when you need it.
Still, this "most excess power is instantly destroyed" has me
confused -- especially since it violates the laws of thermodynamics.

Also, what is exergy? In all the physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics
classes I have taken, I don't recall seeing that term. What kind of
unit does it have? Is it expressed in joules, watts, or what?

Ray Drouillard

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