Saturday, March 20, 2010
Oh, the wiggling humanity
Interesting report in New Superstitionist about a relatively lo-tech way to separate hydrogen from water. The trick involves a fine fiberglass-like material made of zinc oxide. Like many other materials, these fibers generate electric charges when bent. (The piezoelectric principle.)
When submerged in water and then vibrated, these fibers produce opposite charges at each end, which bubbles off hydrogen at one end and oxygen at the other. The hydrogen can then be captured and used as fuel.
Unique feature: no electrical connection needed. Just put the fibers in water and put the water in a location with plenty of slosh. Result: absorb part of the vibration (which can be useful in itself) and get fuel.
¶ 9:31 AM
When submerged in water and then vibrated, these fibers produce opposite charges at each end, which bubbles off hydrogen at one end and oxygen at the other. The hydrogen can then be captured and used as fuel.
Unique feature: no electrical connection needed. Just put the fibers in water and put the water in a location with plenty of slosh. Result: absorb part of the vibration (which can be useful in itself) and get fuel.
¶ 9:31 AM
